Nick Langella just finished dispatching Theerasak Poonsombat in a somewhat lopsided mirror match. He's here trying to take out Lazaro Bellido, who's made the Top 8 of the last four Shonen Jump Championships he's attended. Lazaro's playing his Trooper Monarch deck, and is hoping to take it home for Team Superfriends. Both players know a guaranteed Crush Card Virus is on the line, and were all business as they shuffled up their decks.
Lazaro won the roll and began play by setting one card to his spell or trap zone. Nick used Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Ring of Destruction, and swung in directly with Snipe Hunter. Lazaro drew and cleared the field with Heavy Storm, destroying Torrential Tribute. Cyber Dragon was special summoned to destroy Snipe Hunter, and Lazaro set another monster and a spell or trap before finishing up. On his turn, Nick played Nobleman of Crossout to remove all Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive's from play. He then set a monster and a spell or trap before ending. Lazaro played Soul Exchange, tributing Destiny Hero — Disk Commander and playing Mobius the Frost Monarch, destroying Metamorphosis.
Nick was up, and he played Reinforcement of the Army to search Destiny Hero — Fear Monger. Lazaro had a Zaborg the Thunder Monarch though, and he used him to clear the Fear Monger and press through 4800 damage. Nick scooped up his cards after his topdeck proved to be no help.
Nick began the second game by setting two cards to his spell and trap zone. Trap Dustshoot during Lazaro's turn revealed five monster cards: Mystic Tomato, Cyber Dragon, Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, and Card Trooper. Tomato found its way back into the deck and Lazaro summoned Card Trooper, who pumped and attacked into Scapegoat. The Trooper took out a Sheep and Lazaro set his only spell or trap and passed.
Nick was up now and he played a Trooper of his own, which pumped three times and swung into Lazaro's Card Trooper. Nick set a back field card before Lazaro was up. Lazaro special summoned Cyber Dragon, attacked Trooper, and set a monster before giving the turn back to Nick. Nick set a card to the back row and passed. Lazaro attacked a Sheep token and flipped Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive in main phase two. He then simply passed his turn. Nick played Destiny Draw on his turn discarding Destiny Hero — Malicious. Malicious was removed from the graveyard to special summon another Malicious. Nick flipped Heavy Storm, chaining Ring of Destruction to destroy Cyber Dragon. Nick then summoned Elemental Hero Stratos and searched Destiny Hero — Dasher. Nick set two spell or trap cards and Stratos and Malicious beat up on Lazaro's Dekoichi and life points.
Nick flipped Mind Crush and called Mystic Tomato. But he had sent it back earlier, and was forced to discard a card from his own hand instead! Cyber Dragon was discarded to the graveyard, and Lazaro played Heavy Storm before special summoning Cyber Dragon to tribute for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, who discarded Dasher. Thestalos took out Stratos, Lazaro set a spell or trap and play was back to Nick.
Nick set a spell or trap card and ended, but Lazaro flipped up Dust Tornado in the end phase to destroy it. He hit a Sheep and set a monster, and play was back to Nick. Nick simply set a spell or trap card, and now it was Lazaro's turn again. Lazaro flip summoned Gravekeeper's Spy to search for another one in defense mode. The Spy attacked the final Sheep, and Lazaro set a monster before passing once more, with Malicious still on the field.
Nick was up now and he tributed Malicious for Jinzo. The final Malicious entered play, and Jinzo bumped with Thestalos. Lazaro was up now. Nick was at 3000 life points, and Lazaro was at 3200. Lazaro went into the tank, and came up with a Snatch Steal for Malicious. Malicious switched to attack mode and, between the two Gravekeeper's Spys and Nick's Malicious, Nick conceded, showing his Pulling the Rug from the back row.
Lazaro Bellido moves on to the finals with a 2-0 victory over Nick Langella!