Kelly Robinson hails from Jersey City, and at 19 years of age he’s between high school and college. He was in a rough position; up against Toronto’s Lazaro Bellido, Robinson was about to duel one of the most vaunted competitors here today.

The reason for Bellido’s reputation? Last weekend he won a Regional in Toronto with a very synergy-oriented version of Zombies. Card of Safe Return, Zombie Master, and Il Blud mixed with Creature Swap to create a shattering victory that took him all the way to the top, suffering just a single lost duel during the course of a consecutive string of match victories. He’s inspired a ton of competitors like Matt Peddle and Paul Levitin to take up the Zombie cause here today.

Robinson won the roll and opened with a set spell or trap, then summoned Elemental Hero Stratos to search his deck for Elemental Hero Wildheart, a very good opening. “End my turn.” Lazaro summoned Card Trooper, activated its effect to send Mirror Force, Nobleman of Crossout, and Call of the Haunted to the graveyard, then attacked over Stratos. No Zombies sent to the graveyard, which was definitely what Lazaro was hoping for. He ended his turn with a set spell or trap.

Wildheart flew from Robinson’s hand to destroy Trooper, giving Lazaro a draw. A set card to his back row ended Robinson’s turn, and Lazaro activated Mystical Space Typhoon next turn to destroy it: Shrink. He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior next, but Robinson flipped Solemn Judgment, either a brilliantly gutsy move or a huge mistake. Lazaro set a second spell or trap, risking Heavy Storm, and ended.

E - Emergency Call let Robinson search his deck for another Wildheart: he’d be making up that life point loss from Solemn pretty quick, as both Wildhearts attacked directly to drop Lazaro to 3900 life points. Another set spell or trap let Robinson finish out.

Lazaro activated Brain Control, attacked, and cleared both Wildhearts from the field! He set a monster, set his last card to his back row and ended. Morphing Jar much? Robinson read it like a book and cleared Lazaro’s set Morphing Jar with Exiled Force. He ended with no offensive follow-up, Lazaro passed, and Reinforcement of the Army sent Robinson to his deck to bring out a third Elemental Hero Wildheart. Lazaro shook his head and took another 1500 damage. He had just 1600 life points left.

He topdecked into Book of Life but had nothing to use it with, holding dead copies of Card of Safe Return and Il Blud! A turn later Robinson dropped Breaker the Magical Warrior, destroyed Lazaro’s set Widespread Ruin, and attacked for game.

A flurry of Warrior tricks completely dominate Lazaro Bellido, giving the first duel win to Kelly Robinson!

The second duel began swiftly after some brief side decking. Lazaro set a card to each zone, ended, and Robinson played Wildheart, followed by Nobleman of Crossout to remove Lazaro’s set Sangan from the field! More head shaking from Lazaro as Wildheart struck for 1500 damage and Robinson set a spell or trap.

Lazaro set another card to each zone and Robinson played Exiled Force to destroy Lazaro’s set Reaper. He was playing it smart, not giving Lazaro any room to breath. Wildheart attacked and Lazaro was forced to pass.

Wildheart swung yet again, scoring with another direct shot and bringing Lazaro down to 3500. Robinson set Shrink, lost it to Dust Tornado in the end phase, and lost his second set Shrink next turn to Mystical Space Typhoon. Lazaro activated Book of Life to bring back Reaper and remove Exiled Force from his opponent’s graveyard. He tributed Reaper for Il Blud, attacked Wildheart, and destroyed him. He set Heavy Storm and fingered his in-hand Creature Swap and Vampire Lord, totally dead cards.

Exiled Force destroyed Il Blud, but next turn Lazaro summoned Zombie Master, discarded Vampire Lord to bring back Spirit Reaper and attacked directly with both to discard Elemental Hero Ocean from his opponent’s hand! Robinson activated Reinforcement of the Army next turn, searching for Elemental Hero Stratos, summoned him to search his deck for another Ocean, then discarded Bottomless Trap Hole for Lightning Vortex and attacked directly for 1800. Lazaro was in serious trouble. Robinson passed with one last card in his hand.

Lazaro topdecked another Il Blud, and matched with his useless in-hand Creature Swap there was nothing he could do. Always a class act, Lazaro immediately extended the handshake, putting the match and his opponent before his personal disappointment.

Kelly Robinson destroys Lazaro Bellido, taking a high-utility strategy against a synergy oriented deck and winning out as a result. Victory for Warrior Toolbox!