Neither of these duelists requires an introduction: Paul Levitin is the four-time Top 8 champion of Los Angeles, and Matt Peddle has made it to the Top 8 of a National Championship twice. He also made it to Day 2 here last year, at Shonen Jump Championship Indianapolis in 2005. Both competitors in this match are members of major teams—Peddle flies the Superfriendz flag, while Levitin plays for Overdose.
With both duelists at 4-1, this match was make or break.
Levitin won the opening role and began with a set card to each zone.
“That’s game” said Peddle, teasing. He special summoned Cyber Dragon and activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Levitin’s Magical Merchant from the field. He then attacked into Sakuretsu Armor, losing the Dragon before setting a card to each zone.
“Ooh, that was a topdeck,” said Levitin as he admired his draw. He summoned Mystic Tomato, activated Nobleman of Crossout, and removed Peddle’s Magician of Faith from the field—Peddle had to strip another from his deck, while Levitin didn’t lose any. It was his turn to attack, and his turn to run into Sakuretsu Armor—the Tomato was destroyed, and Levitin set a spell or trap.
Peddle set one as well, Levitin set a monster, Peddle passed, and Levitin flip summoned Magician of Faith. He took back Nobleman of Crossout, attacked with Magician of Faith, and then activated his favorite card of the day . . . Robbin’ Goblin! Magician of Faith hit Peddle’s life points, the Goblin stole his Creature Swap, and Levitin passed!
He looked at his field: Robbin’ Goblin, Magician of Faith, and nothing else. He grinned, completely vulnerable to attack. “I don’t want to end my turn like this but . . . I end my turn like this!”
Peddle drew and cried out, half dismayed and half amused at his own shoddy luck. “This is ridiculous!” He set a second spell or trap and passed. Levitin summoned Apprentice Magician and attacked with Magician of Faith, scoring yet another hit for Robbin’ Goblin! Apprentice attacked, but was repelled by Sakuretsu Armor. Peddle could do nothing and passed back after drawing for his turn.
Levitin summoned Cyber-Stein and attacked with Magician of Faith again! Peddle lost another card to Robbin’ Goblin! “Don’t hit the Sorcerer!” Peddle pleaded. Levitin did, then attacked with Cyber-Stein.
“Hit the other Sorcerer?” asked Levitin with a grin. He’d made the right read. Peddle had been holding two copies of Chaos Sorcerer, and he lost the second to Stein. Dang, that Robbin’ Goblin was just scary. Levitin set a spell or trap and passed.
Peddle drew and passed, now down to topdecking. Levitin tributed his Magician of Faith for Cyber Dragon, attacked with Cyber-Stein to force Peddle to discard Mobius the Frost Monarch, and attacked with the Dragon—Enemy Controller forced it to defense position, preventing the attack from finishing. “I’m gonna top Snatch Steal next turn,” Peddle and Levitin laughed.
Then Peddle topdecked Snatch Steal and Levitin stopped laughing.
Peddle used it to take control of Cyber-Stein, paid 5000 LP, and brought out The Last Warrior from Another Planet! Cyber-Stein was destroyed by The Last Warrior’s effect.
‘What does that do?” asked Levitin, eyeing the unfamiliar fusion monster.
“It means you umm . . . can’t play cards.” Peddle shifted his eyes back and forth jokingly while Levitin took the card to read it. Last Warrior attacked Cyber Dragon, destroying it, and play was to Levitin.
He activated Book of Moon to turn The Last Warrior face down, turning off its effect. He then special summoned Chaos Sorcerer, tributed it for Zaborg, destroyed The Last Warrior with Zaborg’s effect, and attacked for game!
Paul Levitin stomps on Matt Peddle, crushing him under the weight of Robbin’ Goblin!
“You’d better be ready for the Goldds,” said Peddle, half-joking as both duelists side decked.
He opened the second game with a set monster, shuffled his hand, and passed with nothing set. “Is that game?” he grinned.
Levitin special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Mystic Tomato, and then used Nobleman of Crossout to remove Peddle’s Apprentice Magician from the field. Tomato and Cyber Dragon both attacked, bringing Peddle down to 4500 LP. Levitin set a spell or trap and passed. Oof. It was a big hit, surprisingly early, and it knocked Peddle below the 5000 LP needed to use his own Stein if he was packing one.
Peddle set a monster, followed it up with a set spell or trap, and passed. Levitin summoned Cyber-Stein and brought out Cyber End Dragon!
“You got Decree?” asked Peddle. Levitin revealed that he did, and Peddle showed his last set card: Sakuretsu Armor. He was powerless to stop Levitin’s onslaught.
Paul Levitin scores the first feature match victory for Overdose here today, moving on with a 5-1 record.