John Umali made his name capturing the first Shonen Jump Championship title years ago in Anaheim, and has remained a respected competitor ever since. He’s up against repeated Day 2 qualifier Chris Bowling, hailing from Arlington, Texas, and the matchup should be in his favor: Another remove from play deck against Light and Darkness Dragon.

Bowling opened the match with a set monster, and Umali fired back the same. “Go ahead.” Bowling passed, and Umali flip summoned his face down Gravekeeper’s Spy next turn, bringing out Gravekeeper’s Guard in defense mode. He tributed the Spy for Raiza the Storm Monarch, spun away his opponent’s monster, and attacked for 2400 damage. “Four cards in my hand.” Umali set a spell or trap: “I’ll end my turn.”

Play was to Bowling, who was now forced to act. He activated Foolish Burial, sent Destiny Hero – Malicious to his graveyard, and removed him to special summon his other Malicious from his deck. He set a monster, set two cards to his back row, and ended. Umali shook his head, fearing the chance of Light and Darkness Dragon.

He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior and Bowling activated Crush Card Virus in response — he tributed his Malicious, but Umali chained Solemn Judgment to negate it! Breaker got his counter, took aim at Bowling’s face down Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, and Bowling chained it. He discarded Snipe Hunter to send Gravekeeper’s Guard back to the top of Umali’s deck. Umali set a spell or trap, attacked with Raiza, and ate 1000 damage from Marshmallon. “I’ll end my turn. Three cards in my hand.”

Bowling summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, and broke Umali’s set Brain Control! He then traded his Breaker for Umali’s in battle, keeping the field simplified to prevent Umali from unleashing Light and Darkness Dragon while also keeping possible damage low should Marshmallon be destroyed!

Umali set a monster and ended. Bowling tributed Marshmallon for Raiza the Storm Monarch, targeted Umali’s face down monster to return it to his deck, then attacked Umali’s Raiza with his own. Both were destroyed and Bowling ended, with just two cards left in his hand. Umali set a monster, Bowling set a monster, and Umali flip summoned Gravekeeper’s Guard to bounce Bowling’s monster. He then tributed the Guard for Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, forced Bowling to discard Destiny Hero – Fear Monger, and attacked for 2400 damage. Bowling could do nothing but set a monster next turn.

Another set monster hit Umali’s field, and Thestalos attacked Bowling’s set Treeborn Frog. Bowling took it back next turn, set a spell or trap, and ended. Umali finally decided it was time to reveal his strategy.

He activated Dimensional Fissure, then flip summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy to special summon another. He tributed one of them for another Thestalos, forced Bowling to discard his in-hand Light and Darkness Dragon, and attacked Treeborn Frog with the Spy; Bowling responded with Mystical Space Typhoon, hoping to destroy the Fissure and at least keep his Frog for next turn. Umali chained Solemn Judgment to negate Typhoon and ensure Treeborn would be removed! Successive attacks connected and brought Bowling down to just 400 life points.

Bowling set a spell or trap, and then set his in-hand D.D. Crow, desperate to stay in the duel. Umali turned Spy to defense mode, and the duel stood at 1500 life points to 400. He set his last in-hand card, attacked with Thestalos, and Bowling immediately scooped, not wanting to reveal his last two cards.

John Umali takes full control of the first duel, taking a commanding win over Chris Bowling! Both duelists did some serious side decking.

Bowling opened with a card set to each zone, and Umali echoed the play. Soul Exchange let Bowling tribute Umali’s set Gravekeeper’s Spy for a face down monster, and next turn Umali summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior. He attempted to use Breaker’s counter, but his target was Crush Card Virus, and Bowling had tributed for Malicious last turn! He chained the Virus, tributed Malicious, and Umali lost his entire hand! Two Raiza the Storm Monarch, one Thestalos the Firestorm Monarch, and D.D. Survivor, plus his on-field Breaker! He had just one card set in his back row, which Bowling wiped out with his own Breaker next turn — Macro Cosmos. Bowling attacked, set a spell or trap, and ended.

Next turn Umali drew and set Gravekeeper’s Spy. Bowling activated Phoenix Wing Wind Blast in his draw phase, discarded Treeborn Frog, bounced away Umali’s Spy, and then special summoned his Treeborn Frog! Umali scooped immediately, noting that there were only 18 minutes left in the match and not wanting to go to time.

Possibly the most hideous Crush Card Virus of all time wipes out John Umali, allowing Chris Bowling to push this match to a third duel!

“I’ll go first,” announced Umali. “Good luck.” He set three cards to his back row, set a monster, and ended. Bowling set three cards to his back row to match his opponent and passed. Umali set another monster next turn: “Go ahead. Do you think my monster’s a Morphing Jar? I bluffed the first one.” Umali was turning the mind games on big time.

Reinforcement of the Army fetched Bowling Elemental Hero Stratos, which he summoned. Umali chained Macro Cosmos. “I don’t know why,” he remarked. “I just want to activate the card.” Bowling searched his deck for Destiny Hero – Disk Commander and then set two more cards to his back row, really fearing that chance of Morphing Jar. Bowling attacked the first card Umali set, activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Macro Cosmos, and crashed into Marshmallon! Bowling took 1000 damage for Marshmallon’s effect. “Your go.”

It was Umali’s turn to use Reinforcement of the Army; he searched out a copy of D.D. Survivor, which he summoned. “I’m scared of attacking; you might have a Mirror Force.” Umali refused to attack and passed.

Bowling activated Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Destiny Hero – Disk Commander to target one of Umali’s two set cards; it was returned to the top of his deck. “Go for it,” assented Umali. Bowling activated Premature Burial, targeted his Disk Commander and Umali feigned contemplation of a Mystical Space Typhoon he didn’t have. Bowling drew two cards, sent Stratos to destroy D.D. Survivor (Stratos was destroyed as well), and Bowling ended.

Umali set his topdecked spell or trap, turned Marshmallon to attack mode, and ran over Disk Commander. “Yeah! Plus One!” He ended his turn and Bowling flipped Call of the Haunted, bringing back Disk Commander again. Umali’s shrill shriek of anguish pierced the entire convention hall. I’m not sure how you spell a scream of pain and disgust, but “AAAAUGH” seems like it might accurately represent the noise Umali made. Bowling summoned D.D. Survivor, turned Disk Commander to defense mode, and attacked Marshmallon for some damage. He had 6200 life points to Umali’s 6500.

A third set spell or trap from Umali matched Bowling’s field, and he turned Marshmallon to defense mode. Bowling summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior next turn, broke Umali’s set Solemn Judgment, and Umali gave a wince! “I think you broke the right one.” D.D. Survivor attacked the card that Umali had told him was Morphing Jar many turns prior, and sure enough, it was! Both duelists drew new hands and less than seven minutes remained in the match.

Now it was Umali’s turn to summon Breaker the Magical Warrior. Bowling took quite a while considering his possible responses, and had been thinking over his moves quite a great deal in his match. “If we get called on time it’s not my fault,” noted Umali. Bowling eventually chained Pulling the Rug to destroy Breaker and Umali passed.

Bowling tributed his Disk Commander for Raiza the Storm Monarch, targeting Marshmallon and sending it to the top of his opponent’s deck. D.D. Survivor attacked and Umali responded with Mirror Force! Umali’s own Macro Cosmos would help the Survivor, but Bowling still lost Breaker the Magical Warrior and Raiza the Storm Monarch. Bowling set a spell or trap card, brought back his Survivor, and ended.

Umali set a monster and passed. “Go ahead, sir.” Bowling activated Scapegoat in the end phase, and when it resolved he responded with Torrential Tribute. He tried to take back his D.D. Survivor, but was reminded that he could not, since he activated Scapegoat. It left him wide open.

Reinforcement of the Army let Bowling press on though, searching his deck for Destiny Hero – Fear Monger. He summoned him, attacked for 1000 damage, and knocked Umali to 5500 life points. Two minutes remained in the match.

Umali summoned D.D. Survivor, attacked the Fear Monger, and Bowling flipped Mirror Force. He then chained Dust Tornado, but Umali chained Enemy Controller to tribute and save his D.D. Survivor! Survivor was sent out of play, Fear Monger was sent to Umali’s side of the field, Tornado destroyed Macro Cosmos, and Bowling’s own Mirror Force destroyed his Fear Monger! It was a brilliant play by Umali! D.D. Survivor came back at the end of his turn, but not before Umali activated Dimensional Fissure.

Bowling set a card to each zone. Umali summoned Snipe Hunter, discarded D. D. Scout Plane to target Bowling’s set spell or trap. The shot missed! He discarded Spirit Reaper next, this time targeting the monster; Snipe Hunter’s effect hit its mark, destroying Bowling’s face down Legendary Jujitsu Master! “I think I’m gonna go all out,” remarked Umali. He attacked with both monsters for 3300 damage, and in the end phase he brought back D. D. Scout Plane. Bowling set another card to each zone and ended, out of turns and out of options. All Umali had to do was pass and he’d win on life points!

John Umali defeats Chris Bowling with his expert use of Enemy Controller, moving on with a perfect record!