Team Overdose and the former Team Rampage had a long history, one of the most intense rivalries in this game. Now, an Overdose star and a Rampage alum were facing off for a chance to play for Gold Sarcophagus. The last time these two played was Shonen Jump Championship Boston almost exactly one year ago, where a favorable draw for Labounty and a regrettable, but smart decision by Perovic resulted in a crushing 2-0 loss.

Labounty won the opening roll and began the match with a set spell or trap. Perovic did the same, but lost his set spell or trap to Phoenix Wing Wind Blast in the end phase, allowing Labounty to discard Destiny Hero – Disk Commander. Labounty set a back row card and attacked with Snipe Hunter.

Perovic summoned Elemental Hero Stratos and searched his deck for Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude. Stratos attacked, ran over Snipe Hunter, and Perovic thought a while before activating Swords of Revealing Light. “Go.”

A pass was Labounty’s only play next turn, and he took 1800 damage from Stratos shortly thereafter. Perovic summoned Diamond Dude, hit Card Destruction with his effect, and ended. Labounty summoned Card Trooper, sent The Transmigration Prophecy, Treeborn Frog, and Cyber Dragon to the graveyard for its effect, and activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Swords of Revealing Light. Card Trooper attacked over Diamond Dude, destroying him, and a set spell or trap ended his turn. “I have no idea what Card Destruction does with Diamond Dude, but I don’t care.”

Perovic had Premature Burial, Exiled Force, another Diamond Dude, Reinforcement of the Army, and two Return from the Different Dimension in his hand. “I’m contemplating this silly play . . . It just seems sort of silly.” He thought a while and ran some percentages. “Okay. I think I like this.” He set one card, and then activated Card Destruction to draw five cards.

“Draw what you want?”

“Yeah.” Perovic pitched Malicious with Destiny Draw. “As long as I don’t draw another Malicious.”

He did draw another Malicious. “That didn’t look happy” commented Labounty, noting Perovic’s expression.

“That’s okay though.” Perovic activated Monster Gate to tribute Stratos, special summoned Destiny Hero - Dasher, then tributed him for another Gate. After discarding a whopping 14 spell and trap cards he hit Dark Magician of Chaos. Magician of Chaos’ effect returned Dimension Fusion to Perovic’s hand, and he tributed the Magician for Malicious. He flipped his set Premature Burial, targeted Elemental Hero Stratos, and Labounty saw where this was all going — Perovic was going to destroy Labounty’s back-row card with Stratos’ effect, return both copies of Divine Sword – Phoenix Blade to his hand to load his removed from play area, and then activate Dimension Fusion. Labounty scooped the moment Perovic targeted Premature Burial; he knew what was coming.

Game 2 began after some side decking.

“This is the first time we’ve ever played in a Shonen Jump, right?” remarked Labounty.

Perovic laughed. “No! You sacked the crap out of me in Boston!”

“Oh, I remember that!” Labounty’s eyes lit up. “And I didn’t sack you; you left me with Cyber-Stein off Confiscation.” An off-hand feature match that Labounty had apparently forgotten was likely still fresh in Perovic’s mind.

Labounty opened with a set card to each zone. “Go ahead.” Perovic did nothing, his hand mostly dead, and passed. Labounty flip summoned Spirit Reaper and attacked, but discarded Dark Magician of Chaos from his opponent’s hand! Perovic was elated and drew for his turn, holding Premature Burial. He activated Lightning Vortex, discarded Divine Sword, then tried to bring back Dark Magician of Chaos with Premature Burial — Labounty cut him off with D. D. Crow! Perovic set one spell or trap to end.

Destiny Hero - Fear Monger was Labounty’s next summon, attacking directly. Labounty set a second card to the back row. Perovic passed again, and Labounty pressed for damage by tributing Fear Monger for Cyber Dragon, attacking directly. Perovic bluffed a set Threatening Roar, but then made a show of not using it, despite the fact that his set card was Return.

Labounty passed and Perovic was still drawing dead. He had Heavy Storm, Monster Gate, Divine Sword, and Destiny Draw in hand, his only real option to activate Return from the Different Dimension to bring out Dark Magician of Chaos and then tribute him for Monster Gate. He passed again.

One Cyber Dragon was tributed for another by Labounty, and the first attacked, telegraphing Call of the Haunted. Labounty activated it, brought back the first Dragon, attacked, and ran into Dark Magician of Chaos, courtesy of Return from the Different Dimension. Dark Magician of Chaos got Perovic back his Vortex and Labounty ended. Magician was sent back out of play.

He activated Vortex again, discarding his second Phoenix Blade and passing. Labounty passed, Perovic set a spell or trap, ended, and Labounty summoned D.D. Crow to peck for 100 damage! “I peck you!”

“Wow, eight turns later I can’t do anything,” Perovic passed, Labounty tributed for Raiza and his targeted Threatening Roar was chained. Perovic used Destiny Draw, discarding Diamond Dude, discarded another Divine Sword for Vortex, set a spell or trap, Labounty passed, Perovic passed, and Labounty struck for game next turn with Sangan!

Both duelists shook hands and wished each other luck. Perovic opened game 3 with a set spell or trap.

Labounty played Spirit Reaper and attacked immediately, ripping Perovic’s Monster Gate from his hand. He set a spell or trap and play was to Perovic. He discarded Destiny Hero - Dasher for Lightning Vortex, passed, and took 1600 damage from Banisher of the Radiance. Labounty set another card to his back row.

Perovic had nothing he could play, stuck with Call of the Haunted, Divine Sword, and another useless card in hand. He passed. Labounty hit him for 1600, set a monster, and Perovic passed again. Labounty flip summoned Treeborn Frog, normal summoned Fear Monger, and attacked into Threatening Roar. He set a third spell or trap card.

Heavy Storm blasted Labounty’s back row, but he chained Waboku! Perovic set one back row card, ended, and Labounty tributed Treeborn for Raiza the Storm Monarch. It wiped Perovic’s Call of the Haunted from his back row and Labounty was able to attack for game.

Another bomb of a hand dooms Perovic to defeat. Jonathan Labounty scores the victory, moving on to the Top 4!