Chris Winkler, an independent duelist unaffiliated with any team, was playing a Strike Ninja build that seemed to blend elements of the classic North American and European versions. Like Scurry, he was running Return from the Different Dimension, but was only using a single copy as a splash.

Scurry won the die roll and opened with a set monster. He did not set anything to his spell and trap zone. Nobleman of Crossout removed his set Spirit Reaper from play, and Winkler attacked directly with Mystic Tomato for a quick 1400. He set one spell or trap card and passed.

Tsukuyomi turned the Tomato face down, and removed it from play with Nobleman of Crossout. Scurry did not attack, not wanting to lose his Tsukuyomi. Winkler used Reinforcement of the Army to fetch D. D. Warrior Lady, and attacked again for another 1500 life points. The life point totals were 5100 to 8000, and Scurry seemed to be having some problems.

He took control of D. D. Warrior Lady with Snatch Steal, but it was short-lived as Dust Tornado cut off the move. He set a monster, passed, and Winkler attacked with Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, destroying his set Magician of Faith. It got back Snatch Steal. D. D. Warrior Lady then attacked directly, reducing Scurry to 3300 life points. Winkler set another back row card to replace Last Turn’s Dust Tornado, and passed.

Scurry activated Heavy Storm, destroying Winkler’s Enemy Controller. Snatch Steal took Kycoo, and Kycoo attacked D. D. Warrior Lady, but Winkler opted not to remove the monsters from play. Scurry shook his head, perhaps thinking that he’d made the wrong call on what to Snatch. He played Tsukuyomi, turned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer face down, and passed, again with nothing in his spell and trap zone.

Winkler had Premature Burial, Sakuretsu Armor, and Snatch Steal in hand. Premature brought back D. D. Warrior Lady, and she attacked the Kycoo. The life point totals stood at 6900 to 3300, and Winkler ended his turn.

Scurry set a card to each zone and passed back. D. D. Warrior Lady attacked again, hitting another Magician of Faith, and again, Scurry took back his Snatch Steal. Winkler set another back row card and ended. Scurry brought out Cyber Dragon, played Snatch Steal, and attacked with the Lady. Winkler had set his Sakuretsu Armor, but needed to give some thought as to what to destroy with it, and he settled on D. D. Warrior Lady. Cyber Dragon attacked directly, and Scurry set a monster. The life point totals were 4800 to 3300.

Snatch Steal took Scurry’s Cyber Dragon, and Winkler attacked him with it. He set a spell or trap and passed. Scurry brought out Chaos Sorcerer, removed his Cyber Dragon from play, and set a monster and a back row card, but Dust Tornado hit it to reveal Return from the Different Dimension.

Winkler played Cyber Dragon, special summoning it, and attacked Scurry’s set monster, which was Dekoichi! It got him a card. On the next turn, Scurry removed the Dragon from play, summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, turned Sorcerer to defense, and attacked with the Lady. The life point totals were 4300 to 3300, with Scurry in the lead!

Winkler set a card to each zone, Scurry tributed D. D. Warrior Lady for Airknight Parshath, and attacked with it! He ran it into Winkler’s set, Spirit Reaper, hitting for damage and drawing a card. Chaos Sorcerer then removed the Reaper from play. Winkler set a card to his spell and trap zone, but it was all over a turn later. Unfazed by his opponent’s bluff, Scurry attacked again with Airknight, dealing enough damage to take the first duel!

Shane Scurry recovers from what looked like a terrible opening hand and poor successive draws in the early game to recover for the win!

“I screwed up in that first game!” said Shane, now appearing a bit more chipper. “When I Snatched that Kycoo, I should’ve Tsuky’d it first.” It was a minor mistake, but it seemed like Scurry was going to redouble his efforts towards careful, precise play.

Each player shuffled up after side decking. Winkler opted to go first, and opened the game with a summon of Mystic Tomato and a set spell or trap.

Scurry fired back with a set to each zone, and then an additional set card to his spell and trap zone. Dust Tornado hit the first spell or trap he set, Book of Moon, in his end phase. Winkler attacked with his Tomato, hitting Dekoichi, and Scurry drew a card. Winkler set a monster, and passed with an open back row.

Nobleman of Crossout removed that set monster, revealing Spirit Reaper. Scurry dropped Asura Priest, a huge tech play! Asura Priest would get to attack whatever came out of Winkler’s deck, so Winkler could either pull the Sangan now, or burn Tomatoes to feed Strike Ninja later. He opted to save himself the life point damage and went for Sangan immediately. He took another 700 damage, and pulled D. D. Warrior Lady with Sangan’s effect. Scurry set a second spell or trap card and ended his turn.

Winkler played Heavy Storm, destroying Mystical Space Typhoon and Torrential Tribute! He attacked directly with Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, removing Dekoichi from Scurry’s graveyard, and set a spell or trap. Scurry hit it with Heavy Storm, Sakuretsu Armor, played Enemy Controller to turn Kycoo to defense, and hit it with Asura Priest. He set one spell or trap and ended his turn.

Strike Ninja hit Winkler’s side of the table, and smashed Scurry for 1700! Scurry set a monster, Winkler summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, and attacked Scurry’s set, revealing it to be Magician of Faith. Scurry took back Book of Moon, and the Ninja attacked directly again. The life point totals were 2800 for Scurry to 7000 for Winkler, who was probably regretting not running his Tomatoes to the graveyard with the level of control he now had.

Scurry set a card to each zone and ended his turn. Winkler attacked with D. D. Warrior Lady, into Tsukuyomi. Tsukuyomi turned Strike Ninja face down, preventing it from attacking, and Winkler flip summoned it back into face up attack in main phase 2. He set one spell or trap card and passed.

Book of Moon flipped form Scurry’s field, targeting Strike Ninja. Winkler removed Tomato and Kycoo to allow the Ninja to dodge, but it was the only dodge his Ninja would allow him. Asura Preist came down to destroy D. D. Warrior Lady, and winkler removed both monsters from play.

Strike Ninja returned to the field and attacked Scurry directly. Winkler then set Mystic Tomato. Scurry played Brain Control, knowing that the Ninja couldn’t dodge. He tributed it for Zaborg, destroyed the Spirit Reaper, and attacked with Zaborg, but hit Scapegoat. He didn’t destroy any Sheep tokens in battle.

Winkler played Breaker the Magical Warrior, and flashed a Smashing Ground – Scurry conceded game 2!

Winkler announced that he didn’t want to side deck, but Scurry took the opportunity to do so. He opened game 3 with a set card to each zone, and Winkler blasted him again with Nobleman of Crossout, removing Night Assailant from play. He set a monster, debated his next play, and then decided to set a single spell or trap card.

Confiscation allowed Scurry to see Winkler’s hand, which contained Strike Ninja, Scapegoat, and Mirror Force. After some thought, he discarded Mirror Force, set a card to each zone, and passed.

Winkler flipped Magician of Faith, played Nobleman of Crossout again, and Scurry lost his Magician of Faith from the field, as well as an additional copy from his deck. Winkler’s Magician attacked for 200. Winkler set a back row card, Scurry set another as well, and Magician of Faith bonked him for another 200. Winkler set a monster, Scurry passed, and Winkler flipped Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Both monsters attacked directly, Scurry did nothing in response. They attacked again on the following turn, and Dekoichi was hit with Sakuretsu Armor.

Scurry played Graceful Charity, discarding Airknight Parshath and Book of Moon. He summoned Cyber Dragon, lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole, and then brought back Airknight Parshath with Premature Burial. The Airknight attacked, but ran into Sakuretsu Armor. Call of the Haunted brought Airknight back, and it swung at Magician of Faith to hit Winkler’s life points! The life point totals were at 3600 to 6400 for Winkler.

Winkler played Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Call of the Haunted, blowing Airknight off the field. He summoned Sangan, attacked with it, and hit for 1000. He set a single spell or trap card and ended his turn.

Scurry set a third spell or trap card and passed. Sangan pecked him for another 1000 damage, lowering him to 1600, and Winkler set Spirit Reaper. Scurry set a monster too, passed, and Winkler summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, but Scurry responded with Torrential Tribute. He lost his Reaper, while Winkler lost D. D. Warrior Lady, Spirit Reaper, and Sangan, taking Tomato with its effect. Winkler set a spell or trap, but Dust Tornado hit it, revealing Scapegoat! Winkler had only one set spell or trap card. Scurry set one as well, Winkler summoned the Tomato, and attacked with it. Scurry was forced to take the 1400 damage, dropping to 200 life points! Winkler flipped Call of the Haunted, brought up Sangan and attacked!

Scurry used Enemy Controller to turn it to defense position, keeping himself alive! He removed a Light monster and a Dark monster for Sorcerer, played Heavy Storm, and waited to see if Winkler had a response!

“Let me get this!” he said, practically praying, fingering his one last set spell or trap. If it was Return, he could chain it to his Heavy Storm and be immune to Torrential Tribute or Bottomless Trap Hole.

Winkler chained Book of Moon! It turned Scurry’s Sorcerer to face down defense, and Winkler pulled Spirit Reaper with Sangan! It looked like Scurry was totally cut off from his potential win. However, he flipped the Return anyway, chaining to Heavy Storm, and bringing back Cyber Dragon, Airknight Parshath, Spirit Reaper, and Magician of Faith. He tributed the Sorcerer for Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World! Smashing Ground took out the Tomato and Scurry had an open field to attack into!

Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World attacked first, then Airknight, then Cyber Dragon, for 6300 damage on Winkler’s remaining 6400 life points! Magician of Faith struck last, dealing out the last bit of damage Scurry needed. Shane Scurry steals the win with 100 life points remaining and moves on to the finals!