Michel Grüner is a member of United Gosus, Germany’s answer to Team Comic Odyssey. With twenty or more members at any time, UG has its own team manager, its own article writer, and some of Germany’s greatest players. Grüner himself became the German National Champion in 2006, and won Pharaoh Tour Hannover roughly eight months ago. Now, he’s 8 and 1, and up against Gabriele Guerrini, one of Italy’s top duelists this weekend.
Only four rounds remain in the Swiss portion of this tournament. Both of these duelists have a strong shot at making the playoff rounds regardless of a win or a loss here, but the victor will be far more secure in his future this weekend.
After a quick deck check, some shuffling and a die roll, Guerrini opened the first duel. He set a card to each zone and Grüner was up. He summoned Cyber Phoenix, attacked, and ran into Guerrini’s set Card Trooper. “Your turn.” Grüner passed without setting anything.
Snipe Hunter was normal summoned by Guerrini, who discarded Malicious to destroy Grüner’s Cyber Phoenix. Snipe Hunter attacked directly for 1500 damage, Grüner dropped to 6500 life points and play was back to him. He set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, set a spell or trap and ended quickly.
Destiny Hero – Malicious was removed from Guerrini’s graveyard on the following turn to allow him to special summon another in defense position. He tributed Malicious for Jinzo, and then discarded Destiny Hero – Dasher to target Grüner’s set monster; he blew away the Dekoichi. Snipe Hunter attacked directly, then Jinzo, and when Jinzo attacked directly Guerrini activated Limiter Removal in the damage step. Another Snipe Hunter shot failed, costing Guerrini his Malicious.
Grüner activated Snatch Steal, targeting the Snipe Hunter. He took control of it, and discarded Brain Control to target Guerrini’s set card, which was chained: Scapegoat.
The duel moved at a rapid pace as cards became a blur, and, a few moments later, Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive flipped on Grüner’s side of the field, and it attacked directly for 1400 damage. He set a second spell or trap and Guerrini special summoned Cyber Dragon next turn. It was destroyed by Widespread Ruin when Guerrini tried to attack. Grüner attacked with Dekoichi again, and then set another monster, continuing to develop his field. Guerrini set a spell or trap and ended.
Grüner tributed Dekoichi for Jinzo, then flip summoned Card Trooper and sent three cards to the graveyard for its effect. Grüner activated Heavy Storm, and chained Limiter Removal! Guerrini had nothing to chain, and took two big shots from Grüner’s Machines. The first duel was over!
Germany’s former National Champion wins game 1!
Both duelists took a lot of care to smoke-screen and conceal all information about their side decking actions. There was clearly no love lost between them, though sportsmanship was certainly preserved.
Guerrini set a card to each zone to begin play, and Grüner opened with Card Trooper and Machine Duplication! He activated the effects of all three, discarding, amongst other things, Heavy Storm and Sangan. One Trooper attacked Guerrini’s set monster, Sangan, and he used its effect to search his deck for Morphing Jar. When the second Trooper attacked, Guerrini flipped Scapegoat! He lost two Sheep in battle.
Guerrini drew and Grüner flipped Trap Dustshoot! It revealed Guerrini’s hand of two Destiny Hero - Malicious, Cyber Dragon, Morphing Jar, Pot of Avarice, and Call of the Haunted. Grüner sent the Morphing Jar back to his opponent’s deck. Guerrini set a spell or trap card and ended.
Grüner activated one of his Troopers, sending Premature Burial, Kinetic Soldier, and D.D. Crow to his graveyard. He activated a second shortly after, flipping Dekoichi, Morphing Jar, and Raiza the Storm Monarch off the top of his deck. He then normal summoned Treeborn Frog, attacked with the un-boosted Trooper to clear the remaining Sheep token, and then attacked directly with one of the boosted Troopers. Guerrini flipped Call of the Haunted to bring back his Sangan, and the Trooper ran it over. The Italian duelist sought out Morphing Jar yet again, and the last Trooper hit him for 1900 damage.
Cyber Dragon was special summoned by Guerrini, and he sent it to attack Treeborn Frog — Mirror Force destroyed it. Grüner had such control over the game that there was no reason not to use the Mirror Force. Guerrini then set two cards to his back row and a monster, presumably Morphing Jar. Things were not going well for him.
Grüner tributed Treeborn Frog, and bounced Mirror Force to the top of Guerrini’s deck; he revealed it, knowing the game was over anyway. A Trooper would pound through the Jar and the rest of Grüner’s monsters would attack directly unopposed; he’d covered all the angles.
Michel Grüner moves on with an 8-1 record, three matches away from the Top 8!