Wade’s deck, with 50 cards, has drawn eyes all weekend, while Alex, comfortable with his Gladiator Beast build, has been pretty quiet.
I asked them if they were ready for the big game. Alex nodded, while Wade gave me a thumbs-up.
Game 1
Wade won the roll, and started by summoning Jain, Lightsworn Paladin and setting one back row card.
Alex started off his turn with Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, which returned both monsters to their owner’s hands. He then set two back row cards and ended his turn.
Wade summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, who Alex removed with Bottomless Trap Hole, so her effect didn’t destroy anything. He ended his turn.
Alex summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, but Wade used his Solemn Judgment, dropping to 4000! Alex passed the turn.
Wade summoned Jain again, and Alex replied with his own Solemn Judgment, now tied with Wade at 4000. Wade passed the turn back to Alex.
Alex set a monster and a back row card, and then it was back to Wade. He summoned Lumina, discarding Destiny Hero - Disk Commander, and returning Jain from his graveyard. Jain attacked, but Alex chained Crush Card Virus, taking out Jain, and Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior from Wade’s hand. Lumina went in for 1000, and Alex was at 3000. He set one back row card and passed the turn.
Alex set another card in each row, ending his turn.
Wade revealed Bottomless Trap Hole for his draw due to Crush Card Virus. He activated Lumina, discarding another copy of Lumina to bring Lyla into play. He used her effect to destroy Alex’s set Cold Wave. He set one more back row, and special summoned Wulf, Lightsworn Beast during his end phase as it went to his graveyard from his deck.
Alex set another monster, and then used contact Fusion to get out Gyzarus, which Wade negated with Solemn Judgment, going to 2000 life points. Alex, with nothing left, decided to concede and move to game 2.
We weren’t able to see Alex’s side deck choices. Wade changed his deck using his side deck cards, seeming to remove Garoth and Sangan for Mystical Space Typhoon and Twister.
Game 2
Alex chose to play first, and began with one set monster and two back row cards. During Wade’s standby phase, Alex used Trap Dustshoot, sending Wade’s Necro Gardna back into his deck, suggesting an aggressive early game plan. Wade played Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Alex’s other set back row card, Book of Moon, and summoned Lyla. He passed the turn. Alex summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, sending Gladiator Beast Bestiari to the graveyard with his effect. He played Smashing Ground to destroy Lyla, then flipped his face-down monster, D.D. Warrior, face up and attacked with both, bringing Wade to 5100. Setting one back row card, he ended his turn.
Wade played Jain to his empty field, and attacked Alex’s Prisma. Alex activated Light-Imprisoning Mirror. The attack put Alex at 7900, and, after setting 1 back row, he ended his turn.
Alex summoned Gladiator Beast Darius, then attacked Jain with D.D. Warrior, and attacked Wade with Darius, setting Wade’s life total to 3400 and Alex’s to 7300. Alex then switched out his Darius for Gladiator Beast Laquari, ending his turn.
Wade set another back row card and passed the turn back.
Alex played Heavy Storm, which destroyed his own Light-Imprisoning Mirror and Wade’s set Pot of Avarice and Twister, then he attacked Wade down to 1300. He then switched Laquari out for Darius, special summoning Bestiari to the field. He then Fused them both for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, ending his turn.
Wade only set one monster, and passed it back.
Alex attacked the set monster, an Honest, and then switched Gyzarus out for two copies of Laquari. Setting a monster, he ended his turn.
Wade looked at his draw for a moment, then decided that he couldn’t recover, and picked up his cards for game 3. Neither player changed cards out before the next game.
Game 3
Wade chose to take the first turn, and drew with Solar Recharge, discarding Celestia, Lightsworn Angel. He thought for a bit before setting Morphing Jar and two cards to his back row before passing the turn.
Alex set three cards to his spell and trap card zone, and then ended his turn. During Wade’s standby phase, he activated Trap Dustshoot, revealing Wade’s Heavy Storm! He decided to send Wade’s Lyla back into his deck. Wade then played his Heavy Storm, and Alex let it go. It destroyed Alex’s Solemn Judgment and Torrential Tribute and Wade’s Twister. He thin Flipped his Morphing Jar, resetting both player’s hands.
He summoned Ehren, Lightsworn Monk, and attacked with both, putting Alex at 5700. He set a back row card and ended his turn.
Alex summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari, and then used D.D. Crow to remove Wade’s Necro Gardna from play. He attacked Morphing Jar, and Wade was now at 7200. Alex switched out his Bestiari for Gladiator Beast Laquari, and then set three cards to his back row, ending his turn.
Wade tributed Ehren for Celestia, to which Alex chained Light-Imprisoning Mirror. Wade consulted with the judge to see if the effect of Celestia would be negated, and the judge confirmed that it would negate Celestia’s effect. He then chained Twister to destroy the Mirror, paying his 500 life points. Alex then chained Bottomless Trap Hole. Celestia was removed, Twister destroyed the Light-Imprisoning Mirror, and Celestia destroyed Alex’s Mirror Force. What a chain! Wade’s turn ended.
Alex summoned D.D. Warrior and attacked with both, putting Wade at 3400. Setting one card to his back row, he ended his turn.
Wade played Brain Control, targeting Alex’s Laquari. He then attacked D.D. Warrior with it, putting Alex at 4800 and both monsters were removed. He set one monster and passed the turn to Alex.
Alex only set one back row card and ended his turn.
Wade took no action and it was back to Alex.
Alex summoned Stratos, searching out Prisma, then attacked Wade’s set monster, an Honest, going to 4700. He ended his turn. Wade did nothing on his turn.
Alex summoned Prisma, sending Bestiari to his graveyard. His Premature Burial brought it to the field, and contact Fusion brought out Gyzarus, to which Wade had no answer. They shook hands and it was over.