After taking massive heat for supposedly winning Shonen Jump Orlando on pure luck, Michael Lux was back in Shonen Jump competition and packing a 5-1 record. A Day 2 showing here this weekend would go a long way towards shutting up his critics, and it showed. Lux was more focused, and playing markedly faster today than he did in Florida.
His opponent, also with a very respectable 5-1 record, was Refik Trukanovic. Originally from Bosnia, Trukanovic now lives in Chatanooga, and was wrecking opponents all day long by siding from Chaos Return into an aggressive Burn build that exploited Ojama Trio.
Trukanovic won the roll and opened with a set card to each zone. Lux special summoned Cyber Dragon, attacked, and lost his Dragon to Sakuretsu Armor. He then set a card to each zone and passed. Trukanovic set two spell or trap cards and passed back.
Lux activated Heavy torm from his hand, destroying his own Sakuretsu Armor, and Mirror Force an dDust Tornado. Spirit Reaper hit directly robbing Trukanovic oif a card, but Snatch Steal destroyed it next turn. Trukanovic passed, Lux tributed his set Tsukuyomi for Cyber Dragon, and attacked directly. He set a spell or trap, passed, lost Cyber Dragon to Smashing Ground, and Trukanovic passed back. Lux set a monster, Trukanovic set one too, and it was 5600 to 8000 for Lux.
He flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, drew a card for its effect, and summoned Spirit Reaper. His Dekoichi attacked Trukanovic’s set monster, also a Dekoichi, he attacked directly with Reaper, discarding Mobius the Frost Monarch from his oppoennt’s hand before passing. Trukanovic set a spell or trap card and ended.
Dekoichi hit directly, and Lux followed it up with an attack from Reaper. Book of Moon blocked the Reaper’s attack. A turn later he lost both of his face down monsters, Reaper and Treeborn Frog, to two Nobleman of Crossout. Trukanovic flipped Call of the Haunted to bring back D. D. Warrior Lady, summoned Sangan, ran over Dekoichi with the Lady, and passed.
Lux set a monster, and hit the Sangan with Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Sangan got Trukanovic Skelengel from his deck. He set it, set his last card to his back row, and Lux flip summoned a second Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. He tributed both Dekoichis for Dark Magician of Chaos, took back Heavy Storm, but lost the Magician to Torrential Tribute. He passed, Trukanovic passed back, and Lux set a monster before returning the favor.
Strike Ninja came down on Trukanovic’s side and attacked, but hit Night Assailant. He lost his Ninja to Assailant’s effect, and ended his turn. He thought he could activate the Ninja’s effect in response to Assailant’s, but the table judge reminded him that he could not use Strike Ninja’s dodge in the damage step. Lux set a monster and a spell or trap, Trukanovic passed after setting a monster, Lux flip summoned Magician of Faith to take back and use Nobleman of Crossout, removing Spirit Reaper, and attacked directly with Magician of Faith. He ended his turn, Trukanovic drew and set another spell or trap card, and play passed back to Lux.
The Orlando champ special summoned Chaos Sorcerer and attacked into Widespread Ruin. Magician of Faith went to defense position. Trukanovic set Don Zaloog, but lost it to another Nobleman of Crossout. Another Chaos Sorcerer knocked him down to 1200.
Trukanovic ripped a Sorcerer himself on the next turn though, removing Lux’s Sorcerer from play. Lux drew, set Magician of Faith, and passed. Trukanovic sent the face up Magician of Faith out of the game with Sorcerer and set a back row card.
Lux activated Graceful Charity, discarding Magical Merchant and Call of the Haunted. He flip summoned yet another Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, and chained Torrential Tribute to its effect before drawing. He set Magician of Faith, set a back row card, and passed, unable to pull the win.
Trukanovic set his topdeck, a monster, and passed. Lux flip summoned Magician of Faith, took back Nobleman of Crossout yet again, used it to remove Trukanovic’s set Tsukuyomi from the game, tributed the Magician for Cyber Dragon, and attacked for game! Lux revealed Return as both duelists gathered their decks: even if Trukanovic’s last set spell or trap card was something that could stop the Dragon’s onslaught, Lux had the game won.
A decisive victory for game 1.
Lux gave no indication of making major changes during side decking. His opponent, on the other hand, sided into Burn.
Trukanovic opened with Graceful Charity, discarding Dust Tornado and Widespread Ruin. He set a card to each zone and ended his turn. Lux special summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked, but ran straight into Gravity Bind! Trukanovic gave a little grin, as Lux was somewhat taken aback. “I’m scared now!” He set a monster and passed.
“Flip Stealth Bird?”
“Not yet.” Trukanovic grinned. He drew for his turn, set another spell or trap and passed.
Lux flip summoned Magical Merchant, took Sakuretsu Armor with its effect, played Heavy Storm to destroying Torrential Tribute and the Gravity Bind, and tributed for Dark Magician of Chaos. He took back Heavy Storm, attacked into Spirit Reaper, special summoned Chaos Sorcerer, removed Reaper, and set a back row card.
Trukanovic a set monster and activated Wave-Motion Cannon. Lux normal summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, and attacked into Sangan—the Lady removed it from play. Chaos Sorcerer and Dark Magician of Chaos attacked directly, reducing Trukanovic to 2900 life points. Trukanovic set a spell or trap card and passed right back.
Lux played Heavy Storm again, flipping it and losing his Sakuretsu Armor, but Trukanovic chained Scapegoat! Lux summoned Spirit Reaper and beat away three Sheep, leaving his opponent with just one remaining.
Trukanovic set three cards, one monster and two spell or trap cards and then activated Messenger of Peace, his last card. Stymied for the moment, Lux used his Chaos Sorcerer to remove the remaining Sheep from Trukanovic’s side of the field and set a card to each zone before ending. Trukanovic paid for Messenger of Peace, flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, set Spirit Reaper, flipped Just Desserts, and then activated Ceasefire! Lux dropped to just 3000 life points.
Lux attacked Trukanovic’s Dekoichi with his own, and both were destroyed. Chaos Sorcerer removed Trukanovic’s Spirit Reaper form play, and Lux set a card to each zone. He passed, Trukanovic passed back, and a turn later Lux had game, destroying Messenger of Peace and rushing with his horde of monsters for game.
An intense, aggressive pace leads Michael Lux to yet another win, bringing him one step closer to dispelling any illusions about his supposed lack of skill!