Local favorite Bobby Lockhart is undefeated this weekend with a Royal Oppression deck packed with tech. Armed with Protector of the Sanctuary and Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, his deck has definitely benefited from the slower pace we’re seeing this weekend, and he could make a strong bid for Day 2. He plays to represent “Team Tom,” which may or may not actually be a team given the grin Lockhart got every time he stated his affiliation.

His opponent this round is three-time Shonen Jump Champion Fili Luna! Luna is playing the same build of Dark Armed Dragon that the rest of the new Team Face2Face is running, and so far he’s earned three straight wins. Was he on his way to a fourth Shonen Jump title? We were about to find out.

Lockhart opened with a set card to each zone, a play that didn’t betray his strategy to his opponent. Luna set two cards to his back row, summoned Sangan, and rammed it into Protector of the Sanctuary! “Oh no,” moaned Luna. He activated Trap Dustshoot next turn in Lockhart’s standby, revealing his hand of Bottomless Trap Hole, Solemn Judgment, Enemy Controller, Blue Thunder T-45 and Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer. “I’ll get rid of Blue Thunder,” noted Luna. He followed it up with Mind Crush, getting rid of Solemn Judgment from Lockhart’s hand. Lockhart set Bottomless Trap Hole and passed.

Sangan went to defense mode as Luna’s only move, and Lockhart summoned Kycoo. Protector went to attack mode, ran over Sangan, and sent Fili to his deck to fetch Card Trooper. Kycoo then made a direct swing for 1800 damage and Sangan was removed from Luna’s graveyard. “I’ll pass turn.”

Luna summoned Card Trooper, passed priority, then powered up the Trooper to attack Protector of the Sanctuary — Lockhart responded with Dimensional Prison! Card Trooper was removed from play and Luna gave a wince. He shuffled his five in-hand cards before opting to pass with an empty field.

Blue Thunder T-45 hit the field next turn, and Lockhart swung with Kycoo and Blue Thunder. Kycoo stripped Luna’s graveyard again, and a turn later he was scooping up!

Bobby Lockhart puts away Fili Luna in record time, all thanks to Protector of the Sanctuary!

After considerable siding from Luna, he began the second duel. “I will go first.” He opened up with Reinforcement of the Army, grabbing Elemental Hero Stratos to search out Destiny Hero – Malicious. He set one card to his back row and ended. “Go ahead.”

“Heavy Storm?” Luna gave a curse, but Lockhart didn’t follow up with any big attacks. He set a monster, set two cards to his back row, and ended. Next turn Luna tributed for Mobius the Frost Monarch! Lockhart chained Shrink, but lost his Magic Drain to Mobius’ effect. Fili set a spell or trap, Lockhart set one too, and play was back to Fili.

He tributed the Mobius for Jinzo, then attacked and destroyed his opponent’s face-down Protector of the Sanctuary. Luna summoned Snipe Hunter, passed priority, and pitched Destiny Hero – Malicious to destroy Lockhart’s face-down Legendary Jujitsu Master. Jinzo and Snipe Hunter then dropped Lockhart to 4100 life points. Luna followed up in main phase 2, discarding a second Malicious to try and destroy one of Lockhart’s two back row cards: the roll missed. “Your move.”

Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer hit Lockhart’s side of the field, and he sent him to attack Snipe Hunter. He hit, removing two more monsters from Luna’s graveyard. Lockhart set another spell or trap, but lost Kycoo to Jinzo next turn. Luna set a monster, Lockhart summoned Blue Thunder T-45, and ran it over: it was Destiny Hero – Fear Monger. Lockhart claimed his Token monster and Fear Monger brought back Malicious for Luna. He tributed Malicious for another Mobius the Frost Monarch! Jinzo and Mobius swept the field and Lockhart conceded the duel!

After some quick siding and shuffling the third duel began. “Good luck, man.” Luna returned the well-wishing and Lockhart opened with three sets: one monster and two spell or trap cards.

Luna fired back with Destiny Draw, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious. He discarded Destiny Hero – Disk Commander for another Destiny Draw, then matched his opponent’s play: one set monster, and two set spell or trap cards. He lost the first one he set, Mind Crush, to Mystical Space Typhoon in the end phase.

Lockhart summoned Drillroid and punched through Luna’s face-down Fear Monger, keeping Luna from getting his effect. He set another spell or trap card, and when Luna summoned Snipe Hunter next turn Lockhart flipped it: Solemn Judgment. That left Luna with four Dark monsters in his graveyard, which he promptly fanned and counted. Had he made a miscalculation? Either way, he ended his turn.

Luna had three cards in hand and one spell or trap card set to his opponent’s two monsters, one spell or trap, and three in hand once Lockhart had drawn. Lockhart flip summoned Legendary Jujitsu Master, and then made direct attacks with both of his monsters! He set a card to each zone and ended.

A fourth card was drawn by Luna, and Lockhart flipped Trap Dustshoot! Luna flopped his hand: Jinzo, Reinforcement of the Army, Destiny Hero – Plasma, and Treeborn Frog. “I’ll send back Jinzo.” Jinzo was shuffled away. Luna activated Reinforcement of the Army, got Stratos, and summoned him. That got him a second copy of Plasma, and he sent Stratos to attack Drillroid: Enemy Controller turned Stratos to defense mode, stopping the attack.

Luna removed Destiny Hero – Malicious from his graveyard to bring out another in defense mode, then chastised himself for the play. “Go.” Lockhart was up, and was holding Blue Thunder T-45.

He summoned it and ran it at Elemental Hero Stratos, destroying him. The Token attacked Destiny Hero – Malicious, and Drillroid attacked directly. Lockhart set his last card to his back row.

Luna discarded to special summon Dark Grepher, set a monster, and flipped his set Soul Exchange — Magic Drain cut him off, keeping him from special summon Destiny Hero - Plasma! Grepher attacked over Drillroid and Luna ended. Lockhart swept his field next turn.

Luna brought back his Treeborn Frog, then tributed it for Mobius the Frost Monarch — Lockhart flipped Bottomless Trap Hole! He special summoned Dark Grepher, destroyed a Token with it and was left with just Grepher on the field.

It was all over next turn — Lockhart flip summoned his second Legendary Jujitsu Master, turned the other to attack mode, and traded Blue Thunder to destroy Dark Grepher. Three direct attacks then ended the duel!

Local favorite Bobby Lockhart straight outplays Fili Luna, continuing on undefeated with Royal Oppression, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, and Protector of the Sanctuary!