Two years ago Dale Bellido won the title of Shonen Jump Champion right here in Chicago. Now, he was 3-0 and well on his way to another Day 2 finish.

But in his way was Paul Levitin. “This is funny,” commented Levitin as he took his seat. “Me and Shane, we leant Dale and Matt Peddle Crush Cards, and now we’re playing both of them this round.” Ouch.

“Shuffle my deck as hard as you want, Paul!” Bellido grinned from ear to ear.

He opened the game with Pyramid Turtle and a set spell or trap card. Levitin played Reinforcement of the Army, searched his deck for Elemental Hero Stratos, and summoned him. He used Stratos’ effect to search his deck for Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude, then activated Swords of Revealing Light to end.

Dale summoned Snipe Hunter. He pitched Giant Rat to blow away Swords of Revealing Light, sent Pyramid Turtle into Stratos, destroying Turtle to fetch Il Blud, and then attacked with it to destroy the Hero. Snipe Hunter attacked directly and Bellido set another spell or trap.

Levitin activated Heavy Storm! Bellido lost Dust Tornado and Lightning Vortex. Levitin followed it up with Reasoning and Dale began running the numbers. “You’ve got a four in your hand . . . I’d foresee me losing to an eight, so I’ll call that.” Levitin special summoned Destiny Hero – Malicious in defense mode as a result and then summoned Exiled Force. Exiled destroyed Il Blud and Levitin finished his turn with a set spell or trap. He had Diamond Dude and another Reasoning still in his hand.

Ryu Kokki was discarded for Snipe Hunter, destroying Levitin’s set Mirror Force. Bellido summoned Pyramid Turtle, ran over Malicious and then attacked with Snipe Hunter directly.

Destiny Draw came off the top of Levitin’s deck and he used it immediately, discarding Diamond Dude. He then brought Malicious out of his deck and to the field by removing the other from his graveyard; the Destiny Draw had given him Monster Gate, the one card he absolutely wanted to see here. Still, he activated Reasoning first, and Dale called eight. Sure enough, Levitin hit Diamond Dude!

“What? That’s ridiculous,” moaned Dale. Monster Gate on Malicious brought out Dark Magician of Chaos, Levitin used the Magician’s effect to retrieve his Dimension Fusion and he removed his four Warriors from his graveyard to get back two copies of Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade. Dimension Fusion brought out Diamond Dude, Exiled Force, and Stratos, and Stratos’ effect fetched Destiny Hero - Dasher. Magical Stone Excavation brought Lightning Vortex back to Levitin’s hand and he activated it, discarding Dasher, his last card, to end the duel in high style. Dale’s field was shredded and he was totally open to the five direct attacks that ensued.

An incredibly intricate series of plays wins Paul Levitin the first duel! Much siding ensued from Dale.

“You’re taking Chicago away from me, Paul!” complained Dale with a friendly smile. He opened yet again by summoning Pyramid Turtle and setting a spell or trap. “Go ahead.”

Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude came down for Levitin. He activated Diamond Dude, missed, and hit Dark Magician of Chaos instead, sending the Magician to the bottom of his deck. “Good to know.” He set one spell or trap, activated Swords of Revealing Light, and ended.

Dale had Snipe Hunter yet again! He summoned it, discarded Ryu Kokki, and destroyed Swords of Revealing Light. He discarded Il Blud next but hit Threatening Roar, which Levitin chained in response. “Go ahead.”

Diamond Dude flipped Reinforcement of the Army off the top of Levitin’s deck next turn, a lucky break. Levitin was holding Return from the Different Dimension, Monster Gate, Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade, and Monster Gate. He attached Divine Sword to Diamond Dude, attacked Snipe Hunter to destroy it, and then set another spell or trap card.

“Cards in hand?” asked Bellido.

“Two,” replied Levitin.

Dale summoned Bazoo the Soul-Eater! He’d clearly used that Return from the Different Dimension side that made such waves when his brother Lazaro first won that Toronto Regional three weeks ago. He removed Snipe Hunter, Il Blud, and Ryu Kokki to pump Bazoo, charged Pyramid Turtle into Diamond Dude in order to special summon Spirit Reaper, and then attacked Diamond Dude with Bazoo. Spirit Reaper hit directly and Levitin was forced to discard Monster Gate. He managed to keep his Gold Sarcophagus.

Levitin searched for Elemental Hero Stratos next turn, thanks to the Reinforcement flipped by Diamond Dude the turn previous. Stratos got another Diamond Dude for Levitin and attacked over Spirit Reaper for 1500 damage. The duel stood at 5800 to 6900 in Levitin’s favor. In main phase 2 he activated Gold Sarcophagus, searched Dark Magician of Chaos from his deck, and removed him from play. He set a second card and ended. With Return set, Dark Magician of Chaos could be brought back at will.

Bellido summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, destroyed Levitin’s set Magical Stone Excavation bluff, and then ran over Diamond Dude with Bazoo before making direct attacks with Reaper and Breaker.

Dale flipped Return from the Different Dimension, going for game by bringing out Il Blud and Ryu Kokki! Kokki attacked and Levitin took the damage, dropping to 1500 life points. Il Blud attacked and Levitin flipped Return, bringing back Dark Magician of Chaos and then retrieving Swords of Revealing Light. Disappointed, Dale refused to replay the attack and set one spell or trap, activated Card of Safe Return, then removing Il Blud and Kokki from play.

The duel stood at 750 to 2900, with Dale now leading.

Levitin removed Stratos and Diamond Dude to take back Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade. He shuffled his hand, activated Swords of Revealing Light, and then set his remaining two cards to his back row.

Dale turned everything to defense and set his topdecked monster. Levitin flipped Reasoning, Dale called four, and Levitin got to bring out Destiny Hero – Malicious, just like the last game. Dale drew a spell or trap, set it, and ended. Levitin did the same. Swords would protect him for one more turn.

Dust Tornado in the end phase destroyed his set Torrential Tribute, but Dale had no follow up. Play passed back to Levitin, who flipped Reinforcement of the Army to search out Exiled Force. He summoned it, turned Malicious to attack, and attached Divine Sword to him. Exiled and Malicious took out Breaker and Bazoo, but when Levitin tributed Exiled Force for its effect the monster he destroyed was Sangan! Bellido searched his deck for Card Trooper, quite pleased with the turn of events. If Levitin couldn’t stop Card Trooper next turn, it would cost him the game.

He set one spell or trap, his last card, and ended. Dale played Card Trooper and Levitin scooped.

“What was that!?” Dale shrieked. “You didn’t think I was gonna do it?!” Levitin blushed and shrugged. “I was worried you had Return down,” explained Bellido.

“That’s what I was waiting for,” grinned Levitin. “I tried for the pro bluff.” Both players sided carefully before shuffling up.

With a handshake the final duel began. Levitin set Call of the Haunted and passed. Dale summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Zombie Master, and destroyed it. “You never miss,” noted Levitin. Snipe Hunter struck for 1500 damage and Dale passed with no back row. He was clearly hurting.

Levitin had Strike Ninja in-hand, clearly having done some fancy side decking of his own. He activated Reasoning, Dale called 4, and Levitin lost Diamond Dude to his graveyard. Another Reasoning hit the table, Dale called 4 again, and this time Levitin got to special summon Destiny Hero - Dasher. It attack Snipe Hunter, went to defense mode and Levitin set a card to his back row.

Dale activated Card of Safe Return. He followed it up with Book of Life to bring back Zombie Master, removed Diamond Dude from Levitin’s graveyard and drew for Safe Return. He pitched a second Zombie Master to special summon it with the first, then discarded Pyramid Turtle to special summon it too, drawing for each. Still, when Dale attacked Levitin flipped Mirror Force. Dale was briefly stymied.

Levitin summoned Stratos, tried to destroy Dale’s set Waboku but watched as it was chained. Dasher went to its stronger attack mode anyways and Levitin ended. Two and a half minutes remained in the match.

Dale set a card to each zone. Levitin activated Monster Gate, tributed Stratos, and special summoned Malicious in defense. He was holding Premature Burial, no doubt a tempting play with Stratos in his graveyard, two Destiny Heroes on the field, and Dale with two cards in his back row. After some serious contemplation he went for it, bringing Stratos up and targeting Dale’s two cards. Dale lost Card of Safe Return and Call of the Haunted, time was called, and Levitin fed Malicious to Dasher. He summoned Strike Ninja, attacked, and hit Dale’s face down Pyramid Turtle. Dale brought out Spirit Reaper in defense mode, his only option in the face of the boosted Dasher.

“Main phase 2,” announced Levitin, removing Malicious from play to bring out another in defense mode. He needed to thin his deck to get to one of his two remaining Lightning Vortexes, and had fifteen cards remaining. Dale set a card to each zone and ended, knowing the odds were stacked against Levitin.

Levitin couldn’t topdeck that Vortex. Dale Bellido wins due to time!