The feature match for the last round of Day 1 saw Carl Emerson battling Daniel Moses. Carl Emerson, from a neighbor island, has placed 3rd in a local Regionals, while his opponent, Daniel, has had three appearances in the Top 8 of Regional Championships . . . but no win yet.
I asked them how they felt, playing at the feature table of a Shonen Jump. They both answered.
“Nervous.”
“Nervous.”
Game 1
Daniel won the die roll and chose to play first.
He played Reinforcement of the Army for Elemental Hero Stratos, summoned him, and searched for Destiny Hero – Plasma. He then drew for Destiny Draw, discarding Disk Commander, and set a back row before passing the turn.
Carl had almost a mirror turn, playing his own Reinforcement of the Army, searching out Stratos and summoning him. He used his effect to search out Disk Commander and played Destiny Draw, discarding Disk Commander. Attacking, he traded his Stratos for Daniel’s and set a back row, passing. During the end phase, Daniel tried Limit Reverse on Disk Commander, but Carl had D.D. Crow to remove him from play.
On Daniel’s turn, he used Trade-In, discarding Plasma, then played Dark Grepher, discarding a Destiny Hero – Malicious to send Darklord Zerato to his graveyard from his deck. His attack prompted a chained Fires of Doomsday, and in the replay, Daniel attacked one token. Setting one back row, he passed the turn.
Carl tributed the other token for Jinzo, then used Monster Reborn on Daniel’s Zerato. The attack with Zerato destroyed Dark Grepher, but when Jinzo was about to attack in, Daniel had his own Fires of Doomsday. Jinzo defeated one token and then it was Daniel’s turn.
Dark Armed Dragon was Daniel’s next play, and he used his effect to destroy Darklord Zerato. He then removed that card from the graveyard to destroy Jinzo and attacked Carl, who was now at 5200.
Carl set a monster and passed it back to Daniel.
Daniel used D.D.R. – Different Dimension Reincarnation on Darklord Zerato, destroyed Destiny Hero - Fear Monger with Dark Armed Dragon, and then attacked. Carl, with no response, got ready for the next game.
Game 2
Carl chose to play first, and started with a set card in each row. Daniel used Soul Exchange, tributing Carl’s Gravekeeper’s Spy for Caius the Shadow Monarch, who removed Carl’s set Destiny Draw. Carl drew on his turn anyway with Allure of Darkness, and then played Monster Reborn on his Gravekeeper’s Spy. He used her as tribute for Prime Material Dragon, which then traded with Daniel’s Caius. With one set back row card, he ended his turn.
Daniel tried Premature Burial on Caius, but Carl had D.D. Crow to remove him. Daniel passed it back to Carl, who played Snipe Hunter. With no activation, he attacked, but Daniel had Mirror Force.
Daniel had no play and it was back to Carl, who summoned Destiny Hero – Fear Monger and attacked, putting Daniel at 6200. Daniel took his turn, drawing with Destiny Draw, and using Limit Reverse targeting his own Fear Monger in the graveyard. Carl chained Royal Oppression, paying 800 life points to negate the special summon. Daniel set a back row card and ended his turn.
Carl attacked with his Fear Monger, dropping Daniel’s life points to 5200. Daniel drew for his turn, still unable to find a monster. He set another back row and passed.
Carl tributed his Fear Monger for Caius, removing Daniel’s set Destiny Draw. The attack took Daniel to 2800. Daniel drew, and, again with no monster, passed it back. Carl attacked again, putting Daniel at 400. Setting one back row, he passed it to Daniel, who finally had a monster to set.
Carl summoned Sangan, and Caius attacked Daniel’s set monster, an Armageddon Knight, while Sangan attacked to end the game.
Game 3
Daniel took the first turn and set a Disk Commander and a back row. Carl set two cards to his back row and set one monster. Daniel used Mystical Space Typhoon destroying Carl’s set Destiny Draw, a popular ploy in this match, then tributed Disk Commander for Caius removing Phantom of Chaos (hitting for 1000), then attacked for another 2400.
Carl had no monster to play and passed.
Daniel attacked again, putting Carl at 2200!
Carl tried Allure of Darkness, and thought for a while before removing Dark Armed Dragon from his hand. He then used Reinforcement of the Army to get Stratos. He summoned him, activated his effect, then chained Torrential Tribute to his effect. He took Disk Commander from his deck and passed the turn.
Daniel set to his back row and ended his turn.
Carl set a monster and two cards to his back row and passed it right back
Daniel played Reinforcement of the Army to get his own Stratos, and summoned him. He used his effect to get Destiny Hero - Malicious into his hand. Then Destiny Draw discarded him to his graveyard while he drew two cards. Carl’s Limit Reverse on Disk Commander was met by Daniel’s D.D. Crow. Carl had no monster and passed.
Daniel attacked with Stratos, but Carl chained Fires of Doomsday. Daniel attacked one of the tokens and passed the turn.
Carl then flipped a set Heavy Storm, surprising Daniel. “Are you serious?” he asked. Carl then summoned Caius by tributing the other token, removing Daniel’s Stratos with his effect and attacking for game!