Both of these competitors held 7-1 records moving into this round. Nunez seemed to have an advantage, having defeated plenty of Dark Armed Return decks today, but he looked exceptionally tired. Granted, his opponent, Edwin Ortiz also looked like he was reaching the end of his dueling day too. Both of these duelists had fought hard to get to where they are, but only one would move on with a strong shot at Day 2.

Ortiz won the roll and opened with Destiny Draw, discarding Destiny Hero – Dasher. He summoned Armageddon Knight, used its effect to send Jinzo to his graveyard, and passed, with a mitt full of monsters. Nunez summoned Yellow Gadget, searched out Green Gadget, and set two cards to his back row. “Go.”

Another monster came off the top of Ortiz’s deck: Darklord Zerato. He special summoned it with Dasher’s effect, but Nunez responded with Bottomless Trap Hole to remove it! Ortiz summoned Elemental Hero Stratos, searched for Destiny Hero – Disk Commander, and attacked with Armageddon Knight. Nunez took the hit: if he had Shrink set, he was unwilling to give his opponent a third Dark in the graveyard. Stratos hit for 1800 damage and play was again back to Nunez.

Nunez heaved a sigh, seeming to suffer from hand issues as well. He summoned Green Gadget, searched out Red Gadget, and traded off with Armageddon Knight. What was he thinking? Was he trying to draw out Dark Armed Dragon? A second set spell or trap card ended Nunez’s turn.

Sure enough, Ortiz dropped Dark Armed Dragon. He summoned it, removed Armageddon Knight with priority, and targeted Nunez’s freshly-set card: It was Torrential Tribute! Nunez had created the situation he wanted, but moments later the tables turned: Ortiz played a second Dark Armed Dragon! Ortiz removed Jinzo to destroy Nunez’s set Magic Drain. He then normal summoned Card Trooper, powered it up to 1900 ATK while loading his graveyard with Dark Magician of Chaos, and attacked to drop Nunez to 3200 life points. Ortiz set a spell or trap to finish.

Nunez summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer and attacked Card Trooper, but was stymied by Enemy Controller! Kycoo went to defense mode. Nunez responded with his own Enemy Controller, tributed Kycoo to take control of Dark Armed Dragon, then attacked Card Trooper: Ortiz got a free draw. Nunez then removed Kycoo from his graveyard to destroy Dark Armed, setting two cards to his back row to end his turn.

Ortiz summoned Sangan and attacked for 1000 damage. He set Return from the Different Dimension, holding back on Mirror Force, and ended.

Nunez summoned Red Gadget, searching his deck for Yellow Gadget. Red Gadget attacked Sangan, Sangan fetched a copy of Prometheus, King of the Shadows for Ortiz, and Nunez set a third card to his back row. Ortiz was up.

He tried to special summon his topdecked Destiny Hero – Dasher with his other Dasher’s effect, forgetting about the Zerato summon earlier — he was stopped, and placed the Dasher in his hand. He summoned Prometheus, removed Dark Magician of Chaos, Sangan, Dasher, and both copies of Dark Armed Dragon to pump it up, and then followed up with Return from the Different Dimension! Nunez was scooping moments later.

Edwin Ortiz pulls out of a desperate early game situation, trapped with a handful of monsters, managing to score the win! Both of these duelists seemed worn out from the strain of the day, and each made their side decking decisions at a slow, considerate pace.

Nunez began the second duel with Yellow Gadget, quickly searching for Green Gadget. He set one card to his back row to finish out. “Go ahead.” Ortiz activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched his deck for Elemental Hero Stratos and summoned him to get Destiny Hero – Dasher. He discarded Dasher for Destiny Draw, drew two, and was left holding Mirror Force, Torrential Tribute, Escape, Dark Armed Dragon, Monster Reborn, and another Destiny Draw. Stratos ran over Yellow Gadget, Ortiz set two cards to his back row, and play was to Nunez.

He summoned Green Gadget, and then activated Smashing Ground to destroy Stratos. Green Gadget attacked for 1400 damage, Nunez set another card to his back row and activated it next turn: Trap Dustshoot. It revealed Ortiz’s hand, which now included Sangan, and Nunez jotted down Ortiz’s hand before sending Dark Armed Dragon back to the deck.

Ortiz activated Monster Reborn, brought back Stratos, and used him to get Destiny Hero – Disk Commander! That made Destiny Draw a live card, and playing it got him Lightning Vortex and Reinforcement of the Army. He summoned Sangan, but Ortiz flipped Torrential Tribute: Sangan got Ortiz his Card Trooper.

“Your move,” announced Ortiz. Nunez summoned Red Gadget and searched Yellow, before attacking for 1300 damage. He ended his turn with nothing in the back row. Next turn, Ortiz sent Darklord Zerato, Dark Magician of Chaos, and Allure of Darkness to his graveyard to beef up the Card Trooper. Trooper attacked, Red Gadget went down, and play was to Nunez yet again.

He set a monster and ended, seemingly unable to get anything going. Ortiz activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched his deck for Strike Ninja, and buffed up Card Trooper. He then summoned Strike Ninja, dodged him to remove Dark Magician of Chaos and Dasher, then activated Dimension Fusion! Strike Ninja, Dasher, and Dark Magician of Chaos were returned to the field, the Magician getting Ortiz back his Monster Reborn. Reborn got him Darklord Zerato, but Ortiz didn’t have a Dark monster to pitch for its effect. Nunez scooped anyway, offering a smile and a handshake instantly.

Edwin Ortiz moves on with an 8-1 record, practically a shoe-in for Day 2!