23 year-old New Yorker Vincent Tundo made his name two years ago at the 2006 National Championships, when he debuted his first Royal Magical Library OTK. Relying on a combo between Blasting the Ruins and Life Equalizer, Tundo would draw through his entire deck thanks to the Library and a mix of spells. The Limitation of Giant Trunade removed that particular draw engine from tournament viability, but this weekend he’s back with an all-new version. He’s probably the only person in the building running Cup of Ace and Golden Bamboo Sword.
His opponent hails from Waukegan, Illinois. Palley Put is a 19 year-old certified nursing assistant, and he’s playing a more typical deck — Monarchs. Tundo’s deck will have to work flawlessly. Palley's build is reliable, and he’ll be able to put fast pressure on the fan-favorite from Fredoria.
Tundo opened with a poor hand, and was forced to activate Cup of Ace — he flipped tails, and Palley drew two cards. He set one card to his back row and ended. “Go ahead.” Palley fired back next turn with Spirit Reaper, forcing Tundo to discard Monster Reborn! Palley set one card to his spell and trap zone and ended.
He set two cards to his back row, activated Broken Bamboo Sword to destroy Reaper, and passed. “Summon Stratos,” announced Palley on the turn that followed, searching his deck for Destiny Hero – Disk Commander. Stratos struck for 1800 damage, and Palley set two cards to his back row. “I’ll end.”
“Go ahead,” replied Tundo, drawing and passing immediately. Palley summoned Sangan, attacked, and dealt a total of 2800 damage. Another spell or trap card finished his turn.
Tundo drew and flipped Hand Destruction, discarding Disk Commander and Golden Bamboo Sword. His opponent discarded Disk Commander and Marshmallon. Tundo had set Magical Explosion, and counted the spells in his graveyard — just five. He set another Hand Destruction and ended, down to 4100 life points. The Destruction was spun back to the top of his deck in the end phase by Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, and next turn Palley set a monster before swinging for another 2800 damage.
The Hand Destruction was played a turn later, netting Tundo nothing but Trade-In and Destiny Draw — both dead cards. Palley played Heavy Storm and Tundo scooped it up!
A disappointing showing that was all downhill from a missed Cup of Ace costs Vincent Tundo the all-important first duel, and Palley Put scores the win! Now that Palley knew what he was up against, he’d have an advantage in the rest of the match. Neither player opted to use his side deck.
“I’ll go first,” announced Tundo, drawing an opening hand of Destiny Hero - Dogma, Card Destruction, Giant Trunade, Trade-In, Disk Commander, and Hand Destruction. It was definitely a far better hand than last game. Trade-In got him Royal Magical Library and Destiny Hero – Dreadmaster to start. He summoned the Library, dropped Disk Commander and another card for Hand Destruction, then activated Destiny Draw, discarding Dreadmaster to draw two more. Monster Reborn brought up the Disk Commander for two draws, and Royal Magical Library got him another. Upstart Goblin got him yet another card, and Hand Destruction got him two more. The machine was working!
Tundo had discarded a second Library and Dogma for the Hand Destruction, while Palley ditched Destiny Draw and Spirit Reaper. Tundo followed up with Upstart Goblin, drew for it, and then drew again with the Library. Another Destiny Draw, this time with Dogma, got him two more cards.
He equipped Royal Magical Library with Broken Bamboo Sword! Golden Bamboo Sword came down for two draws, and Library got another counter. Two more Golden Bamboo Swords were played, then Upstart Goblin, and another Royal Magical draw finished off a flurry of cards! Tundo had ten cards in his hand and was clearly unstoppable.
He pitched Destiny Hero – Plasma for Destiny Draw, equipped another Broken Bamboo Sword to the Library, and then hit heads on Cup of Ace! That let him draw again with Royal Magical Library, and he started counting spells in his graveyard.
Satisfied with his position he set two spells to the field, and then activated another surprising piece of tech — Final Destiny! He discarded three monsters and two spells, and wiped the field! Tundo then set Wall of Revealing Light, Magical Explosion, and Life Equalizer. He’d win next turn.
Sure enough, he activated Wall of Revealing Light in Palley's draw phase and paid himself down to 1000 life points. He then chained Magical Explosion, and chained Life Equalizer to that. Life Equalizer resolved and Palley dropped to 3000 life points. When Magical Explosion resolved it was game over. Both duelists dove into their side decks. Vincent Tundo’s insane strategy goes off like clockwork and he’s still in the match!
Both competitors exchanged wishes of good luck, and Palley started the final duel. He set a monster, set two cards to his back row and ended. Tundo set a card to his spell and trap zone, summoned Royal Magical Library and activated Card Destruction, ditching three cards. He drew into Destiny Draw, Dogma, and Golden Bamboo Sword with Trade-In set. He discarded Dogma for Destiny Draw, but Palley activated Solemn Judgment to shut it down! Tundo was forced to pass.
Dust Tornado wiped out his Trade-In, Palley set a spell or trap, and Reinforcement of the Army got him Elemental Hero Stratos. Stratos got him Destiny Hero – Fear Monger, and he flip summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy. “I’m not going to use its effect.” Stratos ran over the Library, Spy hit for direct damage, and play was back to Tundo. With the Library stuck in the graveyard he’d need a miracle to pull out of this train wreck.
He summoned Snipe Hunter and lost it to another Solemn Judgment. “Go ahead.” He had just one card remaining in hand (a useless Golden Bamboo Sword) and next turn Palley polished him off by summoning Fear Monger and activating Monster Reborn. He’d discarded a copy of Caius the Shadow Monarch to Tundo’s Card Destruction earlier, and he brought him back to make the final attack he’d need to win. Tundo extended the handshake.
“That was god-awful,” laughed Tundo, eliciting another laugh from Palley. Go figure — maybe playing an OTK deck in an environment packed with Solemn Judgment wasn’t the best call after all.
Palley Put scores the win over Vincent Tundo, moving on with nine rounds between him and a seat in Day 2! Tundo’s crazy OTK will have to win out to stay in the tournament.