How could I resist? John “krazykilroy” Williams IV is one of the community’s most recognized level 3 judges, known just as much for his outspokenness as his continued contributions to the game. Dale Bellido is probably the best-known Canadian duelist in the world, despite falling short of capturing the country’s National Championship for two years running. Having scored a long-overdue win at Shonen Jump Chicago, he’s looking to claim another Shonen Jump title here today.
John Williams is packing a heavily teched Zombie deck, while Dale Bellido is running a variant of the Team Scoop big-monster control deck that was leaked to the Internet last week.
Williams won the flip and opted to open game 1. He did so with a set Pyramid Turtle and passed.
“Oh my God . . . painful,” said Bellido, removing the Turtle with Nobleman of Crossout and swinging directly with Spirit Reaper. Williams lost Torrential Tribute, Dale set a spell or trap, and passed play to Williams. Painful indeed.
Williams played Call of the Mummy, brought down Despair from the Dark, and sent it after Dale’s Spirit Reaper. Dale flipped Book of Moon to turn his Reaper face down and block the damage. Williams set a spell or trap, and Dale quickly played Heavy Storm to claim a card of advantage on his turn. It was a nice way to even out the card that he spent blocking Kokki. He set a monster, Despair attacked it, and it was flipped to be revealed as Magician of Faith. Dale took back Heavy Storm, set a spell or trap on the following turn, and passed back.
A set a monster and a spell or trap hit the field on Williams’s side. Dale set a monster, Despair attacked it, Dale flipped Widespread Ruin, and Williams played My Body As A Shield from hand to keep Despair alive. It swung and hit Magical Merchant. Dale pulled Sakuretsu Armor with the Merchant’s effect, Williams set Pole Position, and Dale flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy it in the end phase. A turn of setting monsters and passing followed.
Williams attacked with Despair from the Dark as Dale flipped Sakuretsu Armor, and was stymied by a chained Deck Devastation Virus! However, instead of losing the Despair to Sakuretsu Armor, Williams tributed it for the Virus’s cost. The Virus destroyed Dale’s face up Spirit Reaper and his only set monster, which was another set Reaper! For the cost of his Despair and his Virus, Williams took out three of Bellido’s cards and would stunt his drawing for the next three turns.
Dale was blown away. “No way, I can’t believe you hit me with the Deck Dev.” He played Swords of Revealing Light and passed. Williams had a set Sangan and Spirit Reaper, which the Swords flipped.
Both players passed a turn, Williams passed again, and Dale lost his topdecked D. D. Warrior Lady to the Virus’s effect. He brought out Chaos Sorcerer, removed Williams’s Sangan from play, and ended his turn. Williams had one more turn of Swords to fight through.
He drew, played Snatch Steal on Chaos Sorcerer, and tributed it for Ryu Kokki. Dale responded with Bottomless Trap Hole. Williams then played Book of Life, brought back Despair in defense position, and passed.
Dale had an empty field, and set a monster to each of his zones before passing. Williams sent Despair into Dale’s set monster, and hit Mystic Tomato. Dale used its effect to bring out Sangan. “I was surprised that Reaper didn’t go into attack.” Not trying to press with the Reaper was a sketchy call by Williams, but it had paid off. It would have accomplished nothing for him, and would have given his opponent a direct pathway to his life points. He got greedy, set a third monster and passed. A Dark Hole would be his ruin.
Sure enough, Dale played Dark Hole. He took Spirit Reaper with his own Sangan’s effect and got rid of Williams’s three monsters. It was a 3-for-1 trade that let Dale search for a monster to boot. Spirit Reaper attacked, but hit Fear from the Dark! Williams special summoned it with its effect and Dale passed.
Premature Burial brought back Despair from the Dark for Williams, and both Fear and Despair hit the attack position Reaper. The life point totals were 4100 for Dale, 5100 for Williams!
Business was picking up for the Canuck, and another Chaos Sorcerer came down on Bellido’s side of the field. It removed Despair from play, and Bellido passed with one set spell or trap.
Williams tributed Fear away for Ryu Kokki. Dale used Trap Hole on it, but Williams brought it back with Book of Life. Dale stole it on the following turn with Snatch Steal, it and Spirit Reaper swung directly, and Williams had to discard his last card, which was Patrician of Darkness. Ouch!
The game came down to topdecking. Williams needed something major to keep himself alive, but couldn’t hit an answer, and Dale finished him off with another push on the following turn.
Dale Bellido wins the first duel!
Williams again opted to open the next game, and set one monster. Dale fired back a set to each zone and passed. He was playing responsively, forcing Williams to make the first move.
Williams opted to under-commit, and flip summoned his Pyramid Turtle. He sent it into Dale’s face down monster, revealing a Gravekeeper’s Spy! Dale brought out another and Williams set a monster. It was a big advantage for Dale’s slow-tempo deck, giving him a big wall and some tribute fodder.
Unable, or unwilling, to quickly capitalize, Dale just passed play back to his opponent. Williams hit Dale’s face down Bottomless Trap Hole with Nobleman of Extermination, tributed his set Sangan for Ryu Kokki, and pulled Spirit Reaper with Sangan’s effect. A Spy bit the dust, thanks to an attack from Kokki.
Dale used Snatch Steal to take Ryu Kokki on the following turn. He tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Pyramid Turtle with its effect, and attacked directly! Dale had the exact set up that his deck looked to establish.
Williams set a card to each zone and passed. It was 8000 to 4800 in Dale’s favor, and he started running the numbers.
He tributed Gravekeeper’s Spy for another Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Williams’s face down Spirit Reaper, and attacked directly with both Zaborgs! It was exactly 4800 damage total, and that was all Bellido had needed to claim the win!
Dale Bellido moves on with a 1-0 record, armed with what might be the best deck in the field!