Both of these duelists made Top 8 back at Shonen Jump Championship Anaheim, and now they were pitted against each other on the bubble. Suarez was running Demise OTK, while Trias was playing Baboon Burn, a deck I’ve wanted to feature all day long. Now, I’d get my chance.
Trias went first, setting two cards to his back row and then setting a monster. Suarez set two cards to his back row, and when Trias tributed Marshmallon for Cyber Dragon and attacked, Suarez responded with Mirror Force. Trias set a third card to his back row and Suarez activated Common Charity, removing Neo Bug for its effect. He summoned Insect Knight and attacked with nothing in his backfield.
Premature Burial brought back Cyber Dragon for Trias. He normal summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, attacked over the Knight with Cyber Dragon, and attacked directly with Breaker. He then set his last card to his back row. As Suarez moved to his draw phase, Trias started running the numbers.
He activated Secret Barrel, and then chained another! He chained Ojama Trio last, and each Barrel dealt 1800 damage: Suarez dropped to 2300 life points. Suarez summoned Insect Knight and attacked Breaker, and Trias responded with Just Desserts. Suarez was down to 300 life points! Breaker and Insect Knight were both destroyed.
Next turn Cyber Dragon attacked an Ojama Token and the resulting damage from the Ojama’s destruction finished the duel!
Justin Trias wins game 1 with the burn damage from an Ojama Token! There’s a first. Both duelists started smoke screening and siding. 36 minutes remained in the round.
Suarez got things started with Sonic Bird, searching out Advanced Ritual Art from his deck. “Go.” Trias summoned Giant Rat, attacked into Sonic Bird to destroy both monsters, and then brought out another Rat for a direct attack. He set three cards to his back row and ended. “Go ahead.”
Advanced Ritual Art was activated, and Suarez sent Metal Armored Bug to the graveyard to bring out Demise. Demise’s effect was activated, and, though Trias chained Secret Barrel and Just Desserts, it just wasn’t enough. Premature Burial brought back Metal Armored Bug, Suarez tributed it for Great Maju Garzett, and the pair of attacks that followed were enough to finish the game! Play swiftly moved to the third duel.
“Such a fast game,” remarked Trias. Not nine minutes had passed thus far in the match.
He opened with two set cards to his back row and a face down Giant Rat. Suarez summoned Insect Knight, attacked, and the Rat’s destruction let Trias special summon Gyaku-Gire Panda! Suarez set a card to his back row and Trias flipped Ojama Trio in the end phase. Next turn he sent Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest to his graveyard with Foolish Burial and summoned a second Gyaku-Gire Panda! Each Panda had 2800 ATK. Trias piled on the hurt, activating Premature Burial for Giant Rat. Suarez activated Torrential Tribute, but Trias chained Secret Barrel for 1800 damage. Suarez then took 900 damage for the Ojamas and Green Baboon erupted from the graveyard to make a direct attack! Trias passed with nothing in his back row.
Suarez set three cards to his back row, set a monster, and Trias set a card to each zone before attacking with Baboon — it destroyed Sonic Bird. Suarez passed his next turn without a monster to shield himself and Baboon swung for game!
Justin Trias is taking Baboon Burn to the Top 16!