Lazaro Bellido. That's probably all I need to say about him. He's entered double digits in Shonen Jump tops and is definitely the hottest duelist right now. His opponent is Cesar Gonzales. Cesar has made quite a name for himself over the last couple years. After making his first top with an innovative Cyber-Stein deck, Cesar won the rights to call himself Champion in Montreal. He's playing Dark Armed Dragon today while Lazaro has stuck with Gladiator Beasts.

Game 1

Lazaro won the die roll and opted to start things off. He did so by playing a face-down spell or trap and a monster. Cesar drew and was looking at a handful of cards that were dead at the moment. He simply summoned Cyber Valley, set a spell or trap, and passed. Lazaro was up, and he played Cold Wave followed by Book of Moon. Gladiator Beast Darius flipped and Elemental Hero Stratos came down to search for Elemental Hero Prisma. Cesar's Valley was destroyed and Darius switched out for Gladiator Beast Bestiari to destroy Limit Reverse as well.

Lazaro played Prisma next turn and brought out Gladiator Beast Gyzarus before hitting with everyone and making Gladiator Beast Heraklinos happen. He set two spell or traps and passed to Cesar who did the same, plus a monster. Herk turned Spirit Reaper face up with an attack on the following turn and Lazaro set a third spell or trap before passing. Cesar passed, and on his turn Lazaro hit a face-down Sangan with Stratos. Lazaro flipped Phoenix Wing Wind Blast to send Reaper up top on Cesar's deck. Cesar had to play Solemn Judgment to live, but Lazaro had his own. Cesar's face-down Limit Reverse was negated by Heraklinos and Lazaro struck directly for game.

Lazaro takes game 1 swiftly, flexing the might of Gladiator Beasts over Cesar's poor hand.

Game 2

Cesar started us off in game 2, and did so with Allure of Darkness. Destiny Hero - Malicious found his way out of play and Cesar T-set before passing. Lazaro opened strong with Elemental Hero Prisma; he did not use priority and Cesar flipped Torrential Tribute to clear the field, including his own Disk Commander. Lazaro passed with a set spell or trap and Cesar made no play at all. Lazaro punished him for it, playing Spirit Reaper and robbing an in-hand card. Lazaro set a second spell or trap, both of which were bombed by Heavy Storm next turn. Cesar set a card and passed.

Lazaro played Cold Wave but Cesar chained Scapegoat! Lazaro hit a token before passing and Cesar passed as well. Next turn Lazaro played Reinforcement of the Army for Elemental Hero Prisma, used Test Tiger to trade the newly named Gladiator for Gladiator Beast Secutor and hit two Sheep. Cesar had a D.D. Crow to block a Gladiator Beast Laquari from coming back, but Lazaro was still able to turn his field into another Heraklinos.

Cesar responded with a set monster and spell or trap. Lazaro switched Spirit Reaper to defense on his turn and summoned another Laquari. Cesar played Solemn Judgment on that and Herk hit the last Sheep token, leaving Cesar with a face-down monster. Next turn Cesar was setting a second monster. He had Reaper and Destiny Hero - Fear Monger face down, so things were looking OK. But only for a second. Lazaro drew into another Prisma and made a contact Fusion for Gyzarus with his Heraklinos. Both monsters were destroyed, Reaper took out Cesar's final card, and Lazaro ended with another Heraklinos, Reaper, and a Gladiator Beast Darius. Cesar's draw was no good, and that was the match.

Gladiator Beast Heraklinos, I mean Lazaro Bellido, wins 2-0!