Daryl Gessler had a previous feature match at 2005’s Shonen Jump Indianapolis. More than two years later the 18 year-old from Wisconsin is back in contention for a second Day 2 appearance, representing Team Special with Gadgets.

He’s up against Miguel Albarran’s Volcanic Monarch deck, and both of these competitors are on the bubble. The winner will proceed to Day 2. The loser will have to hope for amazing tiebreakers.

Gessler won the opening roll and started the match with Yellow Gadget. He searched his deck for Green Gadget, set a spell or trap, and ended. Albarran summoned Volcanic Rocket, searched out Blaze Accelerator, and attacked, losing Volcanic Rocket to Yellow Gadget due to Shrink. He set Phoenix Wing Wind Blast with Treeborn Frog in hand and ended.

Green Gadget hit the field and Gessler grabbed Red from his deck. Both Gadgets attacked, Gessler set two to his back row and Wind Blast sent one to the top of his deck in the end phase. Albarran dropped the Treeborn and special summoned it to the field next turn. Premature Burial brought back Volcanic Rocket, but he lost it to Sakuretsu Armor. He was clearly playing out of desperation. He set a card to each zone and ended.

Gessler summoned Red Gadget, searched out Yellow, and sent Yellow Gadget to attack Treeborn. Red Gadget attacked into Old Vindictive Magician, who destroyed Green Gadget, and another spell or trap was set by Gessler. Albarran set a spell or trap and next turn he took two more attacks from Red and Yellow. Gessler passed. Albarran was down to 1850 life points.

He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior and destroyed his opponent’s Hammer Shot, before attacking Red Gadget. Breaker was lost next turn to Fissure though, and Albarran scooped.

Daryl Gessler takes the first game in under five minutes! Albarran needed to do some serious siding.

He was having great luck with drawing Volcanic Rocket. He opened with it again, searching Blaze Accelerator, and set a spell or trap card. Gessler summoned Red Gadget, searched his deck for Yellow, and set two cards to his back row. One of them was bounced in his end phase by Wind Blast, and Albarran discarded Volcanic Shell!

He drew next turn and then paid 500 life points to get another Shell from his deck. Albarran summoned Card Trooper, sent Raiza, Wind Blast, and Seer to his graveyard to boost it to 1900 ATK, and then attacked Red Gadget with Volcanic Rocket. Card Trooper attacked directly and Gessler dropped to 5500 life points. A back row set finished Albarran’s turn.

Yellow Gadget was summoned, Gessler searched for Green and activated Lightning Vortex, discarding the Green. Card Trooper got Albarran another card. Yellow attacked directly, Gessler set a second spell or trap, and Albarran was up. He paid 500 for another Shell, activated Blaze Accelerator, and Gessler chained Twister to destroy it. Stymied, Albarran set a monster to end.

Green Gadget joined Yellow on Gessler’s side of the field, he searched out Red, and Yellow attacked into Apprentice Magician. Albarran special summoned Magician of Faith in face-down defense, prompting Gessler to take a look through Albarran’s graveyard. Green attacked, but Albarran responded with Mirror Force. A second back row card finished things for Gessler.

Albarran flipped Magician of Faith, took back Blaze Accelerator, and then tributed for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch. It cost Gessler his in-hand Solemn Judgment and he flipped Bottomless Trap Hole on the chain to remove Thestalos from play. Albarran passed with an open field. Trades like that were going to be the death of him.

Red Gadget was summoned to attack next turn and Albarran went down to 4500 life points. Albarran activated Blaze Accelerator, discarded another Shell, and blew away Gessler’s only monster. He then activated Pot of Avarice, shuffling back Magician of Faith, Apprentice Magician, Crystal Seer, and two Volcanic Shell. He drew a Shell off the Avarice draw though: not so hot. He set a card to each zone, passed, and eliminated Gessler’s Yellow Gadget with Pulling the Rug.

Albarran tributed his set Old Vindictive for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, discarding Mirror Force from his opponent’s hand: Gessler had to resort to Bottomless Trap Hole yet again. Albarran ended and Gessler topdecked into Snipe Hunter, summoning it for an attack. He had only one card remaining, a spell or trap in his back row.

Volcanic Rocket was summoned and Blaze Accelerator, loaded with another Shell, blew away Snipe Hunter. Albarran ended, Gessler set his topdecked monster, and Albarran tributed Rocket for Raiza the Storm Monarch. Raiza spun away Gessler’s set monster but crashed into Sakuretsu Armor; Albarran had Book of Moon and spent some time considering activating it before letting it go. Gessler topped Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, attacked for 900, and ended. Albarran killed it off with another Shell thanks to Accelerator, set a card to his back row, and Gessler did the same next turn.

Premature Burial brought back Albarran’s Card Trooper. He sent Heavy Storm, Wind Blast, and Wild Fire to the graveyard, attacking to drop Gessler to 3100 life points. He tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch in main phase 2. Gessler activated Hammer Shot next turn, but Albarran kept his Raiza on the table with Book of Moon! It was all over two turns later; Gessler just couldn’t topdeck his way out of his predicament.

Game 3 began quickly. Gessler, maligning an opening hand full of Gadgets, summoned Red Gadget and searched out Yellow. He set a spell or trap and play was to Albarran.

He activated Brain Control, taking Red Gadget. It attacked, and, in main phase 2, it was tributed for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch; Gessler lost his in-hand Nobleman of Crossout. Albarran set a spell or trap card, Wind Blast, and next turn Gessler targeted it with Mystical Space Typhoon. Albarran chained it, discarding Snipe Hunter to send Gessler’s back row card to the top of his deck. Gessler special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Snipe Hunter, and discarded Green Gadget to try and destroy Thestalos. It missed! One more discard, Yellow Gadget, destroyed Thestalos, but the Gadget had been Gessler’s last card. He attacked with Snipe and Cyber Dragon directly.

Albarran summoned Volcanic Rocket, searched his deck for Blaze Accelerator, and attacked over Snipe. Cyber Dragon attacked it next turn, Gessler set a spell or trap, and Albarran was up.

He set Blaze Accelerator, bluffing, and then set a monster. Gessler attacked next turn, hit Magician of Faith, and Albarran took back Brain Control. Gessler set his last spell or trap. Brain Control stole the Dragon and Gessler was forced to activate Sakuretsu Armor. Albarran set a monster, Gessler set a spell or trap, and Albarran tributed his set Sangan for Raiza the Storm Monarch. He tried to bounce Gessler’s Torrential Tribute, but it was chained to destroy Raiza. Sangan fetched a Shell for Albarran, who set a spell or trap card, and next turn Gessler activated Future Fusion, calling Cyber Twin Dragon and sending two Cyber Dragons to his graveyard. Gessler ended.

Albarran set a monster, Gessler summoned Green Gadget, and searched for Red Gadget. Green attacked, hit Crystal Seer, and Albarran had to choose between Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and Pot of Avarice. The duel stood at 2300 to 6300 with the damage-oriented Gessler leading. Albarran chose Pot of Avarice and Gessler announced that he was finished with his turn.

Albarran flipped Blaze Accelerator, discarded Volcanic Shell, and took out Green Gadget. He pulled another Shell from his deck for 500 life points, activated Pot of Avarice, and shuffled back Raiza the Storm Monarch, Crystal Seer, Snipe Hunter, Magician of Faith, and Volcanic Shell into his deck. He drew Wind Blast off the Avarice, as well as another Thestalos! He set the Blast.

Cyber Twin came out, but Torrential Tribute destroyed it! Gessler summoned Red Gadget, grabbed Yellow, and attacked directly. Albarran bounced it with Wind Blast, discarding Shell. Gessler passed and Albarran drew a useless Soul Exchange.

Another Shell was bought for 500 life points by Albarran, and he set Old Vindictive Magician. Gessler drew his Gadget again, summoned it, and ran into Old Vindictive, destroying both monsters. Albarran topped into Snipe Hunter.

He summoned it, passed priority, and lost Snipe to Bottomless Trap Hole. It was the opportunity Gessler needed and fortune smiled on him, giving him Banisher of the Radiance off the top next turn. Albarran had a clear field, 1600 life points, and no chance of winning the match. Banisher attacked to finish things.

A lucky topdeck and a lot of skill on Gessler’s behalf let him deal just enough damage for game! Daryl Gessler is moving on to Day 2!