Chris Moosman is one of the last 7-1 Chain Strike players left, with Lance Leonhardt, Matt Murphy, and Brodie Heinrichsen all sitting at 6-2 records or lower. A win here would put Moosman into the Top 8, while a loss would be a bit disappointing for the Project D. team.

Moosman’s work is cut out for him: he’s up against Shonen Jump Championship Anaheim’s champion! Hooman Farahbakush is back after his surprising win just weeks ago, and now he’s on the bubble for another Top 8 appearance! A win could mean back to back titles for the Las Vegas duelist. This match, which pitted Farahbakush’s Monarchs against Chain Strike Burn, was bound to be a classic.

Hooman won the roll, and opened with Treeborn Frog in his hand. He set a card to each zone and passed. Moosman activated Tremendous Fire in his first main phase, then set a total of four cards to his back row: “Go ahead.”

The set Treeborn Frog Hooman had on the field was tributed for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch immediately. Moosman chained to the effect, first with Threatening Roar, then Poison of the Old Man, and Accumulated Fortune! Hooman took 800, Moosman lost his in-hand Waboku and play passed to Moosman. He activated another Tremendous Fire, dropping Farahbakush to 5200. He then set his remaining two in-hand cards.

Thestalos attacked, but Moosman flipped Dimension Wall! Farahbakush took 2400 damage, set a monster and ended. Moosman drew, set his draw, ended, and Farahbakush attacked: Moosman flipped another Dimension Wall! Desperate, Farahbakush asked the judge if he could chain Sakuretsu Armor to destroy his own Thestalos. He was summarily denied, and Moosman added Chain Strike to the chain to finish him off.

Chris Moosman takes the first duel in a matter of just three turns!

Both duelists sided and then gave each other’s decks a very thorough shuffle. Farahbakush was up.

He again opened with Treeborn Frog in his hand. He set a monster and ended with nothing in his back row. Moosman activated Tremendous Fire and set only one back row card.

“All done?” asked Farahbakush. Moosman nodded to confirm.

Farahbakush just set a second monster. “Go ahead.”  Moosman drew and proceeded to set two more cards to his back row. Farahbakush blasted him with Heavy Storm, but Moosman chained Scapegoat, Secret Barrel, and then Accumulated Fortune! He’d slow-rolled into a perfect play, dropping Farahbakush to 5400 life points in the process. Moosman had adapted to Farahbakush’s conservative play style.

But Farahbakush wasn’t done! He tributed Treeborn Frog for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, discarding Moosman’s Threatening Roar. Thestalos attacked a Sheep, and the Las Vegas native finished his turn by setting another back row card.

Moosman proceeded to set all five of his in-hand cards next turn to his back row. Farahbakush flipped Ring of Destruction targeting a Sheep in his standby phase and Moosman let it go. Frog came back up and Farahbakush tributed it for Mobius the Frost Monarch. Moosman chained Waboku, Threatening Roar, Ceasefire, and finally Chain Detonation to Mobius’ effect, leaving himself with one card set. Farahbakush was down to 3400 life points, and couldn’t attack.

Moosman drew and set his last two cards to his back row. Farahbakush brought back his Treeborn Frog, turned Old Vindictive Magician to attack and used it and Frog to wipe out the Sheep. Thestalos attacked into Magic Cylinder, but Mobius hit directly. Farahbakush set a card to each zone and ended. Moosman drew, set a card, and ended.

“You got it?” asked Farahbakush.

“Yeah,” replied Moosman, looking Farahbakush dead in the eyes. Still, he didn’t make a move to win the game. Farahbakush inspected Moosman’s graveyard at length, then tributed Frog for Thestalos. Thestalos attacked, but Moosman flipped Waboku. Farahbakush ended.

Moosman drew, set his draw and ended. “Go ahead.”

Mobius attacked, Thestalos attacked, and Farahbakush’s second Thestalos struck directly for game! Despite Moosman’s confidence, Farahbakush had won the second duel with 1000 life points remaining.

Both duelists returned to their side decks, making tweaks for the final duel of the day. “I’ll be going first,” announced Moosman, snapping five cards off the top of his deck in one swift move.

He began with Graceful Charity, discarding Ceasefire and Chain Detonation to complete its effect, then blasted Farahbakush with three Tremendous Fire! It was a lot of damage, but it left Moosman with only three cards in his hand and he only set two of them to finish his turn.

Farahbakush attacked with Sangan, knocking Moosman down to 5500 and then setting a spell or trap card. Moosman drew and set two more cards to his back row, but lost one, Just Desserts, to Dust Tornado. Farahbakush ripped Heavy Storm, and activated it! His opponent chained Secret Barrel and Scapegoat, but lost his set Magic Cylinder. Moosman was clearly unhappy.

Farahbakush summoned Mystic Tomato and swung on two Sheep. Moosman drew, set his back row card, and Farahbakush summoned Apprentice Magician to hit two Sheep and swing for 1400 with Mystic Tomato. Moosman set a spell or trap, Farahbakush attacked with his three monsters again, and Moosman dropped to 1300 life points.

He drew a third back row card and Farahbakush activated Ceasefire, trying to go for game, but Moosman chained Poison of the Old Man to gain 1200 and keep himself in the game. Apprentice went to defense position and Farahbakush tried to go for game again, but Waboku shut him down. Moosman drew, flipped Jar of Greed to draw again, and then set both of his draws. There was no way he was going to win this.

Farahbakush tributed his Apprentice for Mobius the Frost Monarch, and destroyed Moosman’s two set cards: Chain Strike and Poison of the Old Man. Mobius swung for game and it was all over!

“I’ll be honest, that was because of the ripped Heavy,” admitted Farahbakush. It was a nice show of honesty and humility.

Hooman Farahbakush pulls out a huge win, to claim his second Shonen Jump Championship Top 8 in a matter of weeks!