We last heard from Anthony Alvarado when he made Day 2 of SJC Montreal. He failed to break through to the Top 8. He’s back again today to give it another go. Tom’s biggest accomplishment thus far was a Top 8 at a Neutral Grounds regional, no small feat, and he has no relation to West Tran. Anthony is still playing the burn deck his team has tried to keep quiet since Montreal, while Tom is running the dreaded Demise OTK.

Anthony won the roll and started off with a set monster. Tom summoned Sonic Bird to fetch Advanced Ritual Art, and Anthony asked him if he had game. “My matches aren’t even worth it these days . . .” lamented Anthony as Demise, King of Armageddon came down and wiped the field. Demise was traded in for Cyber Twin Dragon via Metamorphosis which attacked twice and then was obliterated during Anthony’s draw phase by Ring of Destruction for the one turn win! “I’ll intimidate you. I’ll throw in 14,” announced Anthony between games. “Go for it,” replied Tom as he launched into his own side deck. Poor Anthony has had a terrible run of combo craziness. “At least no one knows my deck,” said Anthony. While technically not true, the comment was allowed to slide so Anthony could prepare for the all important game 2. He had drawn all monsters in the first hand with the exception of a Messenger of Peace that he decided not to play. It didn’t matter thanks to Demise, but the option was there. “This is unfair, uncalled for, and totally unprofessional,” remarked Anthony on his propensity to play against combo decks in feature matches.

Anthony started off with a set monster and two back row cards before passing to Tom, who had a much less explosive start. He set a spell or trap and passed back to Anthony, who set a second monster and the rest of his hand before flipping Morphing Jar. The Jar robbed Tom of all three copies of Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands in addition to Metamorphosis and Megamorph. Morphing Jar hit for 700 and, in the end phase, Tom flipped Royal Decree. Ring of Destruction was activated in response to destroy Morphing Jar, and play passed back to Tom, who summoned Sonic Bird and fetched Advanced Ritual Art. Pulling the Rug was helpless to stop the Bird, and it attacked Anthony’s set Snipe Hunter before Tom set a spell or trap and passed. Anthony had to get rid of that Decree, and his draw for the turn was another Snipe Hunter. He pitched to Snipe Hunter and rolled a 4 to destroy Decree.

With access to his traps once again, Anthony pitched another card to destroy Tom’s set Pulling the Rug. He was now free to attack the Sonic Bird without interference, but first he activated Premature Burial to bring back his second Snipe Hunter. Ceasefire flipped for 1000 damage, and Anthony decided to press for damage by pitching to try to destroy Sonic Bird. He rolled a six though, and set Solemn Judgment before attacking with both his Hunters and passing. Senju of the Thousand Hands came down for Tom next turn, but Pulling the Rug thwarted it and Tom set a spell or trap. Anthony summoned Stealth Bird next turn and attacked with everything for game! After a crushing game 1, Anthony Alvorado comes back to force this match to game 3!

It was Tom’s turn to start for the final game of the match, and he started us off with a set monster and a pair of spell or trap cards. Anthony’s hand was looking pretty good with Pulling the Rug and Level Limit — Area B in addition to Ceasefire and some solid monsters. His opening move was Snipe Hunter, discarding Sangan to target a back row card. Tom chained the trap, Waboku, and Anthony continued by discarding Ceasefire to target the other spell or trap. Anthony rolled a 3 and Tom lost Ceasefire. Anthony then set a pair of spell or trap cards and attacked into a face down Morphing Jar, refreshing his hand. He had drawn into Confiscation, which he activated to steal Heavy Storm from Tom’s hand. Anthony finished off his turn with Wave-Motion Cannon and passed back to Tom.

“Giant Trunade for the win?” inquired Anthony as the turn began, but Tom summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands to fetch a second Demise. Anthony had Pulling the Rug, but he didn’t activate it and passed back to Anthony instead. The Cannon went up to 1000, and Anthony pitched a Cyber Dragon to try and eliminate Morphing Jar. He rolled a 1, then pitched Gravekeeper’s Guard to try again and rolled another 1. Anthony was channeling the spirit of Shane Scurry at this point, and he attacked Senju and set a card to each zone before passing. Sonic Bird came down for Tom, but was met by Pulling the Rug! Advanced Ritual Art was next, but it was negated by Anthony’s freshly drawn Solemn Judgment! It was 7900 to 3500 in Tom’s favor, but he had just lost all his key cards! Play was back to Anthony, and the Cannon charged up to 2000. He then flipped Gravekeeper’s Spy to fetch another one in attack position and considered discarding for Snipe Hunter to do some extra damage. He couldn’t win this turn, but if he rolled right with Snipe Hunter he could drop Tom down to 2000 life points and prevent a Demise wipe should Tom find a way to bring out the Ritual monster. Considering his luck thus far, however, it would be a risky proposition. Two Arts were gone, but Anthony discarded Torrential to blow away the Jar and hit with a 2! He attacked for 3900 with his monsters and then blew the cannon for 2000 placing Tom at exactly 2000! Insect Knight came down for Tom and he went on the offensive taking down Snipe Hunter before setting a spell or trap.

Anthony switched his Spies to defense and activated Messenger of Peace before passing back to Tom, who set a spell or trap and passed. In the next turn, Anthony set his draw to the monster zone after paying for Messenger of Peace. Tom passed and Anthony set his draw to the spell and trap zone before passing. Tom was visibly displeased with his draw and set it to his back row before passing back to Anthony, who was looking for a little burn to finish the job. He didn’t find it though, and Tom set a monster before passing back to Anthony. Anthony was down to 2700, but Tom wasn’t in any sort of a position to make that number 0. Another card went into Anthony’s back row giving him three set cards and a Messenger of Peace. He finally drew into Stealth Bird and set it while Tom set a monster as well. Anthony paid down to 2500 and flipped his Stealth Bird up and down before activating Level Limit — Area B. Tom had one last shot, and he flipped Giant Trunade. There were only 3 minutes left in the match, and Anthony had no response. Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands came down to fetch Advanced Ritual Art for Tom, and he activated it, sending Insect Knight and Neo Bug to the graveyard to bring out Demise, King of Armageddon. He couldn’t pay for it, but he used Metamorphosis to turn it into Gatling Dragon, placing the match at the mercy of coin flips to decide things. He flipped 2 tails and a heads choosing to destroy Anthony’s unknown monster, a Spirit Reaper. He attacked Stealth Bird with Gatling Dragon and time ran out in the match. Play was back to Anthony, and he set a monster before activating Level Limit — Area B and setting three spell or trap cards. It was back to Tom for his last turn, and he flipped for Gatling Dragon pulling three heads and wiping Anthony’s field clean of monsters! He needed to get something into attack mode, but he couldn’t do it realizing his misplay from the turn previously far too late! He had a second Metamorphosis that he didn’t play that could have been a Cyber Twin Dragon and a win for the New York native Tom Tran. Anthony Alvarado comes back from a one turn game 1 to take the match, 2-1!