Matt Stille had been on me since Round 2 for a deck profile or feature match. He’s playing a deck based around Gearfried the Iron Knight, featuring multiple copies of Gearfried, Blast with Chain, and Smoke Grenade of the Thief. Now, after taking a loss in his second round, Stille was actually on the bubble.

His opponent, Chris Stegall, only had a 6-2 record. Still, he refused to scoop Stille into the Top 8, aiming for what might be the single X-2 Top 8 slot here this weekend. Brutal.

Stille won the opening roll and began the game with a set spell or trap. He summoned Gearfried the Iron Knight and passed. Stegall set two spell or trap cards, set a monster, and ended.

Stille activated Smoke Grenade of the Thief, attaching it to Gearfried the Iron Knight! It was destroyed by Gearfried’s effect, and Stegall’s hand was revealed by its effect: Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, Ceasefire, and Enemy Controller! Controller was discarded for the Grenade, Gearfried was tributed for Mobius the Frost Monarch, and Stegall opted not to chain his Torrential Tribute. He lost it and Mirror Force to Mobius’ effect, but when Stille attacked, Mobius hit Morphing Jar! Stegall special summoned Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World after discarding it, and each player checked their new hands. Stille passed.

Stegall set a back row card, turned Goldd to defense position, and ended his turn. Stille activated Reinforcement of the Army, took another Gearfried the Iron Knight from his deck and attacked with Mobius to clear out Goldd. Stille set a second spell or trap and ended, not using a normal summon for the turn.

His opponent drew, and special summoned Cyber Dragon in defense. “Go ahead,” he said, ending his turn. Stille summoned Gearfried, activated Blast with Chain, and used it to destroy Stegall’s set card — Dark World Lightning! Gearfried cleared out Cyber Dragon, Mobius hit directly, and it was 5600 to 8000! Stille ended.

Stegall activated Dark World Lightning, destroying Stille’s set Enemy Controller. He discarded Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, attacked Gearfried, and set one spell or trap card. Stille activated Last Will, tributed Mobius the Frost Monarch for another one and used its effect to destroy Stegall’s set Mystical Space Typhoon! Last Will brought out Injection Fairy Lily, Premature Burial brought back Stille’s first Mobius, and it cleared out Stegall’s Sillva. The second Mobius attacked directly, reducing Stegall to 3100 LP, and Lily swung for game!

Matt Stille is just one game away from making Top 8 of a Shonen Jump Championship with a Gearfried deck!

“That was nasty,” said the table judge. I reminded him he was supposed to be neutral.

“Oh it’s fine,” said Stegall, chiming in. “He’s right. That was nice.” Stegall set to side decking, smoke screening while he did so.

He opened the second game with a set card to each zone. He lost his set spell card, Dark World Lightning, to Mystical Space Typhoon next turn. D. D. Warrior Lady attacked his set monster, Beiige, Vanguard of Dark World and destroyed it. Stille set one spell or trap and passed.

Stegall set one back row card, summoned Exiled Force, and tributed it to destroy D. D. Warrior Lady, to end his turn. Stille summoned Sangan, poked for 1000 damage, and ended. Stegall set a second back row card and passed. Stille summoned Gearfried the Iron Knight, attached Smoke Grenade of the Thief, and revealed Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, Sillva, Warlord of Dark World and Exiled Force in Stegall’s hand. Exiled was the obvious discard, and Stille was lucky that Stegall was stuck with it. Gearfried attacked for 1800, but when Sangan attacked him Gateway to Dark World brought back Beiige in defense position to block Sangan. Stille ended his turn after the replay, and deciding not to attack.

Dark World Lightning targeted Stille’s back row card. It was Book of Moon, and Stille chained it to turn his Gearfried face down. Stegall tribute summoned Sillva, Warlord of Dark World, attacked the face down Gearfried, and wiped it out to conclude his turn.

Stille summoned Exiled Force, tributed it to blow away Sillva, and Sangan attacked directly yet again. Stegall drew, passed, and Stille brought down another Gearfried! It attacked directly, Sangan followed suit, and Stegall was down to just 1400 life points!

In a fit of desperation Stegall activated Dark World Lightning targeting his own set Smashing Ground! The resulting discard let him special summon Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, who attacked Gearfried to press through a bit of damage. It was his only move, and he passed with one card remaining in his hand.

“Activate Last Will,” said Stille, playing it to the field and then moving it to the graveyard. He then rammed Sangan into Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, eating 1300 damage in the process. He dropped to 6200 life points, pulled Treeborn Frog from his deck for Sangan’s effect, and brought out Lily with Last Will. She took down Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, and Stegall dropped to 300 life points. Stille set one back row card and ended.

“I need that Graceful!” said Stegall, praying as he drew. Even if he’d drawn it, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Stille flipped Ring of Destruction to explode his Lily, dealing 400 damage — just enough to finish off his opponent!

Matt Stille moves on to Day 2, playing a dedicated Gearfried the Iron Knight deck!