22 year-old Albert Perez traveled here this weekend from Miami, Florida. He’s placing his bets this weekend on a Reasoning Samurai build, and so far he’d managed to win his first match of the day.
His opponent is Jeff Baumgartner, a well-renowned duelist from the suburbs of Chicago. He had just come off his 26th Regional Top 8, a feat he accomplished with the deck he was playing in this match — Skill Drain Recruiter.
“I feel like I’m about to play Samurai,” remarked Baumgartner, observing his opponent’s black card sleeves as each duelist shuffled up. “I’ve noticed people with black sleeves almost always play Samurai.” Either Baumgartner had insider information or had just made the most ridiculous correct read of all time.
He won the roll and opted to go first. “Good luck!” He set two cards to his back row, Skill Drain and Bottomless, and ended with Honest, Fissure, Premature Burial, and another Bottomless in hand. He didn’t have any offense going yet, but that would come in time, and he had the perfect opening to dismantle Samurai.
Perez spent a little time contemplating his first move before activating Reinforcement of the Army, searching out The Six Samurai – Yaichi. He activated Six Samurai United, summoned Yaichi, and then set one more card to his back row. He then attacked with Yaichi, a surprising call, and set another card to his spell and trap zone. “Your move.”
Baumgartner set two more cards, and then set Honest — he was going to force Perez into playing right into Bottomless. Sure enough, Perez summoned The Six Samurai – Irou next turn, activated Yaichi’s effect with priority, and lost out. Baumgartner responded by chaining Skill Drain and Bottomless Trap Hole, negating Yaichi’s effect and removing Irou from play!
Still, Perez had two counters on his Six Samurai United, and ditched it to draw two. He then flipped Reckless Greed to draw two more! He flipped his last set card, Reinforcement of the Army, and grabbed Spirit of the Six Samurai from his deck. Baumgartner had two cards in hand, Honest set, Skill Drain on the field, and two more spell or trap cards set. Albert had seven in hand and Yaichi on the field.
He activated Mystical Space Typhoon and targeted Skill Drain. Baumgartner labored a moment, and then let it go. Yaichi couldn’t attack, so Perez ended his turn with two sets to his back row.
Baumgartner drew into Shining Angel, summoned it, and attacked: Yaichi went down! In main phase 2 he flip summoned Honest, sent it back to his hand and ended: “Go ahead.” In the end phase Perez flipped another Reckless Greed, bumping his hand to six cards. Baumgartner was grudgingly impressed.
Perez set another spell or trap and special summoned Cyber Dragon. Baumgartner considered activating his Bottomless Trap Hole for a few moments, then announced that he had no response. Cyber Dragon attacked and Baumgartner didn’t play the Honest, opting to search Nova Summoner from his deck with Shining Angel’s effect instead! “I take 700.” Nova Summoner came out in attack position.
The Six Samurai – Irou hit the field next, and Baumgartner flipped that Bottomless to remove it! “I’m done.” Baumgartner was up, and activated Premature Burial to bring back Shining Angel. He activated Fissure to try and destroy Cyber Dragon, leaving Perez to activate Solemn Judgment. Cyber Dragon was saved, and Perez dropped to 3950 life points. Baumgartner had 4200 remaining himself. He sent Nova Summoner to attack Cyber Dragon, pitched Honest, and the Summoner would go to 3500 ATK! Perez responded by chaining Shrink. Nova Summoner went down to 700 ATK when Shrink resolved, and Honest then bumped up its ATK to 2800 — Perez didn’t quite understand the damage step and how Honest would work in it, a shockingly common mistake. Cyber Dragon went down, and Shining Angel then attacked directly. Play was to Perez.
He activated Heavy Storm. “I like my Angel,” remarked Baumgartner, flipping Solemn Judgment. Perez summoned The Six Samurai – Zanji and had one card in hand to Baumgartner’s Nova Summoner, Shining Angel, and in-hand card. Baumgartner had succeeded in his plan to simplify the game, and had done so with more cards than his opponent. Zanji attacked Nova Summoner, and the Summoner’s recruiter effect let Baumgartner fetch Honest! “Your move,” stated Perez.
“I’ll play Monster Reborn on your Cyber Dragon,” announced Baumgartner next turn. Cyber Dragon came up, Honest went to attack position, and it was all over!
Jeff Baumgartner wrestles for control of the duel early on, and then simplifies the game with significant card advantage to leave Albert Perez with no moves.
“I’m surprised you didn’t have Grandmaster; that really helped me,” admitted Baumgartner, trying to make friendly conversation as he shuffled. “I was saving that Bottomless.” Perez mumbled a reply, focused on his siding. He was finished just moments after Baumgartner, and play proceeded to game 2.
“You’re going first?” asked Baumgartner, controlling the conversation in lieu of controlling game 2. “Yeah,” replied Perez. “Sounds good,” replied Baumgartner, cheery.
Perez opened with Six Samurai United, and then added a Bushido Counter to it by summoning The Six Samurai – Zanji. He had no follow-up — “Your move.” Baumgartner might as well have been swinging on a clear field — his removal was going to wreck Perez.
He summoned Nova Summoner, attacked Zanji, and played Honest to press it over the Samurai. “I hate to do that,” he remarked — he was bluffing, holding a second Honest.
Perez played another United next turn, and then summoned Zanji — he used his first copy of United to draw two cards, and then activated Deck Lockdown! Zanji attacked right into Nova Summoner — Honest denied Perez yet again! “Geeze . . .” Perez’s head spun. He set another spell or trap and ended.
“I think I have to go with this play,” groaned Baumgartner. He summoned Majestic Mech – Ohka, activated Premature Burial for Honest and attacked . . . right into Mirror Force! “Oh, he had it. I had to take the risk.” Perez had so many cards, and Baumgartner just didn’t have the removal to stabilize the game. He had to press then and there, and he paid for it. A turn later Perez was swinging with Irou, Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, and Great Shogun Shien! He set one card to his back row and ended. There was no way Baumgartner was fighting out of this one.
He drew for his turn and activated his topdecked Smashing Ground. Perez opted to save Shien by losing Grandmaster, and Baumgartner conceded immediately. “I still think I made the right play.” Both duelists shuffled and sided intently.
An early-game bluff leads to a great move for Jeff Baumgartner, but an overextension gone wrong lets Perez play out of a rough opening. The match proceeded to a third duel.
Baumgartner opened with nothing but Nova Summoner. Perez activated Deck Lockdown immediately next turn, a huge blow for Baumgartner. Perez took control of Nova Summoner with Brain Control, summoned Zanji, and attacked with both monsters. Two set cards to his back row concluded his turn. It was an aggressive move that seemed to telegraph Mirror Force.
A heavy sigh came from Baumgartner, who was really feeling that Deck Lockdown. He summoned Exiled Force, but Perez flipped Solemn Judgment to stop him! Nova Summoner attacked next, and Perez had Mirror Force yet again! Baumgartner ended strong though, special summoning Cyber Dragon and setting a spell or trap to back it up. He really needed to wait out the Lockdown.
Perez set a spell or trap, and then summoned Spirit of the Six Samurai — he attached it to Zanji with its effect. “Your turn.” Both duelists were playing the waiting game. Baumgartner drew, and found himself with double Honest again.
He attacked with Cyber Dragon. “I’ll play Honest.” He paused. “Then I’ll play another Honest for game?”
Perez reeled. “Wow! Yeah, that’s game.” Baumgartner had opened with six monsters, but had managed to play out! “Good match!” He shook Perez’s hand, and both competitors de-sided to prepare for the next round.
Some great plays and a unique strategy get Jeff Baumgartner his second win of the day! Seven more and he’d be locked for Day 2.