Han-Wei is 16 and from London, UK. He’s worked up quite a reputation around his home country, winning many regional tournaments and placing in the Top 8 of the Nationals in 2005, as well as taking the runner-up place at Pharaoh Tour Finals 2006.
He’s also got a huge opportunity here, as he’s been paired up against Oliver Schmidt-Voss. Oliver, from Frankfurt, is 15 and finished yesterday on a 6-1 record. He’s playing a Machine deck with Machine Duplication, much like many other duelists in the top ranks here today. Both players shuffled up silently
Oliver won the roll with a five to Tang’s two, and opened with a set card to the back row, thinking a moment before just ending his turn. He had Machine Duplication and Card Trooper in his hand, and, after Tang mirrored his move by setting just a spell or trap, Trooper and Duplication came down, multiplying into three Troopers!
Nine cards came off the top of Oliver’s deck and the duel was moving at a lightning pace. Tang flipped Magic Cylinder to force 1900 damage back at Oliver’s life points, while taking 3800 himself.
Oliver passed and Tang thought about his hand before he activated Brain Control on one of the Troopers. He lost a Cyber Dragon, Gravekeeper’s Spy and Call of the Haunted off the top before confirming the amount of cards in both players’ hands, five for Tang and four for Oliver. Trooper attacked into another Trooper, and Oliver drew for its effect. Zaborg the Thunder Monarch came out in main phase 2, destroying the last Trooper and allowing Oliver to draw once again. Tang set a card to his back field and passed, while Oliver came out blazing with Heavy Storm. It destroyed his own Torrential Tribute and Tang played Book of Moon on his own Zaborg after much deliberation. Cyber Phoenix tore through him and Oliver passed.
A set monster was Tang’s only play, and Phoenix attacked it: Mystic Tomato. Sangan was bought to the field and a set to each zone concluded Oliver’s turn.
Tang switched Sangan to defense and set another monster before passing. Play was back to the German. He flicked through his hand, thinking about his options carefully. This was an extremely important match for both players as neither could really afford a loss at this point, so a misplay could make or break their Top 8 hopes.
Mobius the Frost Monarch came down over the set Treeborn Frog, and Brain Control stole Sangan from Tang. The German attacked into Tang’s set Treeborn Frog, destroying it, and Oliver then showed Tang Call of the Haunted in order to get the scoop from the UK representative.
Oliver Schmidt-Voss picks up an explosive game 1!
Tang began game 2 with a set to each zone, while Oliver decided on special summoning Cyber Dragon and attacking, straight into Magic Cylinder. A set to each zone concluded his turn, and Tang took his turn card.
Brain Control stole Cyber Dragon from Oliver, and Zaborg the Thunder Monarch hit the field. Oliver was one step ahead though, and Pulling the Rug destroyed him, negating his effect in the process! Tang set a back row card before passing, and Oliver summoned Cyber Phoenix.
It attacked into a set Gravekeeper’s Spy, who fetched Gravekeeper’s Guard for Tang. Banisher of the Radiance was Tang’s play on his next turn, running over the Cyber Phoenix and removing it from play! He ended with the Spy, Guard, Banisher, and a back row card in play, and two in hand.
Oliver’s set monster and four in hand forced him to think hard about his move, and he summoned Card Trooper. About to take three cards from the top of his deck, Tang motioned to his Banisher and reminded him that the effect couldn’t be activated. Oliver was forced instead to play Premature Burial on Cyber Dragon and attack over the Banisher, using Card Trooper’s effect in main phase 2 before passing.
The Brit set a monster and passed straight back, while Oliver switched Trooper to defense and attacked the Gravekeeper’s Guard. Raiza the Storm Monarch came down over Sangan next, bouncing the set monster to the top of Oliver’s deck and searching out Treeborn Frog in the process. Cyber Dragon fell to the Monarch and play was back with Oliver, top-decking his freshly returned Gravekeeper’s Spy.
He used Card Trooper’s effect, losing Snatch Steal in the process, and set his Spy before ending his turn. Trooper was attacked on the next turn by Raiza and a monster was set by Tang. Oliver bought back Treeborn Frog and set a back row card to conclude his turn.
Raiza attacked the Frog before Tang set a card to each zone, bringing him up to two spell or traps and two set monsters to go with his Spy and Raiza. He passed, while Oliver could do nothing but set a monster.
Tang tributed his set Treeborn Frog for Jinzo, and flipped Banisher of the Radiance! After a flurry of attacks, Oliver looked to be in an extremely bad position as he drew for his turn, at 2000 life points to Tang’s 6700. He did however have a last-ditch effect trick up his sleeve, and if he could pull it off he would win the game. He was looking at a hand of Limiter Removal, Brain Control, Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Overload Fusion! He spent many minutes deliberating his move, before activating the Overload Fusion for Chimeratech Overdragon. However, with just two Cyber Dragons in the graveyard, it was only at 1600 ATK.
Brain Control took control of Jinzo, and Spy was summoned. Chimeratech went in to the Gravekeeper’s Spy, with Limiter Removal in the damage step! The huge Machine went over Spy and Banisher; Jinzo went over Raiza, and with only Widespread Ruin and Torrential Tribute face down, Tang could do nothing to prevent Gravekeeper’s Spy attacking him directly for the game!
Oliver Schmidt-Voss moves on over Han-Wei Tang with only one loss!