Synchros vs. Gladiators. Friend vs. friend. Corn vs. Flores. This is a match that will likely set the tone for the upcoming months in Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG dueling. Both players are well known for their skills on the SJC circuit, and today they'll be fighting to prove their deck's dominance. For Edgar, he's attempting to show the World Gladiators are still on top. Adam on the other hand is playing the new hot deck: Synchros. Both players smashed through the competition yesterday before having to face each other last round. Adam came out on top in that encounter, but today is a whole new day. Both players know each other's decklist and game plan. It's an entirely different ball game.
Before the match starts both players would like to give a shout out to Anthony Alvarado, his wife, and his newborn child. He couldn't make the short trip here today because he's at home fulfilling his fatherly duties. We all hope to see you back soon Ant. Teary-eyed intros aside, it's time to duel. Both players wished each other good luck and the duel began.
Edgar won the roll and opened with a set to each zone. Adam drew for his turn and was holding Destiny Hero - Malicious, Reinforcement of the Army, Trap Dustshoot, Heavy Storm, Dark Armed Dragon and Necro Gardna. Not a power hand by any means, but one that could develop. He matched Edgar's sets and flipped Trap Dustshoot during Edgar's standby phase. Test Tiger was returned to the deck over two copies of Gladiator Beast Darius and other Gladiators. Edgar flipped Sangan face up, summoned a Darius, and attacked the face-down Necro Gardna with Darius. Sangan struck for 1000 damage, Darius tagged into Gladiator Beast Laquari, and Adam was up.
Adam drew Mystical Space Typhoon on his turn and thought for some time about how the duel was going to progress. Eventually he opted not to make a move at all, and on the next turn took attacks from Sangan, Laquari, and a fresh Darius. Darius tagged out for Gladiator Beast Hoplomus and Edgar passed. Adam drew into Brain Control and played Mystical Space Typhoon. Edgar chained Crush Card Virus though! Sangan was sent to the graveyard to pay for its cost and Adam lost his Dark Armed Dragon. D.D. Crow was plucked from the deck by Sangan's effect. Things weren't looking good. He played Reinforcement of the Army next, selecting Elemental Hero Stratos from his deck. Brain Control flopped to take control of Laquari and Adam tributed it for a face-down monster. He set a spell or trap before passing, and Edgar played D.D. Crow on the Necro Gardna during Adam's end phase.
Edgar then drew for his turn and summoned Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, bouncing Adam's face-down Malicious back to his hand. Hoplomus struck as well, tagging out for Gladiator Beast Bestiari to destroy Heavy Storm. Edgar passed with Bestiari and a face-down spell or trap. Adam played Elemental Hero Stratos on his turn after revealing Phoenix Wing Wind Blast for his draw. He was met with Torrential Tribute and searched for Destiny Hero - Fear Monger. He passed after setting the Wind Blast.
He drew into Allure of Darkness on his turn and played it under Crush Card. Looking for Emergency Teleport or Krebons he instead found Caius the Shadow Monarch and D.D. Crow. Next turn he was scooping up his cards.
Edgar Flores smashes through game 1 with an amazing opening draw. Both players were completely silent while side decking and shuffling up for game 2. It was quite a fast process, even for top 16. "I was so close to bringing out Plasma . . ." remarked Adam before the next game began.
He started off with Allure of Darkness, removing Necro Gardna from play and setting a spell or trap card before passing. Edgar played Gladiator Beast Darius on his turn but was stopped by Torrential Tribute. He set a spell or trap before passing to Adam who drew and shook his head. He had no monster cards except Monster Reborn, which wasn't looking too good right now. He played Heavy Storm to destroy Edgar's own Torrential and set three spell or traps before playing Monster Reborn on Darius. It was beat down time now, and Darius struck for 1700 before Adam passed.
Edgar began with Elemental Hero Prisma and Adam allowed the summon and effect to go through. Gladiator Beast Bestiari was sent to the graveyard by Edgar and he then played Brain Control targeting the Darius. That clearly wasn't what Adam wanted to see. He responded with Solemn Judgment. Edgar then played Test Tiger but was met with a Phoenix Wing Wind Blast when he tried to tag out the Prisma. Adam hit for 1700 on his turn through a face-down spell or trap and passed. Edgar set a monster on his turn and Adam was up once more. He had drawn into Emergency Teleport but decided not to go for Goyo Guardian. He set the Teleport instead.
Edgar was the turn player now and he played Reinforcement of the Army to grab Elemental Hero Stratos and beat up the Darius. Adam allowed it to happen and on his turn played Brain Control to take the Stratos. Now he played the Teleport and went for the Goyo. He swung into a face-down D.D. Warrior Lady who removed both from play. Edgar played another Prisma on his turn and swung for 1700.
Adam drew into Krebons and summoned it before passing. Edgar flopped the second Prisma and sent a Bestiari and Laquari to his graveyard before contact Fusing for Gladiator Beast Gyzarus. He was blocked by Solemn Judgment though, and Adam was up. He drew into Skill Drain at 700 life points. "This is the worst I've drawn all weekend," remarked Adam. Edgar tagged out for another Hoplomus and after drawing Dust Tornado Adam scooped it up.
Edgar Flores takes a quick 2-0 victory after Adam's deck flops. One this is for sure, Edgar looked prepared for about anything. Will his Gladiator build continue to dominate Synchros as the day goes on?