It all came down to this. The final round of the 2007 US National Championships; one duelist would emerge from the next three duels as the reigning American champ!

Rockenbach won the opening roll and began the first duel with a set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Corn fired back a set monster himself, and Rockenbach flipped Dekoichi for a draw. He then tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch, spinning Corn’s monster to the top of his deck and attacking for 2400 damage.

Snatch Steal gave control of Raiza to Corn! He pondered his next move carefully, opting to tribute the Raiza for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch. Rockenbach was forced to discard Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, and Thestalos attacked directly. “Go.” Neither duelist was eager to commit cards to the field.

Brain Control let Rockenbach turn the tables, giving him control of Thestalos, allowing him to attack directly for 2400 and then tribute for a Thestalos of his own! Corn lost Raiza the Storm Monarch from his hand, a significant blow, and Rockenbach ended. Corn set a monster, passed, and Rockenbach’s Thestalos was tributed for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch on the following turn! Corn’s set Mystic Tomato was destroyed, and he took another 2400 damage. It was all over a turn later as he revealed his hand: Trap Dustshoot and three useless Monarchs.

Both duelists were showing very little signs of the pressure they were under, and each side decked carefully. Each competitor quickly counted out his side deck, shuffled, and presented his deck, and the second duel began.

Bryan Rockenbach was one duel away from becoming the US National Champion. With a deck that ran thirteen Monarchs. And Jinzo. Unbelievable stuff.

Corn opened the second game with a set spell or trap card. “Go.” Rockenbach set a card to each zone, Corn set a monster, and Rockenbach set Sangan. “Go.”

Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive was flip summoned by Corn, who drew for its effect and visibly picked up steam. Dekoichi attacked Rockenbach’s first set monster, but it was Gravekeeper’s Spy, and she remained on the field to special summon another! Corn would have to commit himself more to the field, or set Torrential Tribute. He ended his turn with a set spell or trap card. Was it Torrential?

The answer came quickly: it was! When Rockenbach tributed his Sangan for Mobius the Frost Monarch Corn responded with Torrential Tribute, wiping the field. Rockenbach searched his deck for Treeborn Frog with Sangan, but had no offensive follow-up: he ended his turn.

Trades of that type were the kind Corn needed to make if he hoped to redeem his first duel. He drew for his turn, looked through his hand briefly, and then set it down on the table for a moment to look at Rockenbach. He picked the hand back up, considered his options, and was prompted by the table judge to make a move. He set one card to his spell and trap zone: “Go.”

Rockenbach set another card to his back row, and then set a monster. Corn activated Premature Burial, but Rockenbach cut him off with Mystical Space Typhoon, before Corn could even declare a target. Stymied, Corn set a second spell or trap to his back row.

Treeborn came back up for Rockenbach, who tributed for Mobius again! This time it targeted Corn’s Sakuretsu Armor and Book of Moon: the latter was chained to Mobius’ effect and turned him face down, saving Corn from taking 2400 damage.

The duel still stood at 6600 to 8000, and Corn set a monster and another back row card. Rockenbach flip summoned his face down Mobius the Frost Monarch and then activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Corn’s set Gravekeeper’s Spy from the field! One was peeled from his deck in addition, and Mobius attacked into Corn’s set Mirror Force, a desperate play on Corn’s behalf: his facial expression clearly showed that he wasn’t happy. Corn drew, passed, Rockenbach passed, Corn passed back, and Rockenbach activated Pot of Avarice for a couple more cards.

Rockenbach activated Confiscation to reveal Corn’s hand: Pot of Avarice, Heavy Storm, Mobius, Raiza, Brain Control, and Zaborg. The latter appeared to be discarded, though it was difficult to identify which card had been sent to the graveyard with the rapid pace of play.

“Go ahead.” Rockenbach had no offensive follow-up, but knew Corn wasn’t an immediate threat. Corn set a spell or trap, Rockenbach set a monster, and play was to Corn.

Again, he took a great deal of time considering his move. He set a monster, and then passed his turn with a wave of his hand, not looking very confident. Rockenbach flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, drew a card, and tributed Dekoichi for Raiza the Storm Monarch. Raiza bounced Corn’s set monster, but when Raiza attacked he was blocked by Scapegoat. One Sheep fell to Raiza and Rockenbach set Pulling the Rug.

Corn passed, immediately riffling through his graveyard. Rockenbach did the same with his own and then attacked a Sheep with Raiza. Corn set a monster and Rockenbach tributed his Raiza to destroy it with Zaborg: Corn lost Mystic Tomato, and Zaborg destroyed a Sheep. Corn set Trap Dustshoot, flipped it on Rockenbach’s turn, and shuffled back another Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. “Destroy the last Sheep,” declared Rockenbach, attacking it with Zaborg.

A set monster was played by Corn, who then set a card to his spell and trap zone. “Cards?” he asked.

“Six,” replied Rockenbach.

“Maaan . . .” Corn shook his head, setting a second card to his back row. “Go.”

Zaborg was tributed for Jinzo, but when it attacked it hit Morphing Jar! Corn took his new hand and rolled up his sleeves, back in business! Rockenbach ended his turn.

Corn activated Pot of Avarice, sending Mystic Tomato, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Raiza the Storm Monarch, Mobius the Frost Monarch, and finally the Morphing Jar back into his deck. He drew his two cards for the resolution of Avarice, and then flipped his set Heavy Storm to destroy Rockenbach’s set Mirror Force, Brain Control, and Pulling the Rug! It was a huge play that left Rockenbach with only six cards: Jinzo and five in hand. Brain Control took the Jinzo, Corn attacked with it, and then tributed it for a face down monster.

The duel stood at 4600 to 5800 with Corn now leading!

Rockenbach brought up his Treeborn Frog, then tributed it for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch. Thestalos’ effect discarded Corn’s in-hand Sangan and he dropped to 5500 life points. Rockenbach activated Premature Burial, targeted Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, and brought him to the field. Zaborg attacked, destroying Corn’s set Cyber Dragon, and Thestalos hit directly. The duelists began moving faster: this game was clearly drawing to a close. Rockenbach set another back row card and ended.

Cyber Dragon was special summoned by Corn, who followed it up with Brain Control!  He then activated Snatch Steal to take Thestalos, and attacked directly with all three: Rockenbach had a useless Torrential Tribute set and just couldn’t defend himself!

Adam Corn makes a huge comeback to press the game to a third duel!

Both competitors side decked in silence. Barring a freakish Ring of Destruction, we would have a new champion at the end of this duel.

Rockenbach opened with a set monster and a set bluff — Brain Control. Corn set a monster, then set two back row cards: one of them was Trap Dustshoot, and he activated it on Rockenbach’s turn. He got a good look at Rockenbach’s hand (Zaborg, Mirror Force, Torrential Tribute, Heavy Storm, and Confiscation) then shuffled back Zaborg the Thunder Monarch.

Rockenbach activated Confiscation, revealing Corn’s hand of Brain Control, Book of Moon, and Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch: Thestalos was discarded. “Your turn.” Now both duelists knew what the other had in-hand, an interesting situation.

Play was to Corn, who set a monster. Rockenbach set another spell or trap, and Corn flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive to draw. Dekoichi attacked, but ran straight into Rockenbach’s set Gravekeeper’s Spy: another came out in defense position. “Go,” announced Corn.

Rockenbach tributed one Spy for Mobius the Frost Monarch, but lost him to Pulling the Rug! Unable to do anything else he ended his turn, and the Rug quickly took on the tone of a play that could be a turning point in the duel. Corn had a chance here to extend his domination of the field: he had two monsters to Rockenbach’s one. Sure enough, he went for it, but didn’t press an offensive: he set a monster, turned Dekoichi to defense, and set another spell or trap card. Rockenbach passed, and Corn was probably pretty happy about that.

He tributed his set Sangan for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, but Rockenbach chained Torrential Tribute! Thestalos forced him to discard his in-hand Heavy Storm, but the damage was done. Corn searched for Dekoichi with Sangan and ended.

“Go ahead.” — Rockenbach passed, Corn set a monster, and Rockenbach passed again. Corn flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, summoned Card Trooper and used its effect with priority. Card Trooper sent Pot of Avarice, Premature Burial, and Dekoichi to the graveyard, then attacked. It was followed by an attack from Dekoichi, and both struck directly! “Go!” Corn was shuffling his hand now, his voice adopting a cheerier tone.

Rockenbach dropped to 2900 life points to activate Brain Control. He tried to take Corn’s Card Trooper, but Book of Moon cut him off by turning it face down. Rockenbach shook his head, and had to use Snatch Steal to take Dekoichi. He tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch, bounced Card Trooper back to the top of Corn’s deck, and attacked directly for 2400 damage. A set card to his back row, then another, ended his turn.

The duel stood at 2900 to 5000.

Corn activated Brain Control, taking Raiza! Raiza attacked directly and Rockenbach had to concede the poor trade: he flipped Mirror Force to protect himself. Corn set a monster, Rockenbach passed, and Corn checked his set monster. He flip summoned it — Mystic Tomato, and then normal summoned Card Trooper. He pumped it to 1900 ATK, attacked with it directly, and Rockenbach revealed his last set card: Ring of Destruction! There was nothing he could do to save himself. Adam Corn had won the match!

The crowd exploded into cheers, as duelist after duelist came to congratulate Corn. Anthony Alvarado, Paul Levitin, Evan Vargas, Jake McNeely, Shane Scurry, and many more shook the new Champion’s hand, bombarding him with congratulations and questions about the match.

Southern California’s Adam Corn is your 2007 National Champion!