Semifinals: Steven Arias Vs. Theerasak:

The game began lightly, with cards being exchanged in not a cautious, but not overzealous manner. After a few turns the game slowed to a crawl in the mid-game with Theerasak locking down Steven with an Imperial Order and a Black Luster Soldier. When Theerasak let go of the lock to mount an offense, all that Steven had down were two face-down spell/trap cards. Theerasak used Pot of Greed and drew into a Feather Duster, and in his attempt to use it to clear Steven’s field, he drew out Steven’s face down Scapegoat, saving Steven for at least another turn. Steven then returned fire with a Pot of Greed, setting two facedown spell/traps and activating a Mirage of Nightmare with no cards in hand. Theerasak then activated a Mirage of his own, but not before MSTing Steven’s Mirage in his draw phase.

Two attacks from the Soldier cleared Steven’s field as he began his turn. Steven then returned Theerasak’s move last turn, MSTing Theerasak’s Mirage in his own draw phase before the effect could be claimed. Steven then bit the bullet to attack Theerasak’s Soldier with a D. D. Warrior Lady, removing it from the game. Unfortunately doing so exhausted Steven’s hand and field, and Theerasak pressed for the victory with a Magician of Faith, Reflect Bounder, and D. D. Warrior Lady.

Game two began with Steven going first. He opened strongly with a Delinquent Duo, pegging Steven’s Confiscation, but Steven’s second discard was a Sinister Serpent. Steven then played a face down spell/trap. Theerasak played down a lone Sangan and attacked, and again Steven reacted with a Scapegoat. Theerasak set a spell/trap and passed without attacking the tokens. Steven cautiously summoned a Shining Angel, but the field was soon wiped clean by Torrential Tribute, and Theerasak took a Witch of the Black Forest with his Sangan, summoning it and attacking.

Steven then brought up a face-down spell/trap and a face-down Imperial Order, which would be immediately activated when Theerasak would attempt a Change of Heart on Steven’s newly-summoned D. D. Warrior Lady. Theerasak set a face-down and passed, leaving Steven to keep the Imperial locked in and to attack the Witch with D. D. Warrior Lady. He set a monster, and play passed to Theerasak, who matched the face-down with one of his own. Steven again paid for the Imperial, this time pressing an offensive against Theerasak’s face-down Sinister Serpent with a Witch of his own. Theerasak attempted to attack the Witch with his own D. D. Warrior Lady, but his efforts were quickly quelled by a Ring of Destruction. The Ring, however, gave Theerasak the Light monster he needed to summon Chaos Emperor Dragon and end the game in one final move.


Finals: Theerasak vs. Sang Bui:

Theerasak wins the roll, and takes first for game one.

Theerasak opens very strong with a Pot of Greed, followed up by a Confiscation to rob Sang of his Graceful Charity. Theerasak set a monster and two spell/traps. Sang then summoned a Witch of the Black Forest, attacked Theerasak’s face down D. D. Warrior Lady and watched as it was removed from play. Theerasak then summoned another D. D. Warrior Lady and swung for 1500. Sang then summoned Tribe-Infecting Virus, declared Warrior, and discarded a Nobleman of Crossout. He attacked for 1600 and passed.

Theerasak then used a Magical Scientist to take out Sang’s Tribe, which Sang then attempted to attack with his Kycoo, which was laid low before it could cause any problems.

The Dark monster was all Theerasak needed to summon Black Luster Soldier to the field, and swing for 3000. Sang would respond with a face down monster and two spell/traps set, bombing his hand.

Soldier removed the face down monster, a Sangan, from play and Theerasak passed. During Sang’s draw phase Theerasak then used Ring of Destruction on the Soldier for game. The crowd applauds, the competitors congratulate each other, and they move into game two.

Sang opens with three set spell/traps, a Mirage of Nightmare, and a set monster. Theerasak MSTs the Mirage in his draw phase to prevent Sang from using its effect. Theerasak summons a Kycoo and announces an attack, but Sang targets it with Ring and resolves successfully. Theerasak drops his own Mirage, but is attacked by Sang’s newly-summoned Kycoo and his set Breaker the Magical Warrior.

Theerasak discards Magical Scientist and Sinister Serpent from Mirage’s effect in his standby, but neglects to take back the Serpent. He activates Pot of Greed and draws two. He summons a Tribe-Infecting Virus and calls Spellcaster, discarding an Airknight Parshath and attacking for 1600.

Sang summons his own Tribe, Premature Burials his Kycoo, and attacks for a sudden victory, much to the surprise of the crowd who didn’t expect the end to come so quickly. They move into game three.

The game begins with Theerasak setting two spell/traps and a monster.

Sang opens with a Harpie’s Feather Duster that is quickly chained with an Imperial Order. Sang attacks with a Kycoo and hits Theerasak’s Witch of the Black Forest: Theerasak takes a Breaker, and Sang passes. Theerasak pays for Imperial and sets a face down. He summons Tribe-Infecting Virus, calls Spellcaster to destroy Kycoo, discarding a D. D. Warrior Lady, and then removes the Lady and the Witch to summon a Chaos Emperor Dragon. He attacks for 4600. Sang draws, and passes his turn. Theerasak then takes the game with another attack for 4600, and claims the title of U.S. National Champion!