Overdose powerhouse Emon Ghaneian is playing a colorful Return deck, packing two copies of Skull Lair. He's trying to break John Jenson's record here in Houston today. In his way is Steven Arias, Nationals Top 4 competitor. Emon rolled a twelve on two dice and Arias declined to roll at all.

Emon opened his turn with a set spell or trap card before passing. Steven mirrored the play and Emon was up again. Emon simply passed back to Steven, who liked Emon's plays so much he followed suit again. Emon beefed up his back row with a spell or trap, and Steven did the same. Emon set a monster and play passed to Steven. Steven set another card to his backfield and passed back to Emon. Emon set another monster before giving Steven the turn once more. Steven special summoned Cyber Dragon and tributed it for Mobius the Frost Monarch, destroying Heavy Storm and Sakuretsu Armor. He set a fourth backfield card and attacked into the original face down monster, Snipe Hunter. Nobleman of Crossout flipped to remove a second Snipe Hunter from the game.

Emon used Snatch Steal to take control of Mobius and attacked. Steven flipped Scapegoat and Emon hit one Sheep token. Steven made no moves on his turn. On Emon's turn he summoned Snipe Hunter and passed priority. Steven had no response, and Emon declined to use Snipe Hunter's effect. He attacked straight into Mirror Force and passed with one back row card. Mystic Tomato dropped on Steven's side of the field and Emon activated Torrential Tribute to clear it and the Sheep tokens from the field. Premature Burial brought Mobius back into play and took a hefty chunk from Emon's life points. Steven set a back row card and passed.

Emon summoned Bazoo the Soul-Eater, removed two Snipe Hunter's from play and used Dimension Fusion to bring them back. Steven had the Torrential Tribute though, and Emon's plans were once again shut down. He set a pair of back row cards and passed to Steven. Steven set a spell or trap and play was back to Emon. He set a monster and passed right back. Steven special summoned Cyber Dragon and tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch to destroy Emon's Gravekeeper's Spy. Emon flipped Skull Lair as Steven entered his battle phase, and when Steven attacked Emon used its effect to destroy Zaborg. Steven dropped Heavy Storm main phase 2 to destroy Skull Lair and a face down Return from the Different Dimension. He set a backfield card and passed to Emon who set a backfield of his own and passed right back. Steven set a monster and passed to Emon who also set a monster.

Steven was up again and he used Pot of Avarice. He dropped Hydrogeddon into play and attacked into a face down Gravekeeper's Spy. He passed, and Emon dropped Card Trooper into play. He used its effect to pull Overload Fusion, Dark Magician of Chaos, and Cyber Phoenix off the top of his deck and into the graveyard. The Trooper ran over Hydrogeddon and Emon passed his turn. Steven summoned Mystic Tomato and used Snatch Steal on Card Trooper. He tossed three cards of his own and flipped Legendary Jujitsu Master. Brain Control took Emon's Spy and Steven attacked with everything into Mirror Force. He passed his turn with no cards in play.

Emon couldn't capitalize though, and set a card to each zone before passing. Steven set a monster and it was Emon's turn again. Emon summoned Card Trooper again and lost two cards from his deck. Trooper attacked into Gravekeeper's Spy and Steven brought forth another from his deck. He flipped Magical Merchant and lost four monsters before getting Sakuretsu Armor. He flipped another Skull Lair to destroy both Spy’s, set two back row cards, and passed. Steven set a card to each zone and passed with no cards in hand.

Emon was up again, and he used Exiled Force on Sangan. Sangan searched out Treeborn Frog. Emon stood at 3000 life points to Steven's 6700. Emon attacked for 600 damage and passed. He was running low on cards in deck and was reluctant to use Trooper's effect. Steven flipped Mystical Space Typhoon and hit Smashing Ground. He set another backfield card and passed to Emon. Emon tributed Magical Merchant for Jinzo and hit the Frog with Trooper and hit Steven directly. Smashing Ground flipped to destroy Jinzo, and Steven set his last card to his backfield.

Emon used Trooper's effect and ran into Sakuretsu Armor. He set another monster and passed to Steven. Steven's Frog came back into play and he set a spell or trap. Emon used Skull Lair on the Frog during Steven's end phase, removing Jinzo. On his turn, Emon flipped Return from the Different Dimension to bring back Snipe Hunter, Cyber Phoenix, Jinzo and Bazoo the Soul-Eater. His onslaught of monsters drove home game. "Oh man, I did stuff to avoid stuff, but you still had stuff!"  A classic Emon quote.

Both players spent some time adjusting their decks in-between duels, and Steven started us off for game 2. He set one monster and passed, and Emon special summoned Cyber Dragon, summoned Snipe Hunter and discarded Jinzo to destroy Treeborn Frog. He attacked with both monsters and passed to Steven. Steven brought back his Frog, used Enemy Controller to take control of Cyber Dragon during the standby phase, and brought back the Frog again. He attacked Snipe Hunter with Cyber Dragon, set a spell or trap, and passed back. Emon brought out Bazoo the Soul-Eater and used priority to remove Jinzo and Snipe Hunter. Steven had the Torrential Tribute though, and Emon passed with nothing on the field.

Steven summoned Hydrogeddon to attack Emon directly and set a back row card. Emon drew, special summoned Cyber Dragon and used Dimension Fusion to bring back Jinzo and Snipe Hunter. He discarded Cyber Dragon to destroy Treeborn Frog and attacked through Hydrogeddon for game. Emon's strong game 2 hand takes advantage of Steven's poor draw in only three turns.

Emon Ghaneian defeats Steven Arias 2-0 to move on to the finals.