Another Finals, and another TeleDAD mirror match! Chris Hentz has never played in a Shonen Jump Championship before, but this weekend he traveled here from Salem, Oregon and has made it all the way to the last table. Now, his biggest obstacle remains: Cesar “The Princess” Gonzalez!

This is Cesar’s eighth Shonen Jump Championship Day 2. He won Shonen Jump Championship Montreal, but has yet to repeat his victory. Lately he’s been one of the most consistent duelists in the game. Today may be his day.

Hentz exploded out of the gates! Reinforcement of the Army got him Elemental Hero Stratos, which in turn searched Destiny Hero – Malicious. He had no follow-up though, and ended his turn. Cesar discarded Destiny Hero – Malicious for Destiny Draw, lost him to D.D. Crow and set two spell or trap cards: one was Trap Dustshoot.

He flipped it next turn, revealing Hentz’s hand of Sangan, Solemn Judgment, Krebons, Malicious, Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude, and Destiny Hero – Doom Lord. He sent Sangan back to Hentz’s deck, and Hentz summoned Diamond Dude. He activated his effect, sent Emergency Teleport to the bottom of his deck, and attacked for 3200 damage. Cesar was up.

Reinforcement of the Army got him Stratos, which got him the usual pull of Malicious. Stratos ran over Diamond Dude and Cesar set another spell or trap. Hentz set a spell or trap too, summoned Doom Lord, and removed Cesar’s Stratos with Doom Lord’s effect. Cesar ran it over next turn with Dark Grepher, then set a spell or trap card.

Hentz activated Destiny Draw, pitching the Malicious he’d searched for earlier. He drew two, and was holding two copies of Krebons. He summoned Sangan, attacked with Stratos to try and destroy Grepher, but lost out to Phoenix Wing Wind Blast! Cesar discarded Malicious, Hentz set another back row card, and next turn he lost his Sangan to Dark Grepher’s attack. That let him get another D.D. Crow, and he activated it to remove Cesar’s Malicious.

Stratos came back to the field on Cesar’s side, and Hentz removed one Malicious to special summon another in defense position. He tributed Malicious for Caius the Shadow Monarch, removed Cesar’s Grepher for 1000 damage, then ran over Stratos to drop Cesar to 3200 life points. The match moved at a lightning-quick pace.

Cesar activated Heavy Storm from his hand! Hentz flipped Solemn Judgment, Cesar chained one of his own, and Hentz lost Torrential Tribute while Cesar lost another Solemn. Cesar activated Brain Control, activated Emergency Teleport, and Hentz scooped immediately!

Cesar Gonzalez takes the first duel, one win away from becoming a two-time Shonen Jump Champion!

“This is nerve wracking,” moaned Cesar as he mechanically sided. Hentz did the same, and Game 2 began in moments.

Hentz opened with a set monster, and then set three cards to his back row! He flipped Crush Card Virus immediately, tributing Sangan and costing Cesar his Dark Armed Dragon! Sangan got Hentz his D.D. Crow, and Cesar activated Reinforcement of the Army. He got Stratos, summoned him, searched for Malicious, and attacked for 1800 damage. “I’ll set one back field, and end my turn.” Play was to Hentz.

He activated Allure of Darkness, removed the Crow he had searched, and set another spell or trap. Cesar revealed his draw, Allure of Darkness, and attacked with Stratos to drop Hentz to 4400 life points. “I’ll end my turn.”

Hentz passed, Cesar topdecked Spirit Reaper, and Stratos attacked again! Hentz needed to make a big move.

He played Allure of Darkness, then Destiny Draw discarding Malicious. He removed him, special summoned another in defense mode, played Emergency Teleport to bring out Krebons, and Cesar responded with Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Doom Lord to try and spin Malicious — Hentz chained Solemn Judgment! Cesar had 8000 life points, but nothing on the field save Stratos. Hentz was holding Brain Control.

A quick Synchro summon got Hentz Thought Ruler Archfiend, and it attacked Stratos to drop Cesar to 7100. Cesar activated Destiny Draw, discarded Malicious, then special summoned Dark Armed Dragon: Hentz had another Solemn Judgment to negate it! Cesar had four cards left in hand and removed Malicious to special summon another. He activated Allure, drew two, and removed Mystic Tomato for Allure’s effect. Cesar was blazing through his moves.

Emergency Teleport got him Krebons, and he Synchro summoned Colossal Fighter! When the Fighter attacked it was denied by Compulsory Evacuation Device, and Cesar set a card to each zone, and then set Trap Dustshoot. Hentz lost his one monster, Diamond Dude, to Dustshoot next turn, revealing his hand of Heavy Storm, Brain Control, and two Destiny Draw! That Dustshoot really shut him down.

Thought Ruler attacked, but slammed into Cesar’s face-down Spirit Reaper. “Go ahead.” Cesar set another monster, Hentz drew Torrential Tribute, and he attacked Cesar’s face-down Sangan with Thought Ruler. That got Cesar Krebons from his deck, and Hentz activated Brain Control to destroy Reaper. Heavy Storm destroyed Cesar’s face-down Dimensional Prison, and Hentz set Torrential Tribute.

Cesar removed his second Malicious to summon his third, activated Monster Reborn to target his Stratos, then brought him to the field; he used its destruction effect, but Torrential Tribute was chained. Cesar normal summoned Krebons, attacked, set a spell or trap, and Hentz topped Compulsory and set it. All Cesar needed was one monster.