It’s finally over, and the dueling world has a surprising new Shonen Jump Champion. Kenny So is the latest duelist to capture title gold!

Attendees here in Indy were surprised enough when So finished in third place yesterday with an innovative Burn deck. Nobody was expecting Burn, or the dark horse duelist So, to make an impact at this event. So is better known for his ownership of the famed gaming store Comic Odyssey than for his skills as a duelist, so his stellar ranking after Day 1 was totally unexpected.

Once So hit Day 2, the surprises just kept coming. Few duelists had prepared for Burn, making So’s side of the Top 16 bracket vulnerable to the exact strategy deck builders Hugo Adame and Erik Wu had given him. When So defeated Fili Luna in the Quarterfinals, it was a massive upset, and he proceeded to grind a win out of Amjad Ibrahim in the Semis. Ibrahim forced a draw after a long first duel and the match went all the way to time.

Finally, So took on Darrelle Reese in the Finals and battled his way through an utterly grueling three games. Two duels with alarming and abrupt finishes gave way to a third game, and it all ended with a 6000-point assault from Wave-Motion Cannon!

Congratulations go out to Kenny So, your newest Shonen Jump Champion, and the proud owner of the new prize card, Gold Sarcophagus!