Three TeleDAD decks remained in the tournament, while only one Lightsworn was left. This was it: Felipe DeJesus was Lightsworn’s last shot at making the finals table. Few pleasantries were exchanged as play began.

DeJesus opened with Honest, Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior, and Charge of the Light Brigade. He activated Charge of the Light Brigade, sent Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, Necro Gardna, and another Charge to the graveyard, and searched his deck for Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner. He summoned Lyla, ended, and sent Honest, Enemy Controller, and Judgment Dragon to his graveyard.

Velasquez summoned Krebons, and then set two cards to his back row. DeJesus topped Royal Decree, activated Lyla’s effect, and Velasquez responded by chaining Phoenix Wing Wind Blast — he discarded Destiny Hero – Malicious. He still couldn’t get a Lightsworn monster into his graveyard for Lumina. He summoned her, set Decree, and sent Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and Heavy Storm to his graveyard in the end phase.

One Destiny Hero – Malicious was removed for another, and Velasquez brought him out in defense position. He Tuned Krebons to Malicious, Synchro summoned Colossal Fighter, and attacked into Necro Gardna. Lumina’s presence on the field promised both a special summon next turn, plus the tribute summon of Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, so keeping her on the field was integral.

Velasquez activated Emergency Teleport in the battle phase to bring out Krebons and tried to attack Lumina, but DeJesus protected Lumina with Honest. Velasquez ended, DeJesus flipped Royal Decree, and next turn he discarded to special summon Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior. He tributed Lumina for Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, destroyed Colossal Fighter and Torrential Tribute by sending four cards to his graveyard (including Judgment Dragon, Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, and Herald of Creation), then activated Foolish Burial to send Plaguespreader to his graveyard from his deck. He special summoned it with its own effect, and attacked with it, then Celestia, and Garoth. He’d blanked; he thought he’d be able to Synchro summon Stardust Dragon with Plaguespreader and Celestia. That was going to cost him.

Next turn Velasquez brought out Krebons with Emergency Teleport, and special summoned Destiny Hero – Malicious. That got him another Colossal Fighter, and he summoned Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude. Diamond Dude’s effect hit Sangan instead of a spell, and Colossal Fighter stomped over Celestia. Diamond Dude then attacked Plaguespreader Zombie. “Go ahead.”

DeJesus was forced to draw the Wulf he’d stacked last turn, and summoned his only other card: Phantom of Chaos. That was all he needed! He mimicked Herald of Creation’s effect with the Phantom, and discarded his Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to recover Judgment Dragon. Placing Wulf in the graveyard gave him his fourth Lightsworn. Judgment Dragon hit the field and Velasquez only had 2450 life points remaining. DeJesus paid 1000 life points, wiped the field, and swung for game!

A lucky set of combos lets Felipe DeJesus pull out of a hideous misplay and claim Game 1! Both competitors sided and shuffled at a leisurely pace.

Velasquez opened Game 2 with a set spell or trap. “Go ahead.” DeJesus had Charge of the Light Brigade, Heavy Storm, Reinforcement of the Army, Judgment Dragon, Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, and Royal Decree. He activated Heavy Storm, blew away his opponent’s face-down Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, then activated Charge of the Light Brigade, sending Royal Decree, Honest, and Judgment Dragon to the graveyard. Again, no Lumina-compatible Lightsworn.

He searched out Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior anyway, and summoned him to attack for 1850 damage. He set Decree and ended. “Your turn.” Velasquez blasted him with Mystical Space Typhoon, discarded Destiny Hero – Malicious for Destiny Draw, and removed Malicious to special summon another. He chained Emergency Teleport, special summoned Krebons from his deck, and Synchro summoned Magical Android. He played Monster Reborn to bring back Krebons, Synchro summoned for Colossal Fighter, and then flopped double Dark Armed Dragon! DeJesus was blown out!

George Velasquez takes Game 2 in two turns with a massive press ending in double Dark Armed Dragon! This match was going to Game 3!

DeJesus opened Game 3 with Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, summoning her. He set Heavy Storm, then sent Celestia, Lightsworn Angel and Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to the graveyard in the end phase: Wulf came up, and Felipe had Monster Reincarnation, Herald of Creation, Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, and Judgment Dragon in hand. Promising stuff.

He lost the Heavy Storm to Velasquez’s Mystical Space Typhoon next turn. Velasquez summoned Krebons, set two cards to his back row, and ended. DeJesus topped and activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched his deck for Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior, and discarded him for Monster Reincarnation. He took Celestia, Lightsworn Angel back to his hand. He tributed Jain for Celestia, forcing out Solemn Judgment and going to three Lightsworn in the graveyard. Wulf attacked Krebons and Velasquez paid 800 life points to negate the attack.

He used Phoenix Wing Wind Blast discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious next turn to spin away Wulf. He summoned his second Malicious, Tuned Krebons to it, and Synchro summoned Colossal Fighter. He attacked for 3100 damage and set one spell or trap to end.

DeJesus drew Wulf. He summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, discarded Wulf, Lightsworn Beast to special summon Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior and ended. He sent nothing but spells and Neo-Spacian Grand Mole to his graveyard, and next turn Colossal Fighter wrecked Lumina. DeJesus was down to 2700 life points and Velasquez set another spell or trap.

He special summoned Judgment Dragon and lost it to Solemn Judgment — Velasquez had set it turns ago. But he summoned Herald of Creation, discarded Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, brought back Judgment Dragon, paid for its effect, but lost out to Torrential Tribute! He ended with no cards.

Velasquez special summoned Dark Armed Dragon to the empty field and attacked for game! George Velasquez is moving on to the finals and Lightsworn is out of the tournament!