Jorge’s name is incredibly difficult to spell. Almost as difficult as it is to beat him, as his second place Worlds finish attests. Chris Ware is a local player who's been mostly off the radar up until now.

Chris won the opening roll and decided to start. He opened up with a set monster and passed over to Jorge who had five spells and The Six Samurai — Yaichi in hand. He set a spell and passed back to Chris, who simply added another monster to his field. Jorge set a second card to his back row, and Chris just passed. The players were being very cautious, as Jorge simply passed without playing. Chris added a third monster to his field and passed to Jorge who activated Confiscation. Chris had Mystical Space Typhoon, Heavy Storm, two Brain Control, Cyber Dragon, and Pot of Avarice. Jorge chose to pitch the Storm before passing. Chris set five spells or traps and then flipped Morphing Jar!

Jorge had no response and was forced to throw away his hand. Both players drew five, and Chris flipped Sangan! Both monsters attacked, and Jorge dropped to 5300 life points. Jorge was up, and he summoned The Six Samurai — Yaichi. Chris took a look at him, but allowed the summon. Yaichi was followed up by Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, allowing Yaichi to destroy a set Brain Control. Grandmaster took down the Morphing Jar to deal a nice chunk of damage, and Jorge threw Mystical Space Typhoon into Chris’ set Pot of Avarice. He set a third spell or trap and passed back over to Chris, who still had a full hand. Mystical Space Typhoon destroyed the freshly set Compulsory Evacuation Device in the end phase, and Chris’ turn began. Brain Control stole Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, but Enemy Controller switched him to defense mode before he could wreck Yaichi. Grandmaster was traded in for Cyber Dragon in main phase two, but Torrential Tribute cleared the field of monsters! Sangan fetched out Treeborn Frog for Chris, and he set a spell or trap before passing. Jorge had Card Trooper for the next turn, activating its effect and attacking for 1900! He set a spell or trap and passed over to Chris, who used Soul Exchange to tribute the Trooper for Thestalos. Thestalos fell into a Bottomless Trap Hole, but was saved by Book of Moon! D. D. Assailant was dropped from Jorge’s hand, and he drew into a useless Grandmaster next turn. Thestalos attacked, and Chris set a monster before passing. Jorge set a monster, and Chris flipped his set Dekoichi to draw a card. Spirit Reaper came down next, and Jorge scooped up his cards! A brutal Morphing Jar play puts game 1 completely out of Jorge’s reach!

Both players smoke-screened between games, and Jorge opted to start us off for game 2! He set a card to each zone and passed over to Chris, who simply set a monster. Jorge flipped Card Trooper and activated its effect, knocking Sakuretsu Armor, Reinforcement of the Army, and Card Trooper off of his deck. Zanji and Grandmaster dropped next, and Zanji took down Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive before the rest of Jorge’s monsters knocked Chris’ life points clean in two! He passed over to Chris who needed an answer to the swarm, and he tried summoning Cyber Dragon and tributing it for Thestalos. Pulling the Rug burned the Firestorm Monarch, however, and Chris set a pair of spell or traps before ending. Card Trooper threw away Heavy Storm next turn, and Jorge chanced an attack! Chris had the Mirror Force, however, and Jorge’s army was gone. Grandmaster returned himself to Jorge’s hand with his ability and Card Trooper drew him a card. Jorge’s turn continued with a set monster and a pair of spell or trap cards. Chris only had a spell or trap to add to the game, and Jorge flipped his third Trooper, activating it immediately. He found a Yaichi in his graveyard thanks to Trooper, and he returned it to his hand using The Warrior Returning Alive! Yaichi was summoned, and Grandmaster followed. Chris jumped the gun with Torrential Tribute, so Yaichi took aim at the other set card instead while Torrential was then chained to his effect. Grandmaster returned Zanji to Jorge’s hand while Trooper replaced itself with a card, and Call of the Haunted flipped to return Grandmaster to the field. Grandmaster dropped Chris to 1900, and Ring of Destruction sealed the deal during Chris’ turn.

Jorge smoke-screened once again while Chris simply pulled a couple of cards and switched them. Chris had the option to start off the third game, and he took it, opening with a set to each zone. Jorge brought out Card Trooper and knocked Compulsory Evacuation Device, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Cyber Dragon off his deck before attacking into Chris’ Sangan. Sangan fetched out Treeborn Frog, and Jorge set a spell or trap before ending. Cyber Dragon came down for Chris next turn, and its attack successfully felled the Trooper. In main phase two, Chris set a monster and ended. Jorge set a card to each zone, and Chris attacked into the monster with Cyber Dragon. D. D. Assailant was revealed and removed both monsters from play before Chris set a new monster and passed. Zanji came down for Jorge, and he attacked into a set Mystic Tomato, prompting Chris to fetch Spirit Reaper. Snatch Steal in main phase two blew away the Reaper, and Jorge ended. Chris finally tributed his Treeborn Frog for Mobius the Frost Monarch, but the Monarch was frozen over by Pulling the Rug! Cyber Dragon came down next, but it fell into Bottomless Trap Hole! Smashing Ground finally took down the Zanji, and Chris passed. Yaichi took Chris for 1300 points next turn, and Jorge set a card. Chris set a second spell or trap which was revealed to be Sakuretsu Armor next turn when Yaichi attacked.

Chris passed, and Jorge summoned Zanji only to lose him to Bottomless Trap Hole! This allowed Frog to return, and it was tributed for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch! The Monarch stole The Warrior Returning Alive from Jorge before falling into a Bottomless Trap Hole, and Chris set a card before passing. Premature Burial on Card Trooper knocked both of Jorge’s power traps and a Pulling the Rug into the graveyard, and the Trooper was lost to Ring of Destruction! Jorge set a monster and passed to Chris who brought back his Frog and tributed for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch! Jorge was in trouble as Zaborg attacked him directly! He set a card to each zone during the next turn, but was forced to use his set Ring when Heavy Storm came down, chaining it to blow away Treeborn Frog. Chris activated Pot of Avarice next turn, and tributed his current Zaborg for a new one to clear away Jorge’s remaining defense and attack for game! Chris Ware pulls out a tough win against Jorge Lizarraga, 2-1!