If you’re even a modestly competitive duelist, you probably recognize Adam Corn, the reigning U.S. National Champion. Coming off a strong third-place showing at the World Championships just weeks ago, Corn is undefeated here today and seems locked in for another Day 2 finish.

But his opponent is another National Champ! Guy Israel was the 2005 Champion of Belgium, and is one of the most internationally-recognized players Europe has to offer. Finishing 12th at this summer’s European Championship, he narrowly missed a shot at attending Worlds this year. This one was going to be interesting.

Corn won the opening roll and activated Confiscation, revealing Israel’s hand of Limiter Removal, Trap Dustshoot, Cyber Dragon, Overload Fusion, and Premature Burial. He discarded Trap Dustshoot, set a spell or trap, and ended. Israel set a spell or trap to match Corn’s, Corn passed, Israel passed, and Corn set a monster. Israel drew for his turn, activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Ring of Destruction, and then special summoned Cyber Dragon. He normal summoned Card Trooper, fed it Jinzo, Widespread Ruin, and Scapegoat from the top of his deck, and attacked. Corn’s set Treeborn Frog was destroyed, and Cyber Dragon struck directly for first damage, dropping Corn to 4900 life points! The match was moving at a furious pace.

Treeborn Frog sprung onto the field next turn, special summoned in defense mode by Corn. He activated Brain Control, took Card Trooper, and sent two copies of Raiza and one copy of Mind Crush to the graveyard for its effect. Definitely not a good thing. He tributed Trooper for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch though, forcing Israel to discard Raiza from his hand and running over Cyber Dragon. A set spell or trap ended Corn’s turn. Israel activated Premature Burial, special summoned Jinzo from his graveyard, and dropped to 6300 life points. Cyber Phoenix was normal summoned, and Brain Control took Corn’s Thestalos! Cyber Phoenix attacked Treeborn Frog, leaving Jinzo and Thestalos to attack directly for game.

Victory for the Belgian Champion! Corn dove to his side deck to prepare for game 2.

“I just needed a monster,” commented Corn.

“For game?” asked Israel.

“No, just because I had Monarchs.”

Israel nodded. “You start?” Corn confirmed, and opened with a set card to each zone. Israel fired back with Card Trooper, sent three cards to the graveyard to pay for its ATK boost, then attacked into Gravekeeper’s Spy. Corn got another Spy from his deck, and when Israel set Scapegoat and tried to move to the end phase, he lost his spell to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Much shuffling of Corn’s hand came next, as he debated how best to capitalize on the opening he’d created. He eventually decided to tribute a Spy for Raiza the Storm Monarch, bouncing Card Trooper to the top of his opponent’s deck and swinging directly with both Spy and Raiza. He set a spell or trap to end. The Trooper came down again, Israel boosted it to 1900 ATK, and he sent Trooper to attack Gravekeeper’s Spy. “Book of Moon?” asked Israel. He made the read but played into it despite himself.

Corn nodded and flipped Book, turning Spy face down in response to the attack. Card Trooper crashed into it—now in defense mode—and bounced off as another Spy was searched from Corn’s deck. Smashing Ground in main phase 2 destroyed Spy, and a desperate Israel activated Overload Fusion, giving up the on-field Trooper and in-graveyard Jinzo and Cyber Dragon to bring out Chimeratech Overdragon as a wall.

System Down from Corn wiped it off the field next turn, and there was nothing Israel could do. He quickly scooped, and play proceeded to game 3.

Israel opened with a set monster and a set spell or trap, then set Trap Dustshoot. Dustshoot revealed Corn’s hand of Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, System Down, Morphing Jar, Gravekeeper’s Guard, Raiza the Storm Monarch, and Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive next turn, costing Corn Morphing Jar. Corn set a monster, and then Israel flip-summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive and tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch, blowing Corn’s set monster back to the top of his deck and making a direct attack! Another spell or trap hit Israel’s back row.

Corn set a monster (Dekoichi), and lost it to Raiza next turn. Israel set Dustshoot, this time taking Corn’s last non-tribute monster: Gravekeeper’s Guard. Corn shuffled his hand, which contained Mirror Force, and set two spell or trap cards. Raiza attacked next turn and Corn flipped Mirror to destroy it. Corn set a spell or trap and next turn Israel attacked him with Spirit Reaper, costing Corn Thestalos.

Another set monster from Corn, and Israel summoned Cyber Phoenix. Phoenix attacked, hitting Gravekeeper’s Guard, which Corn had somehow managed to draw again! Corn used its effect to return Reaper back to Israel’s hand, and next turn he tributed for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. Israel blasted it with Pulling the Rug! Corn special summoned Cyber Dragon, attacked, and lost Cyber Dragon to Mirror Force: yet another blow. The crowd winced in unison, but Corn ended his turn with System Down to get rid of Cyber Phoenix.

Heavy Storm fell from Israel’s hand next turn, but Corn chained Waboku. Israel set a monster and two back-row cards, and next turn Corn could do nothing. A turn later, Israel summoned Card Trooper, activated Machine Duplication, and ran Corn over!

The American champ tipped his hand: two copies of Raiza the Storm Monarch, both useless without any monsters.

2005 Belgian National Champion Guy Israel defeats American Champ Adam Corn to move on undefeated!