After a year on the bench, Theeresak Poonsombat has returned to Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG competition. A former American National Champion and the holder of an unprecedented five-time Top 8 Shonen Jump Championship record, T was once the heart and soul of Comic Odyssey. Now he’s back, and with one match win under his belt he’s well on his way to making a comeback.

In his way is one of Canada’s greats: Lazaro Bellido has qualified for Day 2 at two Shonen Jump Championships, Chicago and Columbus. Brother to the famed Dale Bellido, he’s no doubt hungry to taste SJC gold here today.

Both duelists needed this win.

Bellido opened with one set monster, and T fired back with Nobleman of Crossout and Sangan, removing Drillroid from the field. Sangan hit directly, T set a spell or trap, and passed.

Cyber Dragon came down for Bellido, but he lost it to Sakuretsu Armor when it attacked. He special summoned another, set a monster, and passed, still with nothing played to his spell and trap zone.  An all-monster hand perhaps? Poonsombat tributed his Sangan for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Bellido’s set monster, Cyber-Stein, with Zaborg’s effect, and searched his deck for Tsukuyomi. Zaborg nailed Bellido’s Cyber Dragon, hammering through a bit of damage, and Poonsombat set a spell or trap card to finish his turn.

Bellido summoned another Cyber-Stein! He activated its effect with priority, paid 5000 life points to special summon Cyber Twin Dragon, and attacked with it. T seemed to run some numbers, then took the attack, watching Zaborg get hit. Twin Dragon attacked again, Cyber Dragon hit, and it was 4100 to 1700 in Poonsombat’s favor. Bellido set a spell or trap, but Dust Tornado destroyed it in the end phase.

Poonsombat had Mystic Tomato, Tsukuyomi, Chaos Sorcerer, and Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive in his hand. He thought his moves out carefully, clearly shaking off some “ring rust”. He special summoned the Sorcerer: “Priority?” asked Bellido. Poonsombat shook his head. He wasn’t ready to commit to a decision.

He removed the Cyber Twin Dragon from play after a minute or two of thought, then set a monster. Exiled Force destroyed the Sorcerer next turn, Cyber-Stein went to defense, and Poonsombat was up again. He drew into Premature Burial, revealed it to Bellido, and that was all Lazaro needed to see. Both duelists began side decking, smoke screening for game 2.

Theeresak Poonsombat wins the first duel!

Bellido opened game 2 with a set card to each zone. Poonsombat activated Graceful Charity to start his turn, and picked between two Asura Priest, Cyber Dragon, Enemy Controller, Confiscation, Creature Swap, Smashing Ground, and Torrential Tribute, eventually discarding Smashing and one of the Priests. He fingered Cyber Dragon, but then decided to press with just the Asura. He hit into Nimble Momonga, and Bellido only pulled one more to the field! That, and the sad look on Bellido’s face, betrayed the fact that he had one locked in his hand.

“I won’t attack,” announced T, leaving the second Momonga there. Instead he activated Confiscation, revealing the Momonga he knew to be in Bellido’s hand, Giant Trunade, Limiter Removal, and Poison of the Old Man. He discarded the Trunade, set Torrential Tribute and Enemy Controller, and looked Bellido in the eye: “Go ahead.”

Bellido considered setting a second spell or trap, but then returned it to his hand. He started fingering his Momonga, perhaps considering the fast shot for 1000 damage. He set a spell or trap and then flipped the squirrel, indeed hitting for 1000. He set a second monster and ended.

T special summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked Bellido’s attack position Momonga, costing him 100 life points in the long run. He ended, Bellido passed, and Poonsombat considered making a small over-extension, summoning Asura Priest. Bellido had Torrential Tribute, flipped it to clear the field, and Poonsombat passed.

Bellido activated Giant Trunade, and chained his set Poison of the Old Man to burn Poonsombat! He summoned Cyber-Stein and looked at his opponent: “Game?” he asked.

“Yeah” confirmed T, conceding the duel.

The match stood at one win each. Both duelists were silent as they began side decking for the third and final duel.

Poonsombat opened game 3 with a set card to his back row, and that was it. Bellido activated Giant Trunade, and summoned Cyber-Stein. He brought down Cyber Twin Dragon, attacked with it, and played Limiter Removal to bump his Dragon up to 5600 ATK! A second attack from the Dragon finished the match!

Lazaro Bellido lays out Theeresak Poonsombat, in what’s shaping up to be a bad day for American National Champions.