Billy Brake has made Day 2 three times, but his greatest claim to fame is bringing Green Baboon, Defender of the Forest to Day 2 — he’s the man that made the monkey, succeeding where others failed. Representing Team Kamikaze here today, he’s playing a typical Gladiator Beast build.
His opponent is New Jersey’s Brad Pironciak. At 18 years of age he represents Team Jank, and his innovative Light Beatdown build is 3-0 so far today. His version was totally different from Paul Levitin’s Elemental Hero deck, running Light monsters like Blue Thunder T-45 and Reflect Bounder alongside Gellenduo with a dash of Burn for good measure.
Game 1
Pironciak opened with a set monster and a set spell or trap card. Brake activated Heavy Storm, destroying Bottomless Trap Hole, then attacked with Gladiator Beast Bestiari! It destroyed Pironciak’s face-down Sangan, and Pironciak searched his deck for Honest. Brake tagged Bestiari out and brought in Gladiator Beast Laquari. He set a card to his back row to end.
Pironciak set a monster, and then set three cards to his back row! “Your move. Since the Storm’s gone I might as well.” Brake mirrored him, setting two more, and then summoned Gladiator Beast Murmillo. He then special summoned the last card from his hand, Test Tiger: Pironciak flipped Royal Oppression! He paid 800 to negate and destroy Test Tiger.
Murmillo attacked, hitting Gellenduo, and Brake tagged out for Gladiator Beast Bestiari. Pironciak was confused about when he should activate Royal Oppression – he’d waited until Bestiari had hit the field to try and activate it, when he should’ve activated it as Murmillo was tagged back into the deck. Bestiari destroyed Oppression as a result, and in main phase 2 Brake contact Fused for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus. Gyzarus targeted Dark Bribe and Mystical Space Typhoon, and Typhoon was chained to destroy Bottomless Trap Hole. Smashing Ground then ended Brake’s turn, destroying Gellenduo. A simple rulings misunderstanding had unraveled Pironciak’s solid control over the game. A win here would be a miracle.
Pironciak had Honest, Wave-Motion Cannon, and Monster Reborn. He activated Reborn to bring back Gellenduo, and then activated Wave-Motion Cannon, still holding Honest. Brake didn’t take the bait next turn, and simply passed after setting his turn. Pironciak set his topdeck to his back row and ended.
Brake summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari, and lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole. He passed again. “Cannon goes up to two,” announced Pironciak. He drew a second Gellenduo, and now had to weigh the option of summoning it, attacking with one with Honest, and pressing with the other. It was a poor option since one successful attack next turn would destroy both Gellenduo. He ended. Brake set a monster, and Pironciakplayed another Wave-Motion Cannon. Brake passed, Pironciak’s Cannons went to 1000 damage and 4000 damage respectively, and he normal summoned Cyber Valley.
“Flip summon,” announced Brake. He flipped Gladiator Beast Secutor, then special summoned and tributed Test Tiger to trade Secutor for Bestiari. Bestiari destroyed the 4000-damage Cannon, and when Brake Fused for Gyzarus its effect destroyed Cyber Valley and Gellenduo. One direct attack later, and Brake had Laquari in attack position and Secutor back in defense. Pironciak must’ve been hating himself for misplaying the Oppression earlier.
He summoned Gellenduo and Brake flipped Solemn Judgment. He launched his Wave-Motion Cannon, set one card to his back row and ended. Next turn Laquari attacked, and Pironciak flipped Shrink. Secutor made a direct attack, tagged in two Gladiator Beasts, and Brake tagged out all three for Gladiator Beast Heraklinos. He had Heraklinos and Laquari on the field.
“Reflect Bounder,” announced Pironciak, summoning it. “Do you have the Solemn?” Brake shook his head but revealed Book of Moon. Good enough to take the duel, and Pironciak scooped it up!
A hideous mistake with Royal Oppression utterly destroys Brad Pironciak, giving Billy Brake the easy win!
“GO, BILLY!” yelled Chris Flores from the sidelines.
“I’m playing against Light Burn,” replied Brake in a kind of dull tone.
“YOU’RE SCREWED, BILLY!” shouted Flores. He blinked for a moment: “I am so tired! I should just go to bed . . .” Flores disappeared into the crowd. He seemed a little manic today.
Game 2
Pironciak opened game 2 with Blue Thunder T-45 and a set spell or trap. Brake fetched Elemental Hero Stratos from his deck with Reinforcement of the Army, summoned him, searched out Elemental Hero Prisma, and attacked — straight into Shrink! Stratos went down, Pironciak got a Thunder Option Token, and Brake set three cards to his back row.
Blue Thunder made a direct attack next turn and Brake flipped Mirror Force! Pironciak summoned Cyber Valley, set one card to his spell and trap zone and ended: “Your move.” Brake summoned Prisma, activated its effect to send Laquari to the graveyard, then attacked — Pironciak removed Cyber Valley to stop the battle and draw. “Go ahead,” invited Brake, setting another spell or trap card.
Reflect Bounder hit the field and Pironciak was again holding Honest. He set a spell or trap and ended. I’m not sure it was the right move, leaving Brake with that Prisma. He summoned a second next turn, sent two Bestiari to the graveyard and Fused both Prisma for Gyzarus. Did Pironciak have Oppression?!
No — he had Solemn Judgment! But Brake had one too! Pironciak chained a third Solemn, and Brake chained a fourth Solemn Judgment for game! Gyzarus swung for 2400 damage and there was nothing Pironciak could do.
Brake was elated. “Yeah! I was like, ‘Please have two Solemns!’” He shook Pironciak’s hand and began de-siding. Billy Brake moves on undefeated!