This match pitted the ever-popular Emon Ghaneian against the Team Dragon member James Brown III. Matt Laurents promised me that this would be a match to remember, and with both players sitting with one loss, one Top 8 Nationals competitor, and one player with a Dragon deck, I honestly couldn’t resist.
Emon rolled snake-eyes to James’ Something Better Than That™ and James opted to go first. He started out with Cyber-Stein in attack position and a set card. He paid 5000 to special summon King Dragun from his fusion deck, prompting Emon to read the card in surprise. “You really are running Gragons!” He used the effect of King Dragun to bring out Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6 and passed his turn. Emon started with Graceful Charity discarding Treeborn Frog and Magical Merchant before special summoning Cyber Dragon and attacking the Stein dropping James to 1600 life points.
It looked like James aggressive opening was going to cost him big time, as Emon then set a monster and two spells or traps. Smashing Ground took out the Cyber Dragon and Horus LV6 rammed Emon’s set Magician of Faith. Emon tried a Mirror Force but James flipped Seven Tools of the Bandit dropping down to 600 life and forcing his attack through! Emon got back Graceful, King Dragun hit directly and during the end phase Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8 was fetched from James’ deck. Emon set a Night Assailant and James summoned Masked Dragon. King Dragun took down Emon’s Night Assailant (the effect was negated ) and the other dragons dropped Emon to 1200. Emon removed a Light monster and a Dark monster for Chaos Sorcerer, but Solemn Judgment stopped it dropping James to 300 life points. Emon couldn’t deal with the onslaught and lost next turn despite having amazing cards in has hand and on his field.
James – 1 Emon – 0
Both players likely needed to win this match to stay in contention for the Top 8, and Emon looked gravely serious as he looked through his side deck. James remained cool in between games, and soon it was time to begin game 2. Emon started with a face up Sangan and a face down spell or trap. James started with a Cyber Dragon tributing it for Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV6. Mirror Force stopped his attack and James set a card before ending. Emon tributed Sangan for Mobius the Frost Monarch, and James was forced to burn his Solemn Judgment to stop it. Sangan fetched Tsukuyomi, and Emon continued with Premature Burial to bring back Mobius. It brought James to 1600, and on the next turn he conceded flopping a hand of Horus LV6 and Horus LV8, along with a Spear Dragon.
James – 1 Emon - 1
Between games, Emon inquired as to whether or not the effect of Newdoria was a targeting effect. He was displeased to learn that it was, and decided against siding it in.
James started with Spear Dragon and a set spell or trap. Emon used Heavy Storm to destroy the set Solemn Judgment before summoning Cyber Dragon and attacking the Spear Dragon. He set a card to each zone and passed before James played a Heavy Storm of his own. Emon considered chaining his Book of Moon, and eventually decided not to do it.
“I should have chained!” he lamented, as Snatch Steal came down to take the Dragon away from him. It hit his face down Magician of Faith and gave Emon back his Heavy Storm. James passed without any other plays and Emon took his Snatch Steal back after gaining 1000 life points. He summoned Sangan and attacked directly with both to take James out of range of being able to use Cyber-Stein. Emon passed with no set cards and James brought back his Spear Dragon with Premature Burial. He used Enemy Controller to set Cyber Dragon to defense position and attacked with his Spear Dragon.
Emon had a Spirit Reaper next turn, and over the next two turns it robbed James of two copies of Horus the Black Flame Dragon LV8. In the end, James couldn’t turn the game around, and conceded when he drew into Cyber-Stein. Emon Ghaneian advances to 5-1 in an exciting match that’s sure to go down in Shonen Jump history!