Today’s Top 8 match features Chi Vinh Le (a.k.a Kiew), the winner of Nationals 2004, and Le van Son, one of the better-known players from Niedersachsen. Chi proved again that you can count on him on most bigger events, as he usually finishes very highly.

Le started the game and set a card in each zone. Chi just set a monster and Le flip-summoned Old Vindictive Magician, destroyed Exarion Universe with its effect, offered his monster as a tribute for Cyber Dragon, and attacked directly for 2100 damage. Chi cleared the field with Dark Hole, then summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior and shot down Call of the Haunted with its counter. After attacking directly, Chi was done with his turn. After setting a monster, Le was done with his turn as well. Chi activated Reinforcement of the Army to fetch Mystic Swordsman LV2, summoned the Swordsman, destroyed Apprentice Magician, and Breaker the Magical Warrior struck for another time. The 2004 National Champion set another spell or trap and passed.

Le summoned Mystic Tomato, attacked into Sakuretsu Armor, then set a spell or trap and passed. Chi attacked with both of his monsters for the full damage and passed. Le set another two spells or traps as Chi activated Heavy Storm to clear the field, then summoned Exiled Force and activated its effect to get rid of the last monster. He then attacked for the win in the first duel!

Game 2

Chi left Le with no chance during game 1 and never lost track of his goal to reach the Top 4. Both players side decked before Le opened game 2.

He copied his opening move from the first game as he set a card to each zone, and Chi had a strong answer by summoning Cyber Dragon and Mystic Swordsman LV2. The Swordsman attacked into Sakuretsu Armor, but Cyber Dragon was able to destroy Stealth Bird.

Chi activated Wave-Motion Cannon before passing, and Le set another monster and two spells or traps. Chi activated Dust Tornado targeting Level Limit – Area B to give Mystic Tomato and Cyber Dragon the chance to attack.

The Dragon destroyed another Stealth Bird and Mystic Tomato attacked into Scapegoat, leaving Le with three Sheep tokens. Le decided just to pass, but Chi summoned Exarion Universe, attacked for some piercing damage, and the other Sheep were destroyed.

Le set a monster and passed, activated Mystical Space Typhoon on Wave-Motion Cannon, and was done. Chi’s Cyber Dragon destroyed Magician of Faith, returning Nobleman of Crossout, and his other monsters attacked directly. Chi set another spell or trap and passed.

Le activated Dark Hole to come back in the game, activated another Level Limit – Area B and passed. Chi set his third spell or trap, and Le also set a card and passed. It was up to Le again.

He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, destroyed Enemy Controller, which was activated in a chain to switch Breaker back to attack position before Level Limit – Area B changed its position again. Both players passed for two turns before Chi set a monster.

Le remained unimpressed and passed. Chi flip summoned Magician of Faith, returning Wave-Motion Cannon, activated the Wave, offered Magician of Faith as a tribute for Mobius the Frost Monarch, and destroyed Judgment of Anubis and Level Limit – Area B.

Le offered Breaker the Magical Warrior for a Mobius the Frost Monarch of his own. Chi wasn’t able to chain, and Sakuretsu Armor was destroyed, along with the Wave-Motion Cannon. Le's Monarch destroyed his opponent’s Mobius, Le set another spell or trap and wanted to pass, but Dust Tornado destroyed the set Sakuretsu Armor.

Chi looked at the field and set a spell or trap before he was done. Le’s Mobius the Frost Monarch attacked into Sakuretsu Armor, he set a monster in his second main phase and passed. Chi summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked into Mystic Tomato, fetching Stealth Bird for Le. Before passing, Chi set another spell or trap.

Le flipped Stealth Bird face down with its own effect before he summoned it again to deal 1000 damage. Then he summoned Tsukuyomi to flip the Bird face down again, then another Level Limit – Area B, switching Cyber Dragon to defense position. Then, Le passed. Dark Hole cleared the field for Chi. He summoned Cyber Jar, but Le’s Torrential Tribute saved him some damage.

Chi activated Call of the Haunted, targeting Mystic Swordsman LV2, attacked for 900 damage, and passed. Le considered his options for a minute, then summoned Tsukuyomi, flipping the Swordsman face down. He activated Nobleman of Crossout to get rid of it once and for all, and after another Wave-Motion Cannon, he was done with his turn.

Chi had a strong comeback with a Wave-Motion Cannon of his own and brought Cyber Jar back with Premature Burial, then attacked for 900 damage. Le checked his graveyard for another time and thought about his options with only 1600 life points left.

He set a monster and passed. Chi summoned Sangan, attacked into Tsukuyomi, and passed.

Le flipped Tsukuyomi face up again, flipping Cyber Jar face down with its effect, then he activated Premature Burial for Stealth Bird. He attacked into Cyber Jar and had a closer look at his new cards, but it didn't look like he had a chance to win. Mystic Tomato was set face down, Chi set all of his three monsters also in face-down defense position, and Le continued his turn.

He activated Wave-Motion Cannon, leaving Chi with 3800 life points, but even with his picked-up Ceasefire, it didn't look like he had a chance to win.

Le activated another Wave-Motion Cannon, set another two spells or traps, and passed. During Chi's draw phase, Le returned Stealth Bird with Call of the Haunted, and then he flipped Ceasefire to deal 3000 damage, leaving Chi with only 800 life points. That was not all that Le could do. Chi Vinh Le activated the effect of his Wave-Motion Cannon, and that was the game for him in this very close duel!

Chi Vinh Le wins, 2-0.