Gladiator Beast vs. Gladiator Beast. We're all familiar with this matchup, but few of us expected so many Gladiators to trump the Teleport decks on day 2. Gladiators just continue to prove that when they know the opponent's decklist they are the best deck. Kohanim has already won a tournament with Gladiators and is looking to make it a second. Edgar is looking for his first win here today and wanted to give another shout out to Ant for his decklist. Mike wanted to thank Steve for lending him the Heraklinos and to Mark for helping him test last night.

Flores won the roll and opened with Elemental Hero Stratos and a set card, retrieving Elemental Hero Prisma with his effect. Kohanim opened with two set spell or trap cards and a set monster before passing. Flores played Cold Wave to start off his turn but Kohanim chained Crush Card Virus! He tributed Sangan and searched for Test Tiger and Flores lost all but two cards from his hand. Next turn Kohanim summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, attacked for 1900 safely because of Cold Wave and then broke the face-down Book of Moon.

Flores was up again and he set one to each zone before passing. Kohanim played a Gladiator Beast and Test Tiger to tag out for Gladiator Beast Bestiari to break the face-down Mirror Force and attacked into Gladiator Beast Hoplomus. He tagged out for Gladiator Beast Murmillo to destroy the Hoplomus and passed. Flores drew Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and played Reinforcement of the Army for Elemental Hero Prisma, attacking into Mirror Force. He passed with Wind Blast in hand and on his turn Kohanim summoned Spirit Reaper to strip him off it. He set a spell or trap and passed.

Flores topdecked Monster Reborn but Kohanim had the D.D. Crow and that was the game. Crush Card Virus does it again, and Kohanim takes full advantage of the knowledge of his opponent's cards to win the duel. The players side decked and shuffled up quickly. They were both used to how this match went down by now.

Flores began the second duel with Elemental Hero Stratos to fetch Elemental Hero Prisma. He set a spell or trap before passing to Kohanim who looked less than pleased with his opening draw. He thought for a moment and played Reinforcement of the Army for Elemental Hero Stratos. He summoned him, but Flores wasn't having it. He flipped Solemn Judgment to destroy the Stratos and send him packing. After attacking for 1800 he set one card to each zone. Kohanim mimicked the play, setting two spell or traps and a monster on his own. I'm guessing both players had Crush Cards down.

Sure enough Flores flipped Crush Card Virus on his end phase, dropping two monsters from Kohanim’s hand and revealing a face-down Sangan. He summoned Neo-Spacian Grand Mole on his turn and attacked, but Kohanim expectedly flipped his own Crush Card Virus. Flores lost everything except his in-hand Reinforcement of the Army and Kohanim searched Gladiator Beast Bestiari with Sangan's effect.

Kohanim drew and revealed Bottomless Trap Hole before summoning his Gladiator and using Test Tiger to bring out Gladiator Beast Darius. With it Gladiator Beast Gyzarus came down and destroyed the Mole before dropping Flores to 1600. Kohanim then tagged out for a Darius and a Laquari, retrieving a second Darius and contact Fusing for Gladiator Beast Heraklinos. Flores' draw was revealed to be Test Tiger and Kohanim's Bottomless Trap Hole took care of Flores' searched Prisma. That was the match.

Crush Card Virus, some good cards, and solid play allow Michael Kohanim to absolutely destroy Edgar Flores 2-0.