Vittorio Wiktor is one of the most respected and feared duelists here today. At the young age of 17, his reign as National Champion of Germany has earned him worldwide recognition, and now he’s undefeated here in round 4.
He’s up against 16 year-old Michael Marzoli, an Italian player who has outperformed his National Champion here today. Sitting at the feature match table, he seems to have an air of authority about him. We’ll see how that translates to his play style; he certainly didn’t seem to shrink from the challenge fate had set before him . . .
Marzoli won the opening roll and began the game with Card Trooper. He activated its effect, sent Scapegoat, Destiny Hero - Fear Monger, and Snatch Steal to the graveyard, then followed up by activating Reinforcement of the Army. He searched his deck for Destiny Hero – Disk Commander and ended, inviting an attack from Wiktor. It was a peculiar opening, as Marzoli could have summoned Elemental Hero Stratos.
Wiktor took the invitation, special summoning Cyber Dragon and Sangan. Cyber Dragon attacked the Trooper, and Sangan attacked directly. “Set a card,” — one hit Wiktor’s back row, “and it’s your turn.”
Heavy Storm destroyed Wiktor’s set Call of the Haunted, and now Marzoli took the opportunity to summon Stratos. He searched his deck for Destiny Hero – Dasher with his effect, and then attacked Sangan to send Wiktor to his deck. He took Treeborn Frog with Sangan’s effect and Marzoli set two cards to his back row.
“Draw phase,” announced Wiktor, drawing for his turn. Cyber Dragon attacked Stratos, but Marzoli activated Mirror Force to keep Stratos alive and destroy the Dragon. Wiktor was forcing Marzoli to make less than ideal plays, and would continue trying to do so. He set a monster and ended. “Your turn.”
Destiny Draw sent Marzoli’s in-hand Disk Commander to the graveyard and, after he drew two cards for Destiny Draw, he drew two more thanks to Premature Burial; Disk Commander came back up. He then tributed Commander for Cyber Dragon, and used Call of the Haunted to bring back Disk Commander for another two draws! Marzoli started moving with a fierce precision, snapping his cards to the field as he played them. Next was Nobleman of Crossout, removing Wiktor’s set Mask of Darkness from the field! He fished another from his deck and got ready to eat some serious damage. Marzoli attacked with all three monsters, set one back row card, and ended, with Wiktor down to less than half his starting number of life points.
Wiktor fought back. He special summoned Cyber Dragon, then activated Soul Exchange to tribute his opponent’s Cyber Dragon for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch! Thestalos’ effect forced Marzoli to discard Destiny Hero – Dasher, inflicting 600 damage, and Wiktor ended his turn with one set card in his back row, in no way eager to offer Marzoli another opening as he had the turn before.
Marzoli topdecked into Cyber Dragon, and snapped it to the field with Dasher’s effect! He normal summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Malicious with priority, and hit, destroying Wiktor’s set Mirror Force, a ruinous play that doomed the German Champion! Marzoli revealed Brain Control and it was all over: Thestalos traded sides, attacked Wiktor’s Cyber Dragon, and the remaining four monsters Marzoli controlled were all free to attack directly.
Italy’s Michael Marzoli delivers a Disk Commander beating to Vittorio Wiktor, utterly destroying the famed German Champion in the first duel!
“I start,” announced Wiktor as the second duel began. He set one card to his spell and trap zone immediately, then a monster after a few moments’ thought. Marzoli set one back row card and ended, prompting Wiktor to flip summon his set Sangan and attack for 1000 damage. He set a monster, set another card to his spell and trap zone, and ended: Marzoli flipped Royal Decree in the end phase!
He special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Card Trooper, and sent to the graveyard Limiter Removal, Brain Control, and Destiny Hero – Disk Commander. Cyber Dragon attacked Wiktor’s set monster, hit, and revealed it to be Gravekeeper’s Guard. Wiktor labored for a while, trying to decide what to return to Marzoli’s hand: he eventually chose Cyber Dragon. Card Trooper attacked Sangan, struck for 900 damage, and Wiktor searched his deck for Snipe Hunter. One set card finished Marzoli’s turn.
Wiktor summoned Snipe Hunter and passed priority. It attacked Card Trooper, Marzoli drew a card, and Wiktor discarded Treeborn Frog to target Royal Decree for destruction. It hit, bringing Wiktor’s set cards back online! He set two more to his back row, a huge risk, and ended.
The Cyber Dragon came back down for Marzoli, who special summoned it yet again. It attacked Snipe Hunter, and Magic Cylinder sent the damage back at Marzoli! He was down to just 2800 life points. He set another card to his back row and ended.
“Draw phase,” announced Wiktor again, drawing for his turn. He discarded Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive for Snipe Hunter, destroyed Cyber Dragon with its effect, then attacked directly with the Hunter — Scapegoat held it off, and Wiktor did not attack a token. He set a monster instead, happy to leave the game locked up.
Marzoli discarded Fear Monger for Destiny Draw and drew. He activated Snatch Steal, targeting his opponent’s Snipe Hunter, and Wiktor had to consider his response for quite a while: he tributed the Snipe Hunter to take control of a Sheep token! Marzoli had four cards in hand, and Wiktor really didn’t want him to have a Snipe Hunter.
He normal summoned one anyway, but Wiktor negated it with Solemn Judgment! But Marzoli kept pressing, flipping Call of the Haunted to bring back Snipe Hunter! He discarded Dark Magician of Chaos to target Wiktor’s set monster and Wiktor just shook his head — things were not going his way, and he was forced to flip Torrential Tribute. He winced as he revealed his set monster: Morphing Jar. He was now completely out of cards.
He winced again as Marzoli activated Premature Burial, this time special summoning Card Trooper. He revealed his last card . . . Machine Duplication. It was over! Wiktor offered the handshake and the match was finished.
A flurry of insistent, controlling plays let Italy’s Michael Marzoli defeat German National Champion Vittorio Wiktor! Marzoli moves on undefeated.