Table One: Elton Cho vs. Emon Ghaneian

Emon drew nothing in game one. Cho swarmed with a Nimble Momonga horde that Ghaneian could not stop, and a few turns later, thanks to some monster removal, Cho took the duel.

Seeing himself threatened, Ghaneian side decked in a few cards for game two to try and improve his chances. In the late game though, Ghaneian got out Black Luster Soldier. No Nimbles for Cho spelled bad news. He had the Soldier since the start of the game, but couldn’t get a Darkness monster into the graveyard to use it. Like so many players today, his salvation came in the form of Thousand-Eyes Restrict, and in tributing it away he managed to get the one Darkness monster he needed. That was the game.

In game three it was Cho’s turn to draw nothing, and Ghaneian had just what he needed to take advantage of that fact. Though both players had won their way into the Top 8, both took the match very seriously, and in the end, it was Ghaneian who won.

Match Win: Emon Ghaneian


Table Two: Evan Vargas vs. Steve Klaus

Game one did not open well, as Evan Vargas seemed to be facing down the famed “god luck” that always seems to ruin his chances. Regardless of what Vargas did, Klaus had the answer and knew exactly how to use it. Playing with a meticulous precision, especially for a player of his age (only fourteen) Klaus kept the pressure on Vargas relentlessly all the way to the end. Game one went to Steve Klaus.

Game two involved a fair bit of back and forth, but after a series of exchanges and small overextensions, the deciding factor really came down to Vargas’s Royal Decree. It kept a variety of threats, such as a set Mirror Force, off of his back, while at the same time it caused a mistake in Klaus’s play. Going for a win with Return from the Different Dimension, Klaus didn’t realize its effect would be negated. The life point drop would be enough to be his undoing a few turns later.

The plucky but meticulous Steve Klaus opened game three with Graceful Charity, a set spell or trap, and a Swords of Revealing Light. Vargas NoC’d his face down D. D. Warrior Lady, and set monsters. Play progressed timidly for two turns, as the Swords clocked down. Vargas got some card advantage going early between a Magician of Faith and a Sangan. Vargas managed to maintain that advantage, and over the course of half a dozen more turns, he managed to increase his lead. Eventually bringing Klaus into a topdecking situation, Evan took a commanding stance on the field, with Sinister Serpent, Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys, D. D. Warrior Lady, D.D. Assailant, and more on the field. Though he could have pressed for the win, he instead opted to play it extremely safe and wait out the clock, as he was leading by a couple thousand life points. The decision looked like a mistake, as Klaus topdecked into Swords of Revealing Light. Holding off Vargas, he started to rebuild his board presence.

Vargas stumbled a bit, but a turn later, took even more control of the game by using Metamorphosis for Thousand-Eyes Restrict. It almost seemed insurmountable.

However, Klaus drew again and seemed elated just a turn later. He sacked two monsters to summon Dark Magician of Chaos. He used it to bring back Premature Burial, immediately using it for Airknight Parshath. He played Book of Moon on the Thousand-Eyes Restrict, and then looked at his options—he really had a chance. Eventually, he opted to attack the attack position D. D. Warrior Lady with the Airknight, and sent the Dark Magician of Chaos into the Phoenix. It was a mistake that would cost him. Looking for his only out, he flipped Morphing Jar, but unfortunately none of the five cards he drew saved him, and that was game. Evan Vargas moves to day two . . .

 . . . or so he thought, as expressed by a celebratory jig. Unfortunately, he’d later find out that due to the world’s worst tiebreakers, he would finish the day in ninth place.


Table Three: Tony vs. Mario Begay

In an exceedingly fast match of high damage back and forth, Tony took game one. Games two and three went to Begay, though, as he managed to establish a slight card advantage and topdeck slightly better. The miniscule differences in luck made the difference, and Begay took the win.

Match Win: Mario Begay

Table Four: Jonathan Navarro vs. George Diaz

Navarro’s incredible Mill deck was up against Diaz’s blazingly fast Warrior build. He was completely outclocked in game one.

In game two, he had everything he needed, except for a Cyber or Morphing Jar. All he needed for a win was to resolve the destruction of his Sangan, which he had face down on the field. Unfortunately, the monster attacking it on turn two was D. D. Warrior Lady. Removing the Sangan from play was all Diaz needed, and as Navarro played Reload after Reload to try and dig for something, he was wailed on by Don Zaloog and other monsters. The game ended in a total of five turns.

Match Win: George Diaz