Jose Arocho and James Neumann are both rising stars that have become Shonen Jump Championship regulars over the past few months. After a brief stint with the now-dissolved Superfriends, Neumann is back together with Cedric Sequerra as Team Face2Face, but today he’s the team’s lone representative. He’s playing a version of the Dark Armed Return deck he helped make famous at Houston. Arocho, on the other hand, is back with a new version of the Zombie deck he played at Costa Mesa, and will be playing to out-speed his opponent. Royal Decree will be a deciding factor in this match, as Arocho’s playing two copies.

Neumann opened with Allure of Darkness, removing Destiny Hero – Dasher before setting a card to each zone. Arocho set a monster, set two cards to his back row, and ended. Neumann matched him with another set card to his back row on the following turn, and then passed play back to Arocho.

He summoned Giant Rat. Neumann flipped Torrential Tribute and Arocho played Royal Decree in response. He chained Mystical Space Typhoon to target Neumann’s set Enemy Controller, which was chained to turn Giant Rat to defense mode. Arocho passed.

Neumann summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded Disk Commander to destroy Giant Rat, and then attacked into Arocho’s face-down Goblin Zombie. Its effect fetched him Zombie Master. Neumann discarded Armageddon Knight in main phase 2 to destroy Decree, then set a spell or trap card.

Arocho didn’t buy it, and special summoned Cyber Dragon to smash Snipe Hunter. He set another monster and ended. Neumann activated Gold Sarcophagus, searched his deck to remove Dimension Fusion from play, and ended.

Arocho flip summoned Pyramid Turtle. “Let’s man up.” He summoned Zombie Master, activated Premature Burial to bring back Giant Rat, and then activated Book of Life to special summon Goblin Zombie and remove his opponent’s Disk Commander. Cyber Dragon attacked, destroying Neumann’s Sangan and sending him to his deck to get Destiny Hero – Fear Monger. Neumann was at 7300 life points, and Giant Rat, Pyramid Turtle, Zombie Master, and Goblin Zombie all attacked to reduce him to 1800. Goblin Zombie forced Reinforcement of the Army off the top of Neumann’s deck, and Arocho ended his turn by setting one card to his back row. Neumann scooped on the following turn.

Jose Arocho wins a battle of the beatsticks, as neither duelist’s deck really works as planned! But Arocho had the monsters, and Neumann did not, so Arocho takes the first duel.

Neumann began game 2 with Allure of Darkness. He removed Strike Ninja, set a card to each zone, and passed. Arocho dropped Cyber Dragon, summoned Goblin Zombie, and attacked with the Dragon into Legendary Jujitsu Master. Goblin Zombie struck directly, knocking Torrential Tribute off the top of Neumann’s deck, and Arocho ended! Losing that Torrential Tribute was a big blow.

Neumann maligned his hand and set a monster. Arocho summoned Giant Rat, attacked, and hit another Jujitsu Master! It spun Giant Rat back to the top of Arocho’s deck. Next turn, Neumann got Elemental Hero Stratos with Reinforcement of the Army, summoned him, searched for Destiny Hero – Dasher, and ran over Goblin Zombie.

Arocho special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Zombie Master, then discarded Pyramid Turtle to try and special summon it; Raigeki Break blasted the Zombie Master. Arocho activated Premature Burial, targeted Zombie Master, and didn’t get to bring it back thanks to Neumann’s Dust Tornado. Cyber Dragon smashed Stratos. Play was to Neumann and he set a spell or trap.

Arocho summoned Pyramid Turtle, sent Cyber Dragon into Jujitsu Master, and hit directly with the Turtle. Neumann set another spell or trap, passed, and ate another 1200 from Pyramid Turtle. A turn later Neumann topped into Dark Grepher! That let him drop double Dark Armed Dragon, and once one blew away the Turtle it was all over!

James Neumann evens up the score, pressing this match to a third and final duel!

Arocho was up. He opened with a set card to each zone and ended. Neumann did the same, passed back, and Arocho flip summoned Sangan. He responded with Torrential Tribute! That destroyed Neumann’s set Jujitsu Master and let Arocho search out Spirit Reaper. Heavy Storm destroyed Neumann’s set Enemy Controller, Reaper made him discard Destiny Draw, and Arocho set two cards to his back row. Neumann set a card to each zone, and in his end phase Arocho flipped Royal Decree.

After his draw phase, Arocho summoned Pyramid Turtle and rammed Neumann’s face-down Sangan. That let him get Armageddon Knight, but Spirit Reaper discarded it, a one in three hit! “Go.” Reaper was utterly destroying Neumann, who passed his turn.

Arocho was holding Zombie Master, Premature Burial, and Monster Reborn. He attacked with Spirit Reaper and Pyramid Turtle and made Neumann discard Dark Armed Dragon. Neumann had a second copy on the following turn though, and he removed Sangan to destroy Spirit Reaper. He removed the other Dark Armed Dragon to destroy Arocho’s set Mind Crush, and then removed his last Dark, Armageddon Knight, to destroy Pyramid Turtle. Dark Armed Dragon then struck for 2800 damage.

Arocho activated Card of Safe Return! It was about time: he hadn’t seen it all match. He activated Monster Reborn, but his target (Spirit Reaper) was stolen by D.D. Crow. Premature Burial let him bring back Sangan for a draw, though. He summoned Zombie Master, discarded Ryu Kokki to bring back Pyramid Turtle in defense mode, and drew again.

Neumann drew and had two cards in hand, a set spell or trap, and Dark Armed Dragon to Arocho’s Sangan, Zombie Master, Pyramid Turtle, Card of Safe Return, Royal Decree, and one card in-hand.

“That Reaper was godly,” noted Neumann. “I need to think about this play.” He removed D.D. Crow to destroy Pyramid Turtle with the Dragon, and then attacked over Zombie Master. Next turn Arocho bounced the Dragon with Neo-Spacian Grand Mole and Sangan attacked for 1000 damage! Arocho set a spell or trap to finish his turn. The duel stood at 3400 to 4600 with Neumann leading. He passed though, unable to do extend his lead. Arocho summoned Grand Mole and pressed for 1900 damage with the Mole and Sangan. Neumann set a monster and ended.

Book of Life came off the top of Arocho’s deck! It brought back his Ryu Kokki and removed Neumann’s Legendary Jujitsu Master from the graveyard. Grand Mole attacked Neumann’s set monster (it was D.D. Crow) and Kokki and Sangan swung for game!

Jose Arocho defeats James Neumann in a hard-fought match, scoring up a big victory for Zombies and moving on with a 6-1 record!