Nine year-old Noah Morrison was undefeated here in round 5, and was now paired against Jason Holloway. Another Austin Kulman in the making? A win here would definitely move him toward that status, but he was paired against Jason Holloway, a player with a highly respected track record in Shonen Jump Championships.

Noah opened with two cards set to his back row, then set a monster. Holloway matched his two set spell or traps next turn, then set a monster. “Copycat,” quipped Noah. He quickly drew for his turn, flip summoned Gravekeeper's Spy, and then brought another from his deck in defense mode.

He normal summoned Exiled Force, tributed it to destroy Holloway’s set Giant Rat, and attacked with Gravekeeper's Spy for 1200 damage. “Your turn.” Holloway activated Dust Tornado in the end phase to destroy Noah’s set Waboku, but he still had one more card in his back row.

Holloway shuffled his hand a bit after drawing, then special summoned Cyber Dragon. It attacked the attack mode Spy, and Noah responded with Book of Moon! Book turned his Spy face down, and, though the attacked Spy was destroyed, she brought a third and final Spy from his deck in defense mode. Holloway had three cards in hand, one spell or trap set, and Cyber Dragon to Noah’s three cards in hand and two Spies.

Noah drew, tributed one Spy for Granmarg the Rock Monarch, and destroyed Holloway’s set Mystical Space Typhoon. He set a spell or trap to his back row, attacked over Cyber Dragon with Granmarg, and ended. Holloway drew.

He set one spell or trap card and ended. Noah activated Call of the Haunted, brought back Gravekeeper's Spy in attack mode, and attacked with her, hitting for 1200 damage, then 2400. Holloway took it all and dropped to 2900 life points. Noah hadn’t held the Call until the battle phase in fear of Mirror Force, but it hadn’t cost him anything.

Holloway flipped his set Heavy Storm to destroy Call and took Granmarg with Brain Control. The Monarch attacked Gravekeeper's Spy, and Holloway tributed him for Jinzo in main phase 2. He set one spell or trap card and ended.

Noah searched his graveyard and activated Pot of Avarice, shuffling back Granmarg, Exiled Force, and all three Gravekeeper's Spy. When he’d drawn he had five cards in hand to Holloway’s one, his Jinzo, and his remaining set spell or trap. Noah had been holding Brain Control since turn 2, and was closer to game than Holloway knew unless he had Scapegoat.

He activated Brain Control, took Jinzo, and that was it. Holloway had nothing, and Noah had him beat.

“Did you have the Brain for a while?” asked Holloway, unsettled.

“I had it since second turn,” recalled Noah, as Holloway sided. Noah opted not to do so. Game 2 began after more extensive deliberation from Holloway.

He opened the second duel with a set card to each zone. Noah set a monster himself then ended, not opting to set or play a spell or trap. Holloway flip summoned Sangan, normal summoned Pyramid Turtle, then activated Nobleman of Crossout to remove Noah’s set Gravekeeper's Spy from the field — Holloway didn’t have any, but Noah lost his two from his deck. Turtle and Sangan attacked directly and Noah was dropped to 5800 life points.

Noah summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, but Holloway destroyed Breaker with Pulling the Rug. He activated Swords of Revealing Light and set a spell or trap. Holloway turned his monsters to defense mode and ended, and, in the end phase, Noah flipped Call of the Haunted to bring back Breaker the Magical Warrior. He set a monster, attacked Pyramid Turtle with Breaker, and Holloway brought out Zombie Master.

He activated Heavy Storm next turn, wiping the field. He activated Card of Safe Return, and discarded Pyramid Turtle to Zombie Master, bringing the Turtle back and drawing a card. He set one spell or trap, and then attacked with Sangan, destroying Noah’s set Treeborn Frog. The ensuing 3000 damage from Zombie Master and Pyramid Turtle reduced Noah to 2800 life points.

Book of Life brought back Pyramid Turtle for Holloway, removing Treeborn Frog from play. Noah special summoned Cyber Dragon, set a spell or trap, and then attacked over the Zombie Master; Sakuretsu Armor destroyed it. Noah was trapped with a dead hand, and next turn Mystical Space Typhoon destroyed his set Torrential Tribute, giving Holloway an easy victory.

Holloway comes back to press the match to a third and final duel! Seventeen minutes remained in the round, plenty of time.

Noah opened with a set card to each zone, and Holloway did the same. Noah set another spell or trap, tributed his set Treeborn Frog for Raiza the Storm Monarch, and targeted Holloway’s set Dust Tornado. He chained it, but had to debate which card to destroy since Noah had set another, rather unconventionally. He targeted the first one Noah had played, and destroyed Torrential Tribute. Raiza attacked, destroying Sangan, and Holloway searched his deck for Pyramid Turtle. Noah ended.

Holloway summoned Pyramid Turtle and activated Creature Swap, taking control of Raiza the Storm Monarch. Raiza attacked, but Noah flipped Magic Cylinder, sending the damage back at Holloway and keeping him from destroying the Turtle. Holloway set a spell or trap, Noah drew and set one too, then tributed the Turtle for Jinzo, getting rid of that threat. Noah then paid for Brain Control, taking Raiza and attacking with both monsters; Holloway went to 800 life points. He ended and gave back Raiza.

Card of Safe Return fell from Holloway’s hand, and he activated Book of Life to remove his opponent’s Treeborn Frog from play and bring back Pyramid Turtle.

He followed it up with Creature Swap, and traded his defense mode Pyramid Turtle for Jinzo. Jinzo attacked, but Book of Moon turned Jinzo face down in response. Raiza attacked Pyramid Turtle and Holloway pulled Spirit Reaper with its effect. Spirit Reaper attacked directly and Noah had to discard his last card, Cyber Dragon. Holloway set one more card to his back row.

Noah topdecked into Majestic Mech - Ohka, and summoned it to try and attack for game! But Holloway responded with Crush Card Virus, tributing his vulnerable Reaper to wipe Ohka off the field. Next turn Holloway activated Book of Life, brought back Turtle, and summoned Giant Rat. Those two monsters attacked directly, as did Jinzo and Raiza, and the match was over!

Nine year-old Noah Morrison puts up a valiant fight, but Jason Holloway claims the 2-1 victory to move on undefeated!