Mario Matheu and his team have made waves here today with Light and Darkness Dragon. The innovative tech card allows their Dark Armed Return builds to instantly take on the form of a Perfect Circle deck. The element of control and aggression is what has taken him this far. His opponent is Christopher Kendrick, a relative unknown from Arizona. He’s playing the Jerry Wang Dark Armed Return deck complete with Crush Card Virus. Pay careful attention to this match. It could very well dictate the future of the format.
Chris opened with a set spell or trap card and nothing else. Mario did even less, passing his turn without making any moves. Chris passed back, Mario set a spell or trap, and Chris finally played a card in the form of Destiny Draw. Destiny Hero – Fear Monger hit the graveyard and Chris got two new cards from his deck. Next up was an Allure of Darkness removing Dark Magician of Chaos. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon afterward to destroy a bluffed Destiny Draw, then played Cyber Valley and Machine Duplication! Two more Valley’s joined the team, all in attack mode, and Chris removed two of them to draw two cards from his deck. Next he played Monster Reborn, attempting to revive the Fear Monger. Mario blocked the play with D.D. Crow though, and Chris simply set a spell or trap card before passing.
Mario was up now and he set a spell or trap card before passing. Chris flipped Return from the Different Dimension on his turn to special summon Dark Magician of Chaos, Destiny Hero – Fear Monger, and the two removed Cyber Valleys. The Magician grabbed Allure of Darkness, which was played to remove Strike Ninja from play. One Cyber Valley took itself and the Fear Monger out to draw two cards, and the other two Valley’s were removed from play for the same reason. Chris then dropped Allure of Darkness and removed Darklord Zerato with its effect. The final Allure of Darkness dropped now and Dark Armed Dragon was removed from play. Destiny Draw came down next, followed by Heavy Storm. Mario chained Enemy Controller to switch the Magician into defense mode, and Chris responded by playing Reinforcement of the Army for Dark Grepher. The Grepher was used to pump Chris graveyard to three Darks, and afterward a few Dark Armed Dragons and one Premature Burial for Jinzo came down for game.
A lackluster hand from Mario and an explosive Machine Duplication allow Christopher to take the first game in quick fashion.
Mario opened the second game by playing Reinforcement of the Army for Elemental Hero Stratos. Stratos got Destiny Hero – Malicious from the deck, and Destiny Draw put that Malicious into the graveyard. Malicious was removed from play to special summon another copy. Mario set a mystery spell or trap card, and then another. Chris knew what was coming, and quickly played Snipe Hunter to attempt to destroy Stratos. Mario flipped Crush Card Virus, taking away all of Chris’ hand except a Mystical Space Typhoon.
Next turn Mario dropped Dark Grepher to put his graveyard to three Darks, special summoned Dark Armed Dragon and attacked with the team. With no cards at all, Chris just picked his stuff up.
Chris opened the third and final duel with Allure of Darkness. Destiny Hero – Fear Monger was removed from play, and Destiny Draw put Destiny Hero – Malicious into the graveyard. Cyber Valley came down next, and Malicious was removed for another copy in defense mode. Both were removed to allow Chris to draw two cards from his deck, and another Destiny Draw let him trade Destiny Hero – Dasher for two more. Chris set one spell or trap card and passed to Mario.
Mario used his turn to normal summon Dark Grepher and use his effect to ditch Destiny Hero – Dasher and put Dark Magician of Chaos in his graveyard. He then played Monster Reborn to get back Dark Magician of Chaos and the Monster Reborn. Both monsters attacked directly, Mario set a spell or trap and Chris was up.
Chris openedwith Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Mario’s set Torrential Tribute. Return from the Different Dimension came next, allowing Chris to special summon both copies of Destiny Hero – Malicious in defense mode, Destiny Hero – Fear Monger in attack mode and Cyber Valley. Next Chris played Machine Duplication to grab one more copy of Cyber Valley and fill up his field. Both copies of Cyber Valley and Malicious were removed to draw four cards. Chris, now holding 10 cards in his hand, spent some time to plan the rest of his turn. Reinforcement of the Army brought Dark Grepher to Chris’ hand. Grepher was normal summoned and its effect used to drop Dark Magician of Chaos and Strike Ninja into the graveyard. Dark Armed Dragon came down next, Enemy Controller traded Grepher for Mario’s Dark Magician of Chaos, and Mario’s life points were down to 1400. Chris set two spell or trap cards, destroyed the Magician with the Dragon’s ability and passed.
Mario drew and activated Brain Control to take the Dragon. After it was under his control, Chris flipped Crush Card Virus, tributing his Destiny Hero – Fear Monger to take out the Dragon. Mario revealed a hand of Reinforcement of the Army, Monster Reborn, and Trap Dustshoot. Chris was at 1750 though thanks to his Return, and Mario grabbed Elemental Hero Stratos to attack for game.
Mario Matheu mounts a furious comeback to take the game 2-1.