How could I not feature this? Two-time Shonen Jump Champion Paul Levitin versus U.S. National Champion Chris Bowling. It was going to be huge. As was becoming customary here today, Levitin gave a shoutout to Anthony Alvarado and his new family.

Levitin opened the match with Reinforcement of the Army, searching Elemental Hero Stratos and summoning it to get Destiny Hero - Diamond Dude from his deck. He discarded Destiny Hero - Malicious for Destiny Draw, drew two, and removed the Malicious in his graveyard to special summon another from his deck. Did he have Crush Card Virus, or was he just manipulating his draws to avoid drawing poorly?

He pressed on, activating Allure of Darkness, drawing two, and removing Snipe Hunter. He then set a whopping three cards to his back row! The Virus seemed imminent.

Bowling’s hand was Dark Armed Dragon, Allure of Darkness, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, Malicious, Monster Reborn, and Emergency Teleport. He set a spell or trap, then Levitin flipped Crush Card Virus and traded his Malicious for Bowling’s Dark Armed Dragon and a peek at his hand.

Levitin summoned Diamond Dude, activated its effect, and caught a free Allure of Darkness for next turn! Emergency Teleport was activated from his hand and he special summoned Krebons. He Synchro summoned Goyo Guardian, special summoned Dark Armed Dragon, and removed Diamond Dude to target Bowling’s face-down Phoenix Wing Wind Blast. Bowling chained it, Levitin chained Solemn Judgment, and Monster Reborn sealed the deal!

“I had a pretty okay hand Game 1, you know . . .” Levitin laughed as he sided and shuffled. Bowling gave a smirk and focused on his shuffling. “I’ll go first.”

Bowling started with Brain Control, Krebons, Dark Armed Dragon, Mystical Space Typhoon, Malicious, and Heavy Storm. He set the Heavy and passed. “Your go.” Levitin activated Allure of Darkness, drew two, and removed Destiny Hero - Doom Lord. He discarded Malicious for Destiny Draw, drew two, then destroyed Bowling’s Heavy with Mystical Space Typhoon! Levitin summoned Mystic Tomato, attacked for 1400 damage, and set Solemn Judgment.

He lost it next turn to Mystical Space Typhoon, and then lost his Tomato to Brain Control. Bowling attacked for 1400 damage, summoned Cyber Valley, and removed both monsters to draw two cards. Allure of Darkness got him two more cards at the cost of a second Malicious, and he passed with nothing on the field—he had Malicious, Dark Grepher, Teleport, Dark Armed Dragon, and Krebons in hand.

Levitin normal summoned Krebons, removed Malicious to special summon another, and Synchro summoned Thought Ruler Archfiend. Bowling topdecked Crush Card Virus next turn.

He discarded Malicious to special summon Dark Grepher, normal summoned Krebons, and Synchro summoned with both for Goyo Guardian! He special summoned Dark Armed Dragon, removed Malicious to blow away Thought Ruler with Dark Armed Dragon, and activated Emergency Teleport. Levitin conceded.

Chris Bowling makes short work of Game 2! Both duelists smokescreened heading into Game 3. Levitin would open the last duel.

He wished Bowling luck, then drew his opening hand. He summoned Stratos, grabbed Diamond Dude from his deck, and discarded Malicious for Destiny Draw. Allure of Darkness got him two more cards in return for his Doom Lord, and he set four cards to his back row! “Your turn.”

“Draw,” announced Bowling. He activated Allure of Darkness, gave up Malicious (his only Dark monster), and was left with two more Allures, Solemn Judgment, Scapegoat, Trap Dustshoot, and Torrential Tribute. He set four cards to his back row, ended, and lost Torrential Tribute to Levitin’s end-phase Mystical Space Typhoon.

Levitin summoned Spirit Reaper and attacked, and Bowling was forced to flip Scapegoat. He summoned four Sheep Tokens, lost two to attacks, and ended. Bowling topped Krebons, activated Allure of Darkness, and drew Fear Monger and Mystic Tomato! He removed Krebons, activated another Allure, and drew Solemn Judgment and Reinforcement of the Army. He chose to remove Destiny Hero - Fear Monger, keeping the Tomato.

He set Solemn, set the Tomato, and ended with Reinforcement of the Army in hand. “Go.” Levitin summoned Diamond Dude, activated its effect with priority, and missed to send Krebons to the bottom of his deck. Stratos attacked the face-down Mystic Tomato, Bowling special summoned Sangan with its effect, and Diamond Dude attacked it.

Bowling used Sangan’s effect to search for Spirit Reaper. Levitin’s Reaper attacked one of Bowling’s two remaining Sheep Tokens, and he set a fourth spell or trap card to finish his turn. Bowling set Reaper and ended, and Levitin missed on his attempt at Diamond Dude’s effect, sending Solemn Judgment to the bottom of his deck. Diamond Dude attacked the last Sheep Token, and Levitin flipped Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Malicious and spinning away Reaper.

His own Reaper struck for 300 damage, forcing Bowling to discard Dark Grepher! Stratos made a direct attack and Bowling was down to 5500 life points. Levitin set a monster.

Bowling set Spirit Reaper next turn, then set his last card to his back row. Levitin flipped Compulsory Evacuation Device in the end phase, and Bowling had to flip Solemn Judgment!

Levitin summoned Mystic Tomato, then flipped another Compulsory! Bowling chained Solemn Judgment, but Levitin chained a Solemn of his own and it was all over! Bowling conceded the match.

Paul Levitin moves on undefeated, now just one win away from his thirteenth Day 2!