This is easily the most exciting match-up of any major event since Nationals. Emon Ghaneian and Ryan Hayakawa, two previous Shonen Jump champs, are clashing here in the quarterfinals for a chance at winning another championship. It would be a third for Ryan and a second for Emon, and whoever wins this match will be the odds on favorite to take home the Shrink. “Make sure you watch this guy shuffle,” joked Ryan as the duelists prepared to begin the match. Emon won the opening roll 5 to 3 and opted to go first.
After another round of shuffling, the players shook hands and began the match. Emon started with Confiscation revealing Jinzo, Mirror Force, Tsukuyomi, Sangan, and Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. He chose to discard Sangan and followed up with a set Magician of Faith before passing. Ryan drew, set a monster of his own and passed the turn to Emon. He immediately flipped his Magician to take back Confiscation, tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch to destroy Ryan’s facedown Tsukuyomi, and then in main phase 2, played Confiscation again to take Ryan’s Dekoichi.
Ryan set his Mirror Force but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon next turn and Zaborg hit directly for 2400. Emon passed with no backfield and Ryan opted to set two spells or traps before passing. Zaborg made another direct attack to drop Ryan all the way down to 800 and then Emon set a spell or trap and passed back to Ryan who finally had another monster to set.
Emon attacked it, revealing Night Assailant, which took down Zaborg. He passed without playing a new monster, as did Ryan. This time around Emon set a monster, and Ryan opted to make an offensive stand with Cyber Dragon. He then tributed it for Zaborg to take out Emon’s set Magical Merchant and attacked directly unopposed. Emon had a Dragon of his own next turn and he followed it up with Mobius the Frost Monarch to clear Ryan’s backfield of Confiscation and Return. One Smashing Ground later, the players were shuffling up for game two after Mobius’s direct attack.
Emon – 1 Ryan – 0
The players took their time side decking, as any mistake at this point could cost them the entire match. Emon was at a distinct advantage with a win in game one giving him the ability to take more risks in the upcoming game due to the fact that Ryan would have to beat him twice in order to advance whereas he only needed one more win to move on. Ryan chose to go first in game two, and he started off with a set to each zone. Emon had an amazing hand with Royal Decree, Mystic Tomato, Nobleman of Crossout and Snatch Steal among others. He summoned Tomato and attacked into Ryan’s set Dekoichi before setting a spell or trap and passing. Ryan had Cyber Dragon and Breaker the Magical Warrior next turn, and Emon lost his Decree to Breaker’s effect. Cyber Dragon swung in on the Tomato and Emon replaced it with a Spirit Reaper. Breaker hit the Reaper for 1300 more and Emon was down to 6000.
Ryan passed without setting any more cards and Emon surveyed his options. He decided to play it safe, summoning Asura Priest to attack Breaker and switching his Reaper to defense. He set a spell or trap and passed over to Ryan who tributed his Dragon for Jinzo and then destroyed the Reaper with Snatch Steal. Ryan attacked again, but this time Emon couldn’t stand by and idly watch. He summoned Cyber Dragon and activated Snatch Steal on the Jinzo. Ryan responded by tributing the Jinzo to Enemy Controller to take Cyber Dragon for a turn. Emon summoned Newdoria and passed his turn. Ryan then special summoned Chaos Sorcerer to remove the Newdoria, loading his removed zone with Jinzo and Cyber Dragon. Emon was stuck with a Sorcerer that he couldn’t play yet, due to a lack of a Light monster, but fortunately for him, he still had the Cyber Dragon and Asura Priest. He summoned the Priest and flipped Ryan’s Sorcerer down with Book of Moon. Cyber Dragon took it out and then Asura Priest attacked directly to put Ryan at 6200. He set a spell or trap and passed back to Emon who promptly dove into the tank to ponder his next move.
He activated Heavy Storm and waited for a response from Ryan. He chained Scapegoat and all the sheep were destroyed by Asura Priest. Cyber Dragon attacked directly, and Emon was in control of the duel. Ryan summoned Cyber Dragon and checked Emon’s graveyard for light monsters before setting a spell or trap and tributing his Dragon for Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World. Goldd took down the Dragon and the score was 3400 to 4100 in Ryan’s favor.
Emon dropped his Sorcerer next turn to remove Goldd from the game and then summoned Asura Priest. Ryan took the hit and dropped to 2400. He set another spell or trap next turn, as did Emon. Emon turned his Sorcerer to attack position and attacked to bring Ryan to 100 life points. Ryan summoned D.D. Warrior Lady and checked his set cards. With Jinzo in Ryan’s out of play pile, Return from the Different Dimension could mean game, and he had it, returning Jinzo, Cyber Dragon, and Goldd to the field.
He had it, but Emon had the one card to stop it! He had sided in Scapegoat and he now activated it to stay alive. Ryan had only 50 life points left, and he lost them next turn when Asura Priest came down one last time to hit D. D. Warrior Lady.
Emon Ghaneian wins a thrilling match against two-time Shonen Jump winner Ryan Hayakawa to advance to the seminfinals!