In an event where three major Canadian players had battled their way to the Top 8, two rising stars had clashed not once, but twice, in just eight rounds. After making it into the tournament at the very last moment, in yesterday’s final LCQ, Hernan Roman had torn apart competition until round 5, but then choked on the final two rounds of the day. Tiebreakers edged him into the Top 8, just eight points above Matt Peddle.

His opponent, Marcus Spanier, had eliminated Dale Bellido in a match that pitted old Tomato Control against what might be its new standard incarnation. Running Royal Decree and a plethora of Return tech instead of using Return himself, a win here might cement his deck as an archetype of the format.

He opened the first duel by summoning Sangan and setting a spell or trap, calmly passing and folding his arms. Roman activated Confiscation to open his turn, revealing Magician of Faith, Zaborg, Nobleman of Crossout, and Don Zaloog, which he discarded. He then set a monster, activated Creature Swap, removed the Swapped monster from play (Spirit Reaper), and hit Spanier for 1000 damage. He passed with no backfield.

Spanier used Smashing Ground on his own Sangan, temporarily under Roman’s Control. He pulled Spirit Reaper with its effect, attacked, and forced the discard of Zaborg! He set a spell or trap and passed. Roman used Snatch Steal, Spanier chained Book of Moon, but Roman used his last card, Nobleman of Crossout! He had no cards left and passed!

“Wow. Four cards and I can’t do anything.” Spanier passed. Roman set his draw, passed, lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon (Creature Swap) and Spanier set a monster, Roman set a monster, Spanier tributed Magician of Faith, taking back Book of Moon, for Zaborg. Cards hit thet able in a flurry: the Zaborg was destroyed by Torrential, Spanier set two back row cards, Roman set a monster, Kycoo, lost it to Nobleman of Crossout, and Spanier leaned on him with Zaborg, thanks to Call of the Haunted. Roman took 2400 damage.

Premature Burial brought back Roman’s Zaborg, and he attacked with it, intending to crash and destroy both Zaborgs. Book of Moon turned the attacking Zaborg face down, and Roman lost his Zaborg next turn. Spanier tributed for Jinzo, attacked, but hit Scapegoat! He took out a Sheep, ended his turn, Roman passed, and Spanier summoned D. D. Warrior Lady. Two Sheep were taken out. Asura Priest removed the Lady next turn, destroying her, and Roman passed with just one Sheep.

Creature Swap traded Jinzo for the last Sheep token, and Spanier tributed the last token for Metamorphosis. He brought out Thousand-Eyes Restrict, inhaled Jinzo, and a single attack laid Roman out.

It was all over in a grand total of just six minutes.

“I’m not siding,” announced Spanier, while Roman decided what he would rotate into his main deck. While Spanier had shown extreme confidence in his deck as the day had gone on, usually not side decking, Roman had to make some changes this time around. The last duel was a disaster, and a far cry from his previous victory over Spanier earlier this afternoon.

He began the duel with just a set spell or trap card. Spanier fingered Mystical Space Typhoon, and decided to go for it: it wasn’t Scapegoat as he had though. He destroyed Enemy Controller! Spirit Reaper hit Roman directly, Spanier set a spell or trap, and Cyber Dragon hit him on the next turn. Roman set a spell or trap, Spanier set one, Reaper went to defense, and Roman passed.

Spanier passed back, Roman summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, Breaker broke the most recently set spell or trap card, and it was Scapegoat. Scapegoat was chained, four Sheep tokens came up, and two went down to Breaker and Cyber Dragon.

“Isn’t this nice,” remarked Spanier, looking at a no-monster hand. Premature Burial, Creature Swap, Last Will, Nobleman of Crossout, and Royal Decree. He opted to not make a move yet, and ended his turn. The Dragon and Breaker took out his Sheep, and Smashing Ground destroyed Spirit Reaper.

Spanier drew into Snatch Steal. He activated it to take control of Cyber Dragon, played Last Will, and used Premature Burial on Spirit Reaper! Spirit Reaper was destroyed, and Last Will was triggered! Who does that?!

“Cyber?” asked Roman.

“You’re at 7700, I don’t think so.” He pulled another Reaper to the field. Cyber Dragon took out Breaker, but when Reaper attacked it hit nothing but Sheep: Roman had a Scapegoat of his own. Next turn he summoned Asura Priest to smack the Reaper, sending it back to his hand where it was nice and safe for the next turn.

Spanier summoned Mystic Tomato, and his three monsters wiped all the Sheep off the field. The Asura Priest came back down, and it attacked Mystic Tomato. Spanier brought Sangan to the field with its effect, and Asura attacked and destroyed it: Spanier took D. D. Warrior Lady to his hand with Sangan’s effect. Roman did not attack Spirit Reaper, but bounced right to main phase 2 to activate Creature Swap. “Oh, I didn’t attack. I misplayed that.” He knew the mistake instantly. Spanier gave him the attack position Reaper, Roman took his Asura back, and play passed to Spanier.

Spanier summoned the D. D. Warrior Lady, attacked Reaper with her, removed the Reaper from play, and then attacked with Cyber Dragon. He set another spell or trap and passed. Roman set a monster, but it was removed by Nobleman of Crossout next turn. Spanier attacked with Cyber Dragon and passed.

Roman set a card to each zone and ended his turn. Spanier had an answer again, summoning Exiled Force, and then contemplated his next move. He had two Creature Swap in hand, and could either Swap the Exiled or tribute it off. He Swapped it, and got Asura! “Horrible, horrible, horrible!” he said with a laugh. He passed to Roman.

Roman activated Graceful Charity, and discarded Chaos Sorcerer and Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World! Goldd came to the field, a surprise for Spanier whose deck ran three copies. Roman then summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer the Ghost Destroyer, used Nobleman of Crossout to remove his own Asura Priest from play, and attacked with Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World!

Goldd’s attack was denied by Book of Moon, so Roman moved to main phase 2 and activated Confiscation to get rid of Spanier’s second Creature Swap. Spanier summoned Mystic Tomato, Cyber Dragon attacked into Asura, and Mystic Tomato ran it into Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World.

“What am I doing?” he asked himself out loud. Goldd took down the Cyber Dragon next turn, and Roman set a monster.

“Oh Swaps,” said Spanier. “You tried your best.” He turned Tomato to defense position and passed.

Roman flip summoned Magician of Faith, took back Graceful, used it, tributed his Magician of Faith for Zaborg, destroyed the Tomato with Zaborg’s effect, and attacked with both of his monsters for game! A terrible misplay by Spanier costs him the second duel, and perhaps the match.

Both duelists shuffled their side decks into their main decks, and began peeling away fifteen cards. Neither player would know whether or not the other player had side decked.

“I want to win this third game!” said Spanier with some joking desperation.

“I think we all do,” said Roman, as the duel began.

Spanier opened with a set Spirit Reaper and nothing else. Roman attacked it with D. D. Warrior Lady, and removed both monsters from play. He set a spell or trap and passed. Spanier summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, and broke Mirror Force before attacking for 1600 damage! He set a spell or trap and passed.

Roman summoned Mystic Tomato, played Creature Swap, and ran over his own Tomato with Breaker! He pulled Spirit Reaper with its effect and attacked Spanier directly, forcing the discard of Don Zaloog! “Oof, you got the good one.” Roman passed.

Spanier looked at his hand: Snatch Steal, Premature Burial, D. D. Warrior Lady, and Magician of Faith. He flipped Smashing Ground to destroy Breaker, brought bvack Don with Premature, summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, took Reaper out of the game with her effect, and attacked directly with Don to discard Chaos Sorcerer! It was 6700 to 3800 with Spanier leading!

Roman activated Graceful Charity, and discarded Mystical Space Typhoon and Torrential Tribute. He activated Premature Burial to bring up Mystic Tomato, crashed it into Don Zaloog, and brought out another Reaper! Reaper attacked directly, forced the discard of Snatch Steal, and Spanier shook his head. Roman set a spell or trap and passed.

Spanier set his Spirit Reaer, passed, and Roman summoned Tsukuyomi. He Creature Swapped the Tsukuyomi for Spanier’s Reaper, let Tsukuyomi bounce, and passed. Spanier set Magician of Faith and ended.

Roman played Nobleman of Crossout to remove the Magician of Faith from play, and Spanier only had one card in hand. Spanier heaved a sigh, and Roman sent Spirit Reaper to attack position. He tributed the set Reaper for Cyber Dragon, and the Dragon attacked directly. When Reaper hit, it hit Goldd! Roman lost his entire board, and the crowd roared! Roman had only one card left in his hand, and he couldn’t play it! His field was completely open.

“You have 3000 left?” asked Spanier. Roman confirmed that that was his life point total, and Spanier summoned his topdecked monster: Morphing Jar! Its 700 ATK was just enough to win the match. Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World swung for 2300, Morphing Jar finished Roman off, and Spanier moved to the semifinals!