Jake McNeely hails from Arlington, but he’s a local favorite pretty much everywhere in Texas. McNeely’s been trying to make lightning strike twice ever since he made the finals of a Shonen Jump Championship in his hometown back in July of 2006. What brought him to that respectable finish last time was innovation: he was responsible for importing Banisher of the Radiance Chaos from Japan, and it almost made him a champion. This weekend he’s relying on a similar approach, going all-in on a Gladiator Beast deck.

His opponent Joe Alcorta is 19 years of age and traveled here from San Antonio. This might be a rough match for McNeely, because Alcorta is piloting the one deck McNeely doesn’t want to face today: his worst matchup, Perfect Circle. This is either going to be a spectacular victory for McNeely, or a failure for the ages.

“I drank a Starbucks, and a Red Bull, and I’m still tired,” bemoaned the almost-champ. It was always my opinion that McNeely had lost in the finals at Arlington due to some sluggish choices caused by a caffeine-down, so hopefully he’ll still be playing at his peak here today.

He won the roll and opened up with a set spell or trap. “Your go.” Alcorta fired back with Swords of Revealing Light and ended. McNeely blinked in surprise. “You just lost, man . . . I’m sorry.” He drew for his turn and set to work.

He summoned Gladiator Beast Secutor first, and then special summoned two copies of Test Tiger! McNeely used the first Tiger to bring out Gladiator Beast Bestiari, blowing away Swords of Revealing Light. He then traded Bestiari for Gladiator Beast Secutor, swung with it for a direct attack, and used its effect to bring out Gladiator Beast Hoplomus and Gladiator Beast Laquari! That left McNeely with three Gladiator Beasts on the field, and all three went back to the deck to bring out the Fusion monster Gladiator Beast Heraklinos! A brilliant opening for McNeely, who set another card to his back row and ended with two cards in hand.

Since McNeely still had a hand to fuel Heraklinos with, he would be able to negate two spells or traps with Heraklinos’ effect. Cool stuff — McNeely was basically playing a permission deck, a form of control that’s extremely rare in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.

Alcorta tried to take Heraklinos with Brain Control. “I’ll negate it,” announced McNeely, discarding Gladiator Beast Darius. Alcorta set two cards to his back row and McNeely was up. Next turn Heraklinos attacked, and its effect negated Alcorta’s Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, then Alcorta’s Mirror Force. Heraklinos attacked directly, but McNeely had no cards left in his hand. That meant no more negations.

Unfettered by Heraklinos, Alcorta activated Reinforcement of the Army and fetched Elemental Hero Stratos. He summoned Stratos, but lost him to McNeely’s Pulling the Rug! Alcorta set his last two cards to his spell and trap zone.

Heraklinos attacked again, and McNeely had 8000 life points to his opponent’s 800! Alcorta topped into Destiny Hero – Fear Monger next turn, discarded him for Destiny Draw, and McNeely discarded Rescue Cat to negate it with Heraklinos! There was nothing Alcorta could do! He only had one card left, set in his back row, and though McNeely had no more cards in his hand at the moment, he’d draw another next turn and Heraklinos would stop whatever Alcorta had face down. It was over.

Jake McNeely scores an amazing win! Can he really pull this off? Both duelists dove into their side decks for game 2.

Alcorta opened strong in the second duel, activating Destiny Draw to discard Destiny Hero – Malicious and setting a card to each zone. “Your go.” McNeely set a card to each zone too, ended, and next turn Alcorta flipped Heavy Storm. That drew out McNeely’s Waboku, which he chained. Alcorta wisely refused to attack, setting another back row card and ending.

McNeely set another spell or trap, ended his turn, and play was back to Alcorta. He removed Malicious from his graveyard to special summon another in defense mode. He tributed Malicious for Raiza the Storm Monarch, spun away McNeely’s set monster and flip summoned Spirit Reaper: Raiza attacked, McNeely activated Waboku and Alcorta did not attack with Reaper. He set a second spell or trap and ended.

Giant Trunade cleared the field moments later, and McNeely summoned Test Ape to ram it into Raiza! He dropped to 6300 life points and special summoned Laquari from his deck to attack Spirit Reaper. Laquari brought out Gladiator Beast Murmillo, which destroyed Raiza, but McNeely wasn’t done yet. He special summoned Test Tiger, tributed it to bring out another Murmillo in defense mode, and destroyed Reaper. He was left with just three cards to Alcorta’s five, and had to pass with no backfield.

That hand of five became six on the following turn, and Alcorta summoned Fear Monger to run over Murmillo. He set Trap Dustshoot and Call of the Haunted to finish out. McNeely drew for his turn, shook his head, and ended.

Call of the Haunted brought back Raiza the Storm Monarch for Alcorta, and McNeely’s face sunk a bit as he took attacks from both the Monarch and Fear Monger. He’d need to pull out something huge to save this duel.

When he drew a fourth card next turn Alcorta flipped Trap Dustshoot. McNeely took his time before making the tough decision not to reveal his hand — He conceded the game instead.

Raiza the Storm Monarch devastates McNeely in game 2, giving Alcorta a commanding win and pushing this match to a third duel! McNeely did some siding as Alcorta just presented his deck, and the pressure was clearly on for the Arlington duelist.

McNeely opened with a set card to each zone. “Your go.” His face was all business: that almost-sad look McNeely gets when everything’s on the line. The expression was impossible to read. Alcorta activated Soul Exchange, tributed for a face-down monster and cost McNeely his face down Murmillo. Alcorta set a spell or trap to reinforce his position.

Gladiator Beast Bestiari was summoned by McNeely, and Test Tiger let him trade it for another Bestiari. That destroyed Alcorta’s Mirror Force! McNeely attacked, hit into Cyber Dragon, and ate a bit of damage to send back Bestiari in exchange for Gladiator Beast Darius. Darius’ effect brought up McNeely’s Murmillo, and another Test Tiger let him trade it for another copy, destroying the Cyber Dragon! McNeely ended with two cards in hand, one spell or trap set, and two Gladiator Beasts on the field.

Alcorta activated Mystical Space Typhoon next turn, and McNeely chained Waboku. Alcorta just wasn’t letting his opponent activate that card at the ideal time. Alcorta followed up with Elemental Hero Stratos, searched out Disk Commander and discarded him for Destiny Draw. He drew two cards and was left with Soul Exchange, Marshmallon, and Enemy Controller, none of which would really help him at the moment. It was really a wonder he didn’t side out the Marshmallon. He set one card to his back row and passed without attacking.

Premature Burial brought out Test Tiger again, and McNeely tributed it to cycle back Murmillo and summon it once more, destroying Stratos! That cleared the way for Darius to attack, and Alcorta refused to activate Enemy Controller. He naturally lost it when McNeely brought out Bestiari. Enemy Controller was chained after the fact to turn Bestiari to defense mode and McNeely passed. He still didn’t look satisfied with his turn — he probably wouldn’t crack so much as a grin until the duel was over and done with.

Alcorta set Marshmallon and bluffed with a set Soul Exchange. McNeely turned both Gladiators to attack mode, swung with Bestiari, and hit Marshmallon. I think there might have been a grin at that point, actually. Murmillo attacked too and McNeely cycled both Gladiators back to pull two more! Murmillo was traded for Bestiari, which destroyed Alcorta’s Soul Exchange. The other Bestiari was then traded for Murmillo, which destroyed Marshmallon! It was nothing short of graceful — McNeely knew exactly what he was doing.

Alcorta drew and had two cards left: Soul Exchange and Raiza. He tributed away his opponent’s Bestiari, but when Raiza hit the field McNeely negated it with Solemn Judgment! Alcorta was out of cards and had to pass.

McNeely summoned Rescue Cat! He tributed it for Test Ape and Test Tiger, tributing the Tiger for Secutor! “Attack for eleven,” McNeely announced, swinging with Secutor and Test Ape. Secutor went off, brought out Laquari and Darius, and Darius special summoned Bestiari from the graveyard! McNeely then sent back Bestiari, Laquari, and Secutor for Heraklinos, leaving himself with two cards in hand, and Darius and Heraklinos on the field! Alcorta was topdecking while McNeely had full control.

Alcorta drew Treeborn Frog and set it — no help there. This was just academic now for McNeely, who only had to press intelligently to win the match. Concerned that Alcorta might have set Morphing Jar he placed one card face down to his spell and trap zone, then swung with Darius to destroy the Frog. Heraklinos struck directly, and the duel stood at 3050 to 2300 in McNeely’s favor. He traded out Darius for Laquari and pitched D.D. Crow to remove Alcorta’s Frog.

Alcorta had nothing left. Any spell or trap he drew could be negated by Heraklinos, and there wasn’t a monster remaining that could save him. He offered the handshake immediately, knowing there was nothing that he could do.

It looks like Jake McNeely really has broken Gladiator Beasts wide open! Capturing dominating wins in game 1 and game 3, he moves on with one win in the bag and nine more matches ahead of him. Gladiator Beast fans across the globe are going to go wild!