Labounty had just come from defeating Levitin’s teammate, Kris Perovic. Levitin was two matches away from his second Shonen Jump title, but Labounty’s Monarchs and heavy disruption were going to prove challenging. This one was anybody’s match.

Levitin opened the game with one set monster. Labounty set Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, a monster, and ended. Paul set a card to each zone, and, in the end phase, Labounty activated Wind Blast, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious, to bounce away Levitin’s set spell or trap. He brought out another Malicious next turn by removing the first, tributed for Raiza, bounced away one monster, then flip summoned Mystic Tomato. Tomato ran into Pyramid Turtle and it wasn’t destroyed — Labounty refused to attack with Raiza, setting a spell or trap in main phase 2 instead. He had two cards remaining in hand.

Another set card to each zone was Levitin’s turn. Labounty summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, broke Levitin’s set Heavy Storm, and attacked with Mystic Tomato, destroying Levitin’s face down Card Trooper. Labounty passed again, still not wanting to attack Pyramid Turtle.

“I’m scared of that Turtle!” Levitin again set a card to each zone. “Go ahead.” Labounty summoned Card Trooper, boosted its ATK by sending three cards to the graveyard, including Spirit Reaper, and turned Tomato to defense. Trooper attacked, hit Sangan, and Levitin pulled another Pyramid Turtle from his deck. Labounty ended, still playing around the Turtle.

Levitin flipped his set Mystical Space Typhoon, Labounty chained the targeted copy of The Transmigration Prophecy, and Levitin was forced to shuffle back his Card Trooper and Sangan in his graveyard — all in all, not bad things to shuffle back. He activated Card of Safe Return, summoned Zombie Master, chucked Pyramid Turtle to bring the Turtle to the field, and drew for Safe Return. One Turtle ran into Breaker, pulling Zombie Master from Levitin’s deck. The next one rammed to pull Ryu Kokki. The Masters took out Card Trooper and Breaker, and Kokki traded with Raiza. Levitin then discarded to bring out another Pyramid Turtle in main phase 2, drawing again before setting a spell or trap card, a huge turn!

Labounty activated Pot of Avarice, shuffling back Raiza, Trooper, Malicious, Breaker, and Reaper to draw two. He activated Destiny Draw, discarded Destiny Hero - Disk Commander, and then set a card to each zone. In Levitin’s draw phase Labounty activated Crush Card Virus tributing Sangan to blow away both Zombie Masters! Labounty searched his deck for Treeborn Frog with Sangan’s effect and Levitin passed.

Snipe Hunter came down for Labounty, and he pitched Treeborn Frog to destroy Pyramid Turtle. Snipe Hunter attacked directly and Levitin drew for his next turn, revealing Sangan. He set a monster, ended, and Labounty pitched Fear Monger for Snipe Hunter, missing. He tossed Mirror Force to Snipe to destroy Levitin’s Mirror Force, tributed for Raiza, and bounced away Levitin’s monster. He attacked with Raiza, Snipe Hunter, and Mystic Tomato and Levitin scooped a turn later.

“Crush Card saved me,” Labounty admitted.

A smart tactical decision and a Crush Card off of Destiny Draw give Jonathan Labounty the first game win! Much side decking ensued.

Levitin opened game 2 with a set spell or trap, and, when Labounty summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, he flipped Pulling the Rug! Labounty set a card to his back row and Levitin swung with Pyramid Turtle next turn, hitting for 1200 damage and then backing it up with a spell or trap. Labounty summoned Card Trooper, boosted its ATK, and then passed, not attacking.

Pyramid Turtle attacked to destroy Card Trooper, dropping Labounty to 6000 life points. Labounty set a monster; Levitin activated Nobleman of Crossout and removed Labounty’s face down Spirit Reaper from play. Turtle attacked directly yet again, reducing Labounty to 4800 life points.

He special summoned Cyber Dragon, then discarded Treeborn Frog for Lightning Vortex. Dragon attacked directly and Labounty ended. Levitin flipped Heavy Storm to destroy Labounty’s face down Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Zombie Master, used it to discard and special summon Pyramid Turtle, and then revealed Creature Swap and Book of Life! “That’s surely game.”

Labounty agreed and scooped his cards from the table. Paul Levitin takes a stunningly fast victory to press the match to a third game!

“Whatever you sided in, side it back out,” complained Labounty.

“That’s not the side deck! That’s how the main deck is supposed to work!” Levitin grinned ear to ear.

“I’ve never seen it work like that!” Labounty reeled and began side decking. He opened game 3 with a set spell or trap. Levitin summoned Spirit Reaper, attacked, and was bounced away by Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Treeborn Frog. Levitin set a back row card and Labounty brought up Treeborn in defense mode.

Labounty summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Malicious to destroy Call of the Haunted, and attacked for 1500 damage. He set a card to his back row, Levitin summoned Pyramid Turtle, attacked into Mirror Force, and Levitin played Card of Safe Return. He activated Book of Life in main phase 2 to bring Turtle up in defense, removing Malicious from Labounty’s graveyard and drawing a card!

Labounty discarded Disk Commander to try and destroy Pyramid Turtle, but missed the roll. He summoned Banisher of the Radiance, attacked Turtle with Snipe Hunter, and then attacked directly with Banisher. Labounty was in a great position but had only one card left in-hand. Levitin drew and didn’t look happy.

He summoned Pyramid Turtle and attacked Treeborn Frog, removing it from play. He then activated Creature Swap, and Labounty gave him Banisher in return for Pyramid Turtle. Levitin set a spell or trap to end.

Labounty discarded Card Trooper to destroy Levitin’s set Premature Burial. He then tributed Pyramid Turtle for Raiza the Storm Monarch, bounced away Banisher, and ran over Pyramid Turtle. Raiza attacked directly.

Levitin special summoned Cyber Dragon, ran over Snipe Hunter, then set a monster. Labounty drew his Banisher again, summoned it, sent Raiza to destroy Cyber Dragon and then attacked Banisher into Spirit Reaper. Levitin set a spell or trap, Labounty topdecked Brain Control, and it was all over! Brain Control destroyed Reaper and a direct attack from Raiza ended it.

Jonathan Labounty moves on to the finals, to face Comic Odyssey’s Hugo Adame!