Earlier today I featured Zaki Said in a deck profile, saying that he had a strong chance of making Day 2. Now he was sitting on a 6-1 record, just two victories away from capturing the Top 16 appearance that had so narrowly escaped him in Philadelphia. His opponent was Rob Cedar, a renowned competitor who would find himself at a disadvantage in this matchup. While Cedar was running Gladiator Beasts, Said was heavily teched against that particular deck. We’d see now if his confidence would pay off in this metagame’s most feared matchup.
He won the die roll and opened with Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Destiny Hero - Fear Monger, Premature Burial, Solemn Judgment, Trap Dustshoot, and Bottomless Trap Hole. He set Ryko, then set all three of his traps.
Said flipped Trap Dustshoot in his opponent’s draw phase, revealing nothing but spells and traps. It was a rough beat and it only got worse, as Cedar activated Heavy Storm next, destroying Said’s Solemn Judgment and Bottomless Trap Hole. Cedar then set two cards to his back row.
But Said flip summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, destroying Solemn Judgment and sending Dark Magician of Chaos, D.D. Crow, and Brain Control off the top of his deck to his graveyard. With the Solemn gone he activated Premature Burial, targeted Dark Magician of Chaos, and brought it back to the field! That let him return Brain Control to his hand, and he attacked with both monsters for a total of 3000 damage. Cedar was up.
He had one card set, and drew to three in hand. He summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, activated its effect to send Gladiator Beast Bestiari to the graveyard, then attacked over Ryko. He set a second card to his back row and Said attacked with Dark Magician of Chaos. Cedar activated Book of Moon to turn it face down and Said set a spell or trap to finish his turn.
Cedar activated Cold Wave, telegraphing a Gladiator Beast Gyzarus combo with his Prisma! Said chained Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarded Destiny Hero - Fear Monger, and sent Prisma back to the top of Cedar’s deck, cutting his plans short. Said flip summoned Dark Magician of Chaos next turn, attacked with it, and knocked Cedar down to 2200 life points. He ended with nothing else on the field.
A set monster was Cedar’s only move, and Said attacked it next turn—Dark Magician of Chaos removed Cedar’s defense-position Gladiator Beast Darius from the game. Cedar set another monster, and Said drew into Reinforcement of the Army. He activated it, searched out Dark Grepher, and discarded Destiny Hero - Plasma to special summon it. He then discarded Destiny Hero - Malicious for Grepher’s effect, shunted D.D. Crow to his graveyard from his deck, and removed Malicious to special summon another copy in attack position. Said turned to the crowd, showboating. “You can quote me on this: either you go big, or you go home!”
Dark Magician of Chaos attacked Cedar’s face-down monster: Spirit Reaper! Said played Brain Control in main phase 2, but Cedar chained Crush Card Virus to tribute his targeted Spirit Reaper, and Said lost Dark Magician of Chaos and Dark Grepher! He was left with Malicious in attack mode and D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation in hand.
Cedar attacked Malicious with Prisma next turn, knowing that his survival in this duel depended entirely on Said’s topdeck. If Said drew a monster that Crush Card Virus could eliminate, he wouldn’t have anything to discard for D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation. But if he could keep his draw, he could play D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation to bring back Dark Magician of Chaos, taking back Brain Control and using it to steal Prisma for game. Cedar ended his turn and held his breath.
Said topdecked Reinforcement of the Army! Cedar immediately scooped, and dove into his side deck.
Zaki Said pulls out a narrow Game 1 win, barely playing out of Crush Card Virus on a lucky topdeck! Play moved to the second duel.
Cedar summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, searched Elemental Hero Prisma from his deck and ended. Said activated Reinforcement of the Army. “Search for that guy,” he said, pointing to Elemental Hero Stratos. He summoned his own copy, searched out Destiny Hero - Malicious, and discarded it for Destiny Draw. He smacked his Stratos into Cedar’s and ended with a cleared field, each Stratos destroying the other.
Gladiator Beast Darius was summoned on Cedar’s turn, and he attacked for 1700 damage before tagging out to Gladiator Beast Laquari. Said set a monster, holding Destiny Draw, Allure of Darkness, Heavy Storm, and three Dark Armed Dragon cards. Said didn’t want to tip his hand until he had game with those three Dragons, and if Cedar was going to continue under-committing to the field, Said was going to let him.
Cedar summoned another Laquari, attacked with it, and lost his boosted Laquari to the effect of Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter! Cedar set a spell or trap to end his turn, and Said drew Cyber Dragon. He activated Heavy Storm, then activated Allure of Darkness, drawing Mirror Force and Jinzo.
“No Darks?” asked Cedar.
“Just two,” replied Said, bluffing. He removed one of his Dark Armed Dragon cards for Allure’s effect, then special summoned Cyber Dragon. He removed one Malicious from his graveyard, special summoned another, and tributed Malicious for Jinzo. With Phantom of Chaos in his graveyard thanks to Ryko’s effect, Jinzo would be Said’s third Dark if it were to be destroyed. In the meantime, Said sent Jinzo to attack Laquari, then attacked directly with Cyber Dragon.
The duel stood at 6300 life points to 5300, with Said leading. Cedar activated Cold Wave, summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, sent Bestiari to the graveyard with Prisma’s effect, and then special summoned Test Tiger. He tagged out to Darius, special summoned Bestiari, and contact fused for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus!
“Fuuuuuudge,” groaned Said, as he lost his Jinzo and Cyber Dragon. He took Test Tiger for a moment from Cedar’s graveyard, read it, and shook his head as Cedar attacked with Gyzarus, tagging out to two copies of Darius. Said needed to get Cedar to pass with nothing in his back row, and pretending he was beaten was the best way to do that.
“Who loves GB’s?” shouted Said in a mocking tone, as each Darius got a Laquari from the graveyard. Said clapped under the table, playing the role of the jaded Gladiator Beast victim to a tee. Cedar left all four monsters on the field, and sure enough, he set nothing.
Said’s face went totally calm as Cedar ended, and moments later he special summoned two copies of Dark Armed Dragon! Cedar immediately offered the handshake!
Zaki Said’s master plan pays off in Game 2, ending the match!