Corey Burkhart is one of the youngest serious duelists in North America. At age 13, he often catches his opponents off-guard. Aside from seeming impeccably dressed and remarkably well-spoken, he looks like any other ordinary young Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. Cheerful. Innocent. Completely non-threatening.

Until the beatings start.

Corey is the kind of player who calls himself conservative. He understands the game is all about over-extensions, and he picks his spots. When he decides to take a win he usually takes it hard, and he knows when he has an opponent locked down. I’ve seen him at virtually every event I’ve judged or reported at, and more often than not he makes Top 4 or wins the event outright. His father, Scott Burkhart, is awesome too and together they leave quite the impression, both as excellent players and as topnotch human beings.

Corey was playing the Chaos Warrior removal deck that several players were experimenting with today. “I saw it on the net, it was a previous winner, so I decided to try it out.” That’s kind of what Corey does. He decided to play the deck last night, and went for it. He’s always on the cutting edge, and living in a family that owns a gaming store, he’s usually got access to the new stuff. Sponsorship from Michigan’s R. I. W. Hobbies also helps out a great deal. Last month he was playing Big Shield Gardna to death, learning the ins and outs of it before many players even saw it. His favorite card, though?

“Yata-Garasu. Am I still allowed to say that?” Yup. “Sweet. So broken.” He’s the kind of player who derives genuine fun from the deciphering and breaking of the system itself. It’s a passion that leads him to test a lot of ideas.

Like many people I talked to, Corey really likes the Advanced format. “I think it puts a little more thinking into the game. But also a bit more luck. Because decks are more consistent and cards are a bit easier to get, games often come down to who gets cards first.”

“Skill is bigger than ever though. This guy had 13 cards in his hand today against me, and I still won. I just outplayed him.” It’s easy to net-deck, but not easy to master the deck itself.

There’s no doubt that Corey is someone we’re going to hear more about in the future. Committed to TCGs and with youth on his side, he has the intelligence, determination, and an attitude of someone far beyond his years. His skill of “playing the man” over “playing the game” is remarkable. He’s wickedly cerebral and smart, and he has the premier-level success to prove it.

Corey is the clay from which Gabe Walls and Kai Buddes are made. It's a bold statement, but it’s true. If he sticks with TCG’s, he’ll redefine whatever games he plays.