Dexter Dalit is a two-time Canadian National Champion, and is coming off an eleventh-place finish at last week’s Canadian Nats. Many duel fans called it an impressive showing: Dalit himself called it “heartbreaking.” A Day 2 here in Philadelphia would do a lot to assuage his so-called heartbreak.

But his opponent was no slouch. Shane Scurry is coming from a second place finish at the US National Championships, and has had a stellar year as a headliner for Team Overdose. Both of these duelists were running Gladiator Beasts, yet another mirror match here today.

Game 1

Dalit won the opening roll and set two cards to his back row. He set a monster, Scurry set a monster, and then Scurry mirrored the two spell and trap zone set. Play was to Dalit.

He set another monster, and then contact Fused them both (Gladiator Beast Laquari and Gladiator Beast Bestiari) for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus. Scurry chained in response to the contact Fusion, discarding D.D. Crow to send one spell or trap back to Dalit’s deck with Phoenix Wing Wind Blast. That left Gyzarus with only two targets — Bottomless Trap Hole and Sangan! Geeze: I don’t want to feed Shane Scurry’s ego, but that was pretty freakin’ good. He searched out Test Tiger with Sangan after the Bottomless swallowed up Gyzarus, and Dalit ended his turn.

Scurry summoned Elemental Hero Prisma. He sent Bestiari to the graveyard for its effect, special summoned Test Tiger, and tagged Prisma out by tributing the Tiger. That brought out Gladiator Beast Darius. Darius’ effect targeted Bestiari, but Dalit chained D.D. Crow to deny the move, leaving Scurry just to attack with Darius. Dalit responded with Enemy Controller to turn Darius to defense mode, and Scurry ended.

Dalit summoned Prisma, sent Bestiari to the graveyard, and then special summoned Test Tiger. Prisma went out, Darius came in, and when Darius went for Bestiari it was Scurry’s turn to chain D.D. Crow! Darius attacked and tagged out for Laquari. Dalit set his last card to his back row.

Scurry drew and he had two cards, but Dalit had the advantage of a pumped Laquari. Scurry activated Mystical Space Typhoon, destroyed Dalit’s Dust Tornado, and summoned his last card — Neo-Spacian Grand Mole. He ended without attacking, the smart defensive move.

But Dalit had him out-drawn. He topped Elemental Hero Prisma, sent a second Bestiari to the graveyard, and contact Fused! Scurry lost his Grand Mole to Gyzarus, it attacked for 2400 damage, and it tagged out for Darius and Laquari. Darius brought back Bestiari and Dalit passed.

Scurry drew and passed, then took 5300 damage from Dalit’s three Gladiator Beasts next turn. He had just 300 life points left. Dalit ended, and Scurry scooped up his cards next turn, topping a dead Crush Card Virus. Siding was extensive, and Scurry opened game 2.

Game 2

He had nothing but spells and Test Tiger. He passed his opening turn, took 1500 from Gladiator Beast Bestiari, and Dalit tagged Bestiari out for Laquari. He set one spell or trap, set a second, then ended.

Scurry activated Heavy Storm, and Dalit gave up Solemn Judgment and Dimensional Prison. Brain Control let Scurry take the Laquari, and he special summoned Test Tiger to tag it out for Gladiator Beast Secutor. Suddenly, Secutor was flanked by two boosted copies of Laquari, and Scurry’s all-spell hand wasn’t looking bad at all!

He set a spell or trap and ended. Dalit summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari, attacked Secutor, and Scurry responded with Book of Moon! Bestiari went face down, and Dalit ended. Laquari attacked Bestiari, the next Laquari made a direct attack, and Secutor attacked again! That brought out two Bestiari, and Scurry ended without making any contact Fusions. Dalit scooped a turn later.

Shane Scurry makes a comeback, winning the second duel as Gladiator Beast Secutor works overtime! The match moved to a third and final duel. Before that though, Scurry specified that he needed to give a shout-out to his friend Chloe.

Game 3

Dalit opened the third duel with Laquari and a set spell or trap. Scurry fired back with Mind Control, and then summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari for the contact Fusion! Gyzarus targeted Dalit’s Enemy Controller, Dalit chained it to turn Gyzarus to defense mode, and Big Green was trapped in defense mode with 1500 DEF. Scurry was holding Test Tiger, alongside Cold Wave, Stratos, and another Bestiari, but opted not to use the Tiger.

The same trick came back to haunt him next turn. Mind Control let Dalit take Gyzarus, and he summoned Bestiari for a contact Fusion. Gyzarus attacked; Dalit tagged it out for two Laquari, and ended with no back row cards.

Scurry summoned Prisma, sent Bestiari to the graveyard for its effect, then special summoned and tributed Test Tiger to tag in Darius. Darius brought up Bestiari, Gyzarus hit the field after the contact Fusion, and then attacked for 2400 damage. Gyzarus tagged out for two Laquari, a popular choice these days. He ended his turn with Cold Wave, Stratos, and Bestiari in hand, promising another Gyzarus next turn.

Dalit left himself wide open to it, setting a monster as his only move. Scurry activated the Cold Wave, summoned Bestiari, and Fused it with a Laquari for Gyzarus. That destroyed Dalit’s set Bestiari (ouch), and together Gyzarus and Laquari attacked for 4500 damage. Dalit had only 1100 life points left to Scurry’s 5600, and Scurry didn’t tag Gyzarus out.

Dalit summoned Rescue Cat! He tributed it to bring out Test Tiger and Neo-Spacian Dark Panther, copied Gladiator Beast Laquari’s name with the Panther, and tributed Tiger to tag the Panther out. That got him Darius, which in turn fetched the Bestiari destroyed last turn! Masterful! What looked like a terrible bluff monster had actually been setting up for this. Unbelievable.

Dalit tagged out both monsters for Gyzarus, destroyed Scurry’s Gyzarus and Laquari, then swung for 2400 damage. He tagged out, keeping himself diversified and bringing two Darius out. Each Darius special summoned another Laquari, and Scurry was in trouble. Dalit Fused everything save a Darius for Heraklinos.

Heraklinos went down next turn, as Scurry summoned Laquari, attacked Darius, and tagged out for Murmillo, destroying Heraklinos. Dalit summoned a Murmillo himself, ran over Scurry’s, and tagged out to Darius, bringing back Heraklinos! A set spell or trap ended Dalit’s turn.

Scurry drew, and was holding Brain Control, Test Tiger, and Stratos. He summoned Stratos, drawing out Solemn Judgment from Dalit! That left him free to play Brain Control, and revealing Test Tiger was enough to get Dalit to scoop.

Shane Scurry comes back from a game 1 loss to take games 2 and 3, defeating two-time National Champion Dexter Dalit!