Chris Pittao is a player for Team Xtreme, and is, at a glance, the only Canadian in competition today. Well-reputed in the Toronto area, a Top 8 showing this weekend would be a much-deserved breakthrough performance for him.
But in order to do so, he’ll have to go through Anthony Alvarado, Shonen Jump Charlotte champion and one of many star players for Overdose. A win here could be a windfall for Pittao, but a win for Alvarado will be another step on his journey of fame.
Alvarado won the die roll and opened with a single set spell or trap. Pittao summoned Sangan and attacked directly for 1000 damage. He set one spell or trap and passed. A set card to each zone was Alvarado’s only reply.
Pittao summoned Zaborg the Thunder Monarch to destroy the face down monster on the turn that followed. Its effect blew away Alvarado’s set Exiled Force, and the Sangan he tributed got him Treeborn Frog. He sunk a direct attack into Alvarado’s hide, set a second spell or trap, and ended, now well ahead of the game in respect to field positioning.
But Alvarado brought back Exiled Force with Premature Burial, and tributed for a Zaborg of his own! Pittao’s was destroyed, and Alvarado’s Zaborg attacked directly, clean past both of Pittao’s set back row cards! It was a gutsy move that paid off!
Pittao summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, but Alvarado hit it with Bottomless Trap Hole. Still, Pittao played Premature Burial to bring back his Zaborg, and then played Snatch Steal to take Alvarado’s! He attacked with both, and the first duel drew to a fast close!
A set card to each zone opened the game for Alvarado this time around, prompting Pittao to set one monster and two spell or trap cards. Alvarado drew, flipped Magical Merchant, took Sakuretsu Armor with its effect, and tributed it for Zaborg. Zaborg destroyed Pittao’s face down Spirit Reaper, and attacked. Sakuretsu Armor destroyed it, but Alvarado brought it back with Call of the Haunted for a direct attack and 2400 damage!
Pittao summoned Tsukuyomi, turned Zaborg face down, and attacked, but Tsukuyomi was destroyed by Sakuretsu Armor. Next turn, Alvarado attacked directly with Zaborg, set a monster, and passed. Pittao set another spell or trap card, but Alvarado continued to call his bluffs. Zaborg struck again, reducing Pittao to 800 life points!
Pittao set a third spell or trap and Zaborg tried to attack for game, but Enemy Controller repelled the attack. Alvarado flipped Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive in main phase 2, drew a card for its effect, and played Metamorphosis to turn Zaborg into Dark Balter the Terrible. Pittao drew and flopped his hand in resignation. Three Monarchs and Chaos Sorcerer had sealed his fate, clogging his hand with dead cards.
After much side decking on both sides of the table, Pittao opened game three with two set cards, one to each zone. Alvarado did the same and passed play back to his opponent. Pittao set a second monster, ended his turn, and Alvarado flipped Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. He drew a card, tributed it for Zaborg, destroyed Pittao’s set Dekoichi, and attacked his set Treeborn Frog. Alvarado set a second card to his spell and trap zone, and in his end phase Pittao flipped Time Seal.
Pittao drew for his turn, played Heavy Storm to gain some quick card advantage and clear the field, and then played Dark Hole. He attacked directly with Spirit Reaper, but hit Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World! Goldd came down, smashed Reaper off the field, and Pittao had to pass.
Alvarado set a monster, set a spell or trap, and swung directly for 2300 with the Goldd. Pittao took back his Frog, placing it in defense positton on the field, and played Nobleman of Crossout to remove Alvarado’s Magician of Faith from the field. He ended. Alvarado set another monster, swung on the Frog with Goldd, and passed. Pittao took back his Frog again, set another back row card, and ended.
Alvarado flipped Magical Merchant, grabbed Bottomless Trap Hole with its effect, and attacked with Goldd into the Frog. But Pittao had Time Seal as his only set card, and activated it to ensure that he could get back his Frog in his standby phase!
Pittao special summoned the Frog yet again, set another monster, and ended. Alvarado summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior and announced an attack with Goldd. It was enough for Pittao, who scooped and admitted defeat.
Alvarado shook his hand and took a moment to talk about the match with his opponent. “The only reason I brought in that Goldd from my side deck was when you showed me your Monarchs after game two. I saw the Thestalos and side decked in Goldd.” Ouch. If Pittao hadn’t given away the fact that he was running Thestalos, that duel might have been far different.
Anthony Alvarado overcomes a game 1 loss to successfully defend his undefeated record!