Andrew Becker is a player that I’ve never heard of before. He’s garnered some attention here today with a Chimeratech deck that’s taken him to a 5-1 finish thus far, and in seeing him play earlier matches, I decided he was definitely worth a feature match. His play is precise, methodical, and insightful all at the same time, and today could be his breakout showing at a Shonen Jump Championship.
His opponent, Carlos Ruic is running a much more standard Monarch/Warrior deck. This match would either be a textbook example of how a dedicated Machine deck can overcome cookie cutter, or a saddening loss for those of us who believe in the following:
a) creative decks
b) fairy magic
Clap if you believe in originality in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG. Clap hard.
Ruic won the die roll and began the duel with a set card to each zone. Becker special summoned Cyber Dragon, normal summoned Cyber Phoenix, and then used the Phoenix to attack Ruic’s set monster: it was Sangan, and it fetched him Treeborn Frog from his deck. Cyber Dragon attacked, but Ruic blocked with Scapegoat. Cyber Dragon attacked a Sheep, Becker set a spell or trap and play was to Ruic.
He set one card to each zone and passed. Becker set a card to his spell and trap zone, activated Graceful Charity, and discarded Scapegoat and Smashing Ground after he drew. Cyber Dragon attacked the face down monster, Treeborn Frog, Phoenix claimed a Sheep, and Becker ended his turn by setting a card to each zone. He was playing aggressively, developing his field as he wore through the wall of mutton.
Nobleman of Crossout dropped from Ruic’s hand, removing Becker’s Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive from the field and two more from his deck. He passed with nothing but two Sheep and a set spell or trap. He lost both Sheep to the Dragon and Phoenix and Becker passed back.
Ruic special summoned Cyber Dragon and debated his next move. He checked his set card, set a card to each zone and passed without attacking. Becker activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing his opponent’s D. D. Warrior Lady from the field. Cyber Dragon clashed with Ruic’s, and Enemy Controller turned Ruic’s Dragon to defense position! It went down while Becker kept his Dragon, going on to attack directly with Cyber Phoenix. “I’ll end.”
Ruic summoned Don Zaloog and responded to his own summon with Torrential Tribute. “I had to get that out of here.” He set one back row card, passed, and Becker passed back. Ruic passed, Becker summoned Cyber Phoenix and attacked directly to knock Ruic down to 5600.
Cyber Dragon came down for Ruic, but Threatening Roar staved it off. In main phase 2 he summoned Hydrogeddon, ending his turn and passing to Becker. Becker tributed his Cyber Phoenix for Ancient Gear Beast! Ruic took a moment to read its effect, unfamiliar with the card, but when Becker tried to move to his battle phase Ruic flipped Ring of Destruction to destroy the Beast. Becker set a spell or trap and special summoned Cyber Dragon to finish his turn. “I end.”
Ruic attacked, but Becker flipped Mirror Force. Ruic chained Enemy Controller, tributing a monster to at least steal Becker’s Cyber Dragon so that it would be destroyed by Mirror Force as well. He set a monster to finish his turn. Becker set a second spell or trap, Ruic brought back his Treeborn Frog, flip summoned Mystic Tomato and attacked into Sakuretsu Armor. He set one spell or trap and ended.
Becker summoned Sangan, attacked Treeborn Frog and passed. His opponent summoned Hydrogeddon, attacked the Sangan and pulled another Hydro from his deck. It was 5400 to 3600 with Becker leading, but the second Hydrogeddon attacked to drop him to 3800. Becker took Exiled Force from his deck with Sangan’s effect and Ruic was finished for the turn. Becker seemed to be in a bad position.
. . . Until he activated Future Fusion! He searched his deck for eight Machines total, sending them all to his graveyard for Chimeratech Overdragon. He then activated Giant Trunade, intending to send Ruic’s last back row card to his hand! Ruic chained it, Book of Moon, turning one of his Hydrogeddons face down. Becker then activated Overload Fusion, removing thirteen Machines from his graveyard to bring out Chimeratech Overdragon! The Chimeratech had a whopping 10,400 ATK, and Ruic couldn’t do anything to protect his one remaining attack position Hydrogeddon. Chimeratech attacked through the Hydro and Ruic took 8800 damage total.
Andrew Becker wins the first duel with a massive Chimeratech Overdragon!
Both duelists sided, and when Ruic began the second duel he did so with a set card to each zone. Becker special summoned Cyber Dragon, tributed it for Ancient Gear Beast and tried to enter his battle phase, but was stopped by Enemy Controller. Nobleman of Crossout was played on Don Zaloog, and he set a spell or trap to end his turn.
Ruic special summoned Cyber Dragon himself, then tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. The Gear Beast was destroyed by Zaborg’s effect, and Zaborg hit for 2400 damage. “I go to 5600,” announced Becker. Ruic set a spell or a trap, Becker blasted him with Smashing Ground and Ruic seemed to consider a response. He did it, flipping Book of Moon to turn down Zaborg. It was a gamble, but sure enough, Becker had no monster to attack it: “Go.”
Zaborg flipped, but this time Becker activated Threatening Roar. “So, he has a Stein,” mused Ruic. Becker actually didn’t, though he was packing a Megamorph. Another Smashing Ground hit, and this time Zaborg was destroyed. Becker set a spell or trap, but it didn’t protect him from D. D. Warrior Lady on the turn that followed. Ruic set a spell or trap, Becker set the topdecked Stein he’d drawn this turn, and passed. He lost it next turn to Nobleman of Crossout, and took another 1500 from the Lady.
Overload Fusion brought out a 1600 ATK Chimeratech, a desperation tactic to get rid of D. D. Warrior Lady, but it was all over two turns later as a flood of Hydrogeddons wiped Becker off the board!
“That was horrible,” Becker admitted.
“You drew crappy,” noted Ruic in a friendly tone. Both duelists turned their attentions to side decking.
“I’ll go first,” announced Becker. He set Scapegoat and UFO Turtle to begin. Ruic summoned Banisher of the Radiance, and it attacked the Turtle to remove it. Ruic set a spell or trap card and Becker considered activating Scapegoat. He didn’t. He began his turn instead, summoning Drillroid and attempting to suicide into the Banisher. Ring of Destruction destroyed it, but Smashing Ground took down the Banisher. Ruic summoned Don Zaloog on the next turn, looking for the free hit, and then activated Premature Burial to bring back Banisher! Don attacked, but Becker flipped Scapegoat! Ruic left the tokens there, not attacking.
Becker activated Enemy Controller on his turn, taking control of Banisher in return for a Sheep token. It attacked over Don Zaloog, Becker set a card to each zone and play was back to Ruic. Ruic activated Mystical Space Typhoon but his target was chained: Threatening Roar. He summoned Exiled Force, tributed it to destroy Becker’s set Magician of Faith and ended. Becker set a spell or trap card, Ruic attacked a Sheep with Banisher and set a back row card.
Becker activated Heavy Storm! Ruic lost his Premature Burial and the attached Banisher, as well as his set Enemy Controller, which he activated to swipe a Sheep. “I just messed it all up.” He reeled at his own mistake in setting a second card to his spell and trap zone. Becker set a monster and took his token back.
Ruic set a spell or trap and passed. Becker flip summoned UFO Turtle and attacked for 1400 damage, dropping Ruic to 4000. Becker set a spell or trap, Ruic activated Graceful Charity and discarded Creature Swap and Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. He flipped Last Will, activated Heavy Storm to destroy Becker’s set Sakuretsu Armor and then attacked UFO Turtle with Hydrogeddon! Ruic searched his deck for another as Becker searched his deck for Cyber Phoenix. The Phoenix was destroyed by the second Hydrogeddon, leaving Ruic to search his deck for a third. He set a spell or trap and ended.
Becker summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, breaking into Book of Moon. He set a spell or trap and ended. Ruic turned one Hydro to defense, then attacked Breaker and a Sheep with the remaining two. It was 5800 to 4000 with Becker leading, and he had Overload Fusion in hand and Ring of Destruction set.
He drew into Future Fusion. Ring destroyed the defense position Hydrogeddon, and Future Fusion discarded 12 Machines from Becker’s deck! Overload Fusion then hit the field, and Ruic scooped.
“Wow.”
“Good game,” said Becker, shaking hands with his opponent. He breathed a huuuuuuge sigh of relief.
Andrew Becker wins his first feature match! Watch out for him — he’s got some serious potential.