Game 2

Both players availed themselves of the chance to side deck. “How many Assailants do you play?” Marcial asked. “Two,” Daniel replied. “Thanks for that!” Marcial responded with a grin. “You’re welcome,” Daniel replied smoothly. They each displayed fifteen card side decks to their opponent. “Oh, I’ve only got fourteen!” exclaimed Marcial, before dropping the last card onto the table. “Aw, you ruined my day,” said the table judge with a mock growl. After meticulous shuffling, they were ready to go on to game 2.

Dan chose to go first, drew, made the classic set of one monster and one spell or trap, and ended his turn. Marcial drew and thought momentarily before duplicating the action, then set one more spell or trap.

Daniel drew, looked at the field, and thought. He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, and it was nailed by Marcial’s Bottomless Trap Hole. He flip summoned D. D. Assailant, and attacked Marcial’s Sangan. Marcial considered only briefly before searching out Kinetic Soldier. Marcial then drew and blew away Daniel’s set Metamorphosis with Mystical Space Typhoon before summoning Kinetic Soldier and attacking D. D. Assailant. Both monsters were now gone, and life points were at 6350 for Daniel and 8000 for Marcial.

Daniel activated his own Mystical Space Typhoon, targeting Marcial’s Call of the Haunted. Marcial chained it, bringing Sangan momentarily to the field, and searched out Spirit Reaper. Daniel activated Reinforcement of the Army to get Don Zaloog, summoned it, and attacked, taking Smashing Ground out of Marcial’s hand. Marcial drew with a clear field. He looked through Daniel’s graveyard before summoning Breaker the Magical Warrior and attacking Don Zaloog.

Daniel drew and summoned Blade Knight to attack directly. Marcial drew, checked his set spell or trap, set a monster, and ended. Daniel attacked the facedown with Blade Knight, revealing Spirit Reaper, then set a monster and ended his turn. Marcial drew, then summoned Exiled Force and tributed it to rid Daniel of his facedown monster—another Spirit Reaper. Daniel activated Confiscation, and discarded a Spirit Reaper from Marcial’s hand.

Marcial went on the offensive, activating Smashing Ground to finish off Blade Knight, then switched Reaper to attack, discarding Chaos Sorceror from Daniel’s hand. Daniel brought out Mystic Tomato and attacked the Reaper, bringing the life point total to 4550 for Daniel and 3900 for Marcial. Both players were close.

Marcial drew, and activated Wave-Motion Cannon.

Daniel drew, and did the same.

Marcial drew, checked his set card, and ended. Daniel drew, used Smashing Ground to get rid of Marcial’s Reaper, tributed his Tomato for Jinzo, and attacked. Marcial drew, asked about life points, and sent his Wave-Motion Cannon to the graveyard to inflict 2000 in direct damage. He then activated Enemy Controller to turn Jinzo to defense, summoned Drillroid, and attacked to destroy it.

Daniel drew and passed, while Marcial drew, set a spell/trap, and passed.

Daniel drew, surveyed Marcial’s empty monster zone and solitary spell/trap card, and summoned D. D. Warrior Lady to attack for game. The score was 1-1, so it was on to game 3!

Game 3

Once again, both players looked through their decks and side decks, each knowing that the outcome of the match hinged on this final duel. Marcial elected to go first. He drew and played Confiscation. He looked over Daniel’s opening hand—Bottomless Trap Hole, Wave-Motion Cannon, Metamorphosis, Nobleman of Crossout, and Royal Decree. After a little bit of thought and a look at his own hand, Marcial discarded Nobleman of Crossout. He wound up his turn by setting one monster and one spell or trap.

Daniel drew and studied his hand. He set a monster, then activated Wave-Motion Cannon. After another glance through the contents of his hand, he set another spell or trap and ended. Marcial summoned Drillroid. Alas, Daniel had set the Bottomless and Drillroid was out of the game. He flip summoned Magician of Faith, took back Confiscation, paid 1000 and activated it. He had a choice between Royal Decree and Metamorphosis, and he discarded Royal Decree.

Daniel drew, studied the field, and ended his turn. He was certainly at a disadvantage card-wise at this point. Marcial summoned Steamroid, and attacked Daniel’s facedown Spirit Reaper, then played Smashing Ground to destroy it before tributing Magician of Faith for Jinzo.

Daniel drew, and used Brain Control to take Marcial’s Jinzo. He then used Metamorphosis to turn it into Ryu Senshi, who attacked and destroyed Steamroid. Marcial activated Premature Burial, targeting Jinzo, and Daniel chained Dust Tornado to destroy it. Marcial then set one monster and one spell or trap and ended.

Daniel drew, and used Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Marcial’s set Smashing Ground. He summoned Tsukuyomi, flipping Ryu Senshi face-down, then flip summoned Senshi to attack Marcial’s facedown. He then attacked directly with Tsukuyomi and tributed his Wave-Motion Cannon to do a final, fatal, 4000 damage to Marcial, claiming victory in the semifinals.

With a 2-1 victory, Daniel heads to the finals!