Nineteen year-old Andrew Novoa hails from Northern California, and took second place in Shonen Jump Championship Denver. He’s here today with a subtly innovative Zombie Phoenix build, and thus far he’s undefeated.

Fili Luna needs no introduction. The winner of Shonen Jump Championship San Mateo, he’s a native of Arlington, Texas and has multiple SJC Top 8s under his belt. He’s taken one loss, but is now paired up to the undefeated Novoa. Both duelists know each other, and their friendship has led them to stay with one another when attending SJCs in the other’s territory.

Novoa won the roll and opened with a set monster. Fili activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Novoa’s Pyramid Turtle, and set a card to each zone. Novoa snapped down Snipe Hunter, discarded Vampire Lord to target the monster and blew it away: Fili lost his set Magician of Faith. Snipe Hunter then attacked for 1500 damage, and Novoa set a spell or trap card.

Smashing Ground tore apart the Snipe and Fili set a second spell or trap. Novoa brought back his discarded Vampire Lord with Premature Burial and hit directly for 2000! Novoa called trap with V-Lord’s effect and Fili was forced to discard Sakuretsu Armor from his deck. He ended.

Fili special summoned Cyber Dragon and debated his next move: he had Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch in his hand, and was clearly debating whether or not he should tribute for it. He played it safe and attacked Vampire Lord with the Dragon, destroying it. It was 7100 to 4500 with Novoa leading. “Go ahead,” invited Fili.

A quick check of both graveyards began Novoa’s turn, and he set a monster. Fili attacked it with Cyber Dragon, hitting Gravekeeper’s Spy and leading Novoa to special summon another. Fili then activated Confiscation in main phase 2, revealing Novoa’s hand of Pyramid Turtle, Vampire Lord, and Magician of Faith. He discarded the Magician and ended.

Another set monster was Novoa’s only move, and Cyber Dragon swung to take out Gravekeeper’s Spy. Novoa set a spell or trap card, ended, and Fili attacked with Cyber Dragon: he lost it to Sakuretsu Armor and passed.

Novoa flip summoned Spirit Reaper! Fili had clearly thought it was the Pyramid Turtle he’d left in Novoa’s hand after activating Confiscation, and, when Spirit Reaper attacked, Fili took some time to check his set cards before activating Sakuretsu Armor. Novoa ended, Fili drew into Treeborn Frog and set it. He set a spell or trap card to conclude his turn and play was back to Novoa.

He set another back row card himself and ended. Fili tributed his Frog for Mobius the Frost Monarch and targeted Novoa’s two back row cards with Mobius’s effect. Novoa chained them both though — first Torrential Tribute, then Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Scapegoat. Fili was left with a set spell or trap, as well as Brain Control, Thestalos, and Pot of Avarice in his hand. He was open yet again.

Novoa couldn’t take advantage of the opening and passed his turn. Fili drew into D. D. Assailant and attacked for 1700. Novoa took the damage. He was left with 5400 to Fili’s 3500. Novoa special summoned Cyber Dragon and crashed into D. D. Assailant, resulting in 400 damage to Fili and both monsters being removed. “Still in battle,” announced Novoa, flipping Call of the Haunted to target his Vampire Lord. Fili had no choice but to activate Torrential in response: the Vampire would be back next turn.

In the mean time though, Fili could finally retrieve his Treeborn Frog. He tributed it for Thestalos, forcing Novoa to discard another Vampire Lord, and then attacked for 2400 directly. Novoa brought back his Vampire Lord, set a spell or trap and ended.

Fili brought back his Frog, activated Brain Control to take the Vampire Lord and tried to attack with Thestalos, but Novoa flipped Sakuretsu Armor! Vampire Lord hit him, and Fili then tributed the V-Lord for a set monster. Novoa set a monster, Fili flip summoned his set Zaborg and summoned Hydrogeddon, then attacked with the Hydro. It hit Novoa’s set Treeborn Frog and Novoa scooped.

Fili Luna takes the first duel despite an early lead from his opponent!

Both duelists smokescreened before shuffling up. Fili extended his hand for a shake, and Novoa took it, clasping his arm and giving a hearty shake of friendship.

Novoa started off by summoning Sangan and setting a spell or trap card. Fili set Spirit Reaper and ended. Novoa summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Treeborn Frog for its effect and destroyed the Reaper! Sangan and Snipe then attacked directly for 2500 damage and Fili was up.

The San Mateo champ activated Soul Exchange, and tributed Novoa’s Snipe Hunter for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch: Novoa flipped Torrential Tribute, but lost his Bottomless Trap Hole to Thestalos’s effect. Novoa then searched his deck with Sangan’s effect, pulling Spirit Reaper to his hand. It was a great choice, since Fili had nothing but monsters in his hand. Fili spread his hand out face down on the table immediately.

Novoa began his turn, taking back his Frog and then hitting directly with Spirit Reaper. It discarded Night Assailant, and Novoa set a spell or trap. Fili summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, broke into Ring of Destruction and watched as it was chained to destroy Breaker. Fili wordlessly fanned out his hand again, which was now down to three cards.

Novoa tributed his Frog for Vampire Lord, attacking with the Vampire before hitting with Reaper. Vampire Lord forced Bottomless Trap Hole out of Fili’s deck, and Spirit Reaper made him discard D. D. Warrior Lady.

Fili drew into Graceful Charity, adding Mirror Force and Hydrogeddon to his hand. He already had one Hydro, so discarding one was immediate. His other discard was Scapegoat. He set a spell or trap, set a monster, and ended his turn.

Vampire Lord attacked the set monster, but Mirror Force destroyed it and the Reaper. Novoa set a monster. Fili drew for his turn and flip summoned his set Hydrogeddon. It attacked, and Novoa flipped Sakuretsu Armor, continuing to keep Fili on the ropes. Fili set a monster, Novoa took back Treeborn Frog and flip summoned his set Pyramid Turtle. He summoned Giant Orc, attacked into Fili’s set monster and it was all over! The set monster was Dekoichi, and the Pyramid Turtle would cause enough damage to push Fili into game 3.

Andrew Novoa presses the match to a third duel!

Fili opened the third game with a set monster to each zone, and Novoa summoned Pyramid Turtle to attack. It hit Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive and Fili took a card. Novoa set a spell or trap card.

Soul Exchange came down on Fili’s side of the field, and he tributed Novoa’s Turtle for Granmarg the Rock Monarch. Granmarg targeted Novoa’s set Torrential Tribute, Novoa chained it, but Royal Decree flipped to stop it! Play was to Novoa.

He summoned Snipe Hunter and discarded Spirit Reaper for its effect, but missed, targeting Granmarg and failing to destroy it. Now Novoa had to make a choice: lose the Snipe Hunter outright or risk losing another card. He discarded his dead Mirror Force, destroyed Granmarg and swung for 1500.

Fili had the answer! He summoned Hydrogeddon, smashed Snipe Hunter, and then attacked with his second Hydrogeddon, special summoned by the first. It was 6300 to 6500, and Fili now had seven cards total to Novoa’s two. Novoa drew, set a monster, and ended.

Fili traded one of his Hydros for a Zaborg, blowing away Novoa’s set Gravekeeper’s Spy. He activated Last Will, pulled Spirit Reaper from his deck and attacked for 4300 damage. Novoa was forced to discard Nobleman of Crossout and dropped to 2000 life points. Things were looking good for Fili!

Novoa summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, clearly regretting the use of his Mirror Force as Snipe Hunter fodder. Breaker attacked over the Hydrogeddon for 300 damage, broke the Decree and Novoa then set a spell or trap.

Fili activated Heavy Storm, destroying Novoa’s set card: Premature Burial! He then summoned D. D. Assailant and the match was over. Zaborg ran over Breaker, D. D. Assailant hit directly and the game was over.

Fili Luna overcomes Andrew Novoa to move on with a 5-1 record!