I really wanted to catch Feroze Ramcharan’s deck before something horrible happened to it. He’s playing a new version of Ultimate Tyranno OTK today, a deck he’s played around with before to mixed results. Turns out I picked the right round to give him his feature match.
Feroze Ramcharan is one of Team Nexus’ celebrated duelists, and is one of the players responsible for the Cyber-Stein invasion last year. He always plays some sort of cool OTK, which makes him a top pick for a round 1 feature match at just about any big tournament. At 26 years of age, he recently began a new career as a pharmacy technician.
He’s up against 29 year-old Arnulfo Gomez, a vehicular technician from Toledo. “I work with Jeeps,” he explained amicably, shuffling up. He was running a pretty standard Perfect Circle, the Destiny Hero Monarch deck that recently took a dive in popularity on the SJC circuit. Still, an aggressive pace and some bad draws for Ramcharan is all he needs for a win here in round 1.
“I hope this deck works,” remarked Ramcharan, a tad nervous but smiling as always. He won the roll, took a deep breath, and drew his opening hand.
Stealth Bird, Card Destruction, Threatening Roar, Penguin Soldier, Ojama Trio, and Ultimate Tyranno. He set two cards to his back row, set a monster, and then activated Card Destruction to discard his Tyranno and Stealth Bird. It got him Spirit Reaper and Snatch Steal. “Your turn. Right away, I’ll activate Ojama Trio.” Gomez drew and took his three tokens, then set a card to each zone. “End.”
Ramcharan drew into Big Bang Shot, and then flip summoned Penguin Soldier to bounce itself and Gomez’s set monster. He then set Penguin Soldier again. “Your turn.”
Destiny Hero – Malicious was removed from Gomez’s graveyard, allowing him to special summon another in defense position. Gomez tributed the Malicious for Raiza, used his effect to bounce Penguin Soldier to the top of Ramcharan’s deck, then attacked directly for 2400 damage. “I’m at 5600,” confirmed Ramcharan. Gomez ended.
Another set monster was Ramcharan’s only move, and Gomez attacked into it; Ramcharan let it go, losing his Penguin Soldier and eliminating Raiza and an Ojama Token from the field with its effect. Gomez set a monster. Ramcharan passed.
Destiny Draw let Gomez pitch Malicious from his hand, and he flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive for a quick draw. He tributed it for Mobius the Frost Monarch, and Ramcharan chained Threatening Roar. “End my turn,” announced Gomez.
Ramcharan drew a second Big Bang Shot. He activated Snatch Steal, took control of Mobius the Frost Monarch, and attached Big Bang Shot to him. When he attacked, Gomez stopped Ramcharan’s aggression with Sakuretsu Armor. “I’ll set a monster,” announced Ramcharan, “and I’ll end.”
Gomez drew for his turn, then flipped Call of the Haunted to special summon Destiny Hero – Disk Commander. He drew two cards for Commander’s effect, then tributed the Commander for Raiza the Storm Monarch. Raiza’s effect bounced Ramcharan’s set monster to the top of his deck, and Pot of Avarice just kept the beats coming. Things were not looking good for the one-time Cyber-Stein master.
Raiza swung for 2400 damage, and Gomez set two cards to his back row. Ramcharan set a monster, and then a third Raiza came down over the second! Gomez spun the monster protecting Ramcharan yet again, and once that Raiza attacked Gomez finished the game with Ring of Destruction.
Newcomer Arnulfo Gomez devastates veteran player Feroze Ramcharan, drawing the first duel to an explosive finish!
Side decking was quick, as was shuffling. “That Card Destruction didn’t work too well,” noted Ramcharan. “I’ll go first.”
This time he opened with Threatening Roar, Heavy Storm, Premature Burial, two Windstorm of Etaqua, and Asura Priest. Not exactly an even hand. He set Threatening Roar, Gomez set a card to each zone, and play was back to Ramcharan. “Your turn.” He passed, but lost his set Threatening to Mystical Space Typhoon. Gomez followed up by tributing his set Treeborn Frog for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, forcing Ramcharan to discard Premature Burial and then attacking for 2400 damage. “End my turn.”
Ramcharan set a monster, set a Windstorm, and then ended. Gomez brought back Treeborn Frog in defense, then activated Metamorphosis to tribute Thestalos for Ryu Senshi. Ramcharan considered chaining Windstorm to Senshi, but opted not to do so, realizing the effect would be completely wasted. Gomez tributed for Raiza, spun away Ramcharan’s set monster, then paid 800 life points for Premature Burial to bring back Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch! When he attacked Ramcharan flipped Windstorm of Etaqua, but it was academic by this point: Ryu Senshi negated Windstorm, and Ramcharan suffered three direct attacks to end the game.
It was over! Arnulfo Gomez takes a big win over Team Nexus’ Feroze Ramcharan!
“Gosh, I just couldn’t stop those Monarchs,” commented Ramcharan. “I can’t believe it. The first game I had a pretty good hand, but all those Raizas got to me.” He offered Gomez one final handshake, and both duelists parted ways. Not the most auspicious beginnings for Feroze Ramcharan, but a great start for Arnulfo Gomez!