Sigeric Hollimon came close to making the Top 8 at his Shonen Jump Championship debut in Atlanta. Now the Atlanta native (and 2nd ranked player in the state) is looking to make the cut this time around. Miguel is a native of Los Angeles and is coming off of a regional Top 8 from last week.
Sigeric won the roll, and he started off with Senju of the Thousand Hands for Demise, King of Armageddon. He then set a spell or trap and passed over to Miguel, who pitched Destiny Hero — Disk Commander to Destiny Draw and then set a card to each zone. One turn in, and it was already shaping up to be a great match.
Sigeric activated Advanced Ritual Art and sent Neo Bug and Insect Knight to the graveyard to summon Demise. He declined priority to activate the effect, and activated Giant Trunade to return Miguel’s backfield to his hand. Insect Knight was summoned, and Demise destroyed Miguel’s set Sangan. Sangan fetched Destiny Hero — Malicious, and Sigeric’s other monsters went to town. He set a spell or trap and passed back to Miguel, who activated Snatch Steal on Demise and tributed him for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. The effect destroyed Insect Knight and Smashing Ground took out Senju. His attack was blocked by Scapegoat, however, and Miguel took down a Sheep Token before setting a spell or trap and ending. Premature Burial brought back Demise, and Sigeric paid for the effect, wiping out the entire field! Neo Bug came down for a direct attack, and Sigeric set a card before ending. Miguel set a card to each zone and passed back to Sigeric, who attacked the set Dekoichi before setting a spell or trap and ending. Miguel set a monster, and Neo Bug attacked it. It was Destiny Hero — Fear Monger, so Miguel would be getting back his Disk Commander next turn. Sigeric set a spell or trap, and the Disk Commander was summoned. Miguel drew two cards and tributed him for Mobius the Frost Monarch. Sigeric chained Waboku, but lost Gravity Bind. After that, play was back to him. Sigeric summoned another Neo Bug, activated Ring of Destruction on Mobius and attacked! Sakuretsu Armor stopped the first Bug, but the second one hit home! Sigeric takes game 1 with a flurry of Neo Bug attacks!
Both players dug into their side decks between games. Miguel smoke-screened while Sigeric had to switch sleeves around on his cards making it fairly obvious how many cards he was siding in. It was Miguel’s turn to start, and he set a monster before ending. Sigeric started with Neo Bug, attacking into Miguel’s Apprentice Magician. Old Vindictive Magician came down in his place, and Sigeric set a spell or trap. It was flipped in the next turn to destroy Neo Bug, and the Magician was soon tributed for Mobius to destroy Sigeric’s set Heavy Storm. Miguel passed with no backfield, and Sigeric summoned Sonic Bird to fetch Advanced Ritual Art. He set a spell or trap, and passed over to Miguel who summoned Thestalos! Torrential Tribute cleared the field, but Thestalos stole away Advanced Ritual Art before all was said and done. Sigeric set a spell or trap, and Miguel summoned Sangan. He attacked into Scapegoat before setting a card and passing. Sigeric played his own Sangan, but lost it to Ring of Destruction, allowing him to fetch out Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. He passed with 3 Sheep and nothing else on the field. Thestalos was traded out for another Thestalos and, once again, Advanced Ritual Art was stolen away from Sigeric. Sangan fetched Treeborn Frog, and Thestalos attacked into a Sheep. Miguel passed again with no backfield and play was back to Sigeric. He summoned Manju to fetch Demise and then set a spell or trap.
During Miguel’s draw phase, Ring of Destruction destroyed Thestalos so that Miguel couldn’t tribute him. Instead, he summoned Cyber Dragon and Treeborn Frog before activating Brain Control to take Manju. After all attacks were said and done, Sigeric had only 100 life points left. Miguel set a spell or trap and passed. Sigeric summoned Insect Knight and equipped it with Megamorph! He attacked into Treeborn Frog and thought he had game, but, in actuality, Miguel had 100 life points left of his own! In main phase two he tributed Insect Knight for Metamorphosis to turn it into Darkfire Dragon in defense mode! He switched his Manju to defense and passed. Miguel used Soul Exchange to tribute the Dragon for Cyber Dragon, but he had to skip his battle phase to do it. Swords of Revealing Light came down next to keep Sigeric in the game, but, in the end, he summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands and forgot that it couldn’t fetch Advanced Ritual Art. It was run down by Cyber Dragon shortly afterward to take this match into game 3!
Only Sigeric decided to side for the last game, and it was his turn to start. He started off with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to fetch out Demise, King of Armageddon. He then set Waboku and ended. Banisher of the Radiance was up for Miguel, and he attacked Manju! Waboku blocked the attack, and Miguel set a pair of spell or traps to finish out the turn. Sigeric set a card to each zone and passed over to Miguel, who activated Nobleman of Crossout on Sigeric’s set Sangan. Ring of Destruction blew away Banisher before it could attack, however, and Miguel set a monster. Sigeric drew into Sonic Bird and used it to fetch out Advanced Ritual Art! Art came down, and, in response, Miguel flipped Call of the Haunted for his Banisher! Great play, especially considering that Sigeric had Doom Dozer in hand! Demise cleared the field except for himself, and Sigeric attacked for 2400. Sigeric set a spell or trap and passed over to Miguel, who stole Demise away with Snatch Steal and tributed him for Mobius! Miguel set a card and passed over to Sigeric, who summoned Insect Knight and attacked! Miguel set a monster and Sigeric summoned Neo Bug! Insect Knight attacked into Spirit Reaper, however, and the game was still on. Soul Exchange was flipped to tribute Neo Bug for Cyber Dragon, but it was all for naught! One Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands later, Sigeric had Advanced Ritual Art in his hand and showed his Demise and Doom Dozer prompting Miguel to scoop! Sigeric Hollimon takes a hard fought win, 2-1!