This is only Anthony Duke’s second Shonen Jump Championship. He made the Top 16 of his first tournament, and has made at least Top 4 in this one. He plays for the Kogyochi Korrelation and is the last remaining standard Dark Armed deck. His opponent is Paul Levitin. Back in the Top 4 spotlight once more, the Overdose duelist is looking to take Gladiator Beasts to the top.

Duke opened with Destiny Draw discarding Destiny Hero – Disk Commander and Reinforcement of the Army, getting Dark Grepher. Next he played Allure of Darkness and removed the same Grepher he searched for. A new Reinforcement of the Army came down for Elemental Hero Stratos. Allure of Darkness was next, and Sangan was removed from play. Now the Stratos came down, and Duke searched for Destiny Hero – Plasma. “My only target?” he sighed. He was bluffing. He set a spell or trap card and passed to Paul.

Paul played Monster Reborn to take the Disk Commander and draw two cards. Heavy Storm came down next, but Duke chained Scapegoat to fill his field. He set a monster, three spell or trap cards, and passed. Duke tributed the Stratos for Jinzo on his next turn. Plasma came down as well, using three goat tokens as its tribute. “I’ll take the face-down Morphing Jar,” said Duke. It was Sangan. “Same thing,” chimed Paul. Dark Grepher was special summoned as well and all the monsters attacked directly.

Soul Taker came down for Paul and destroyed the Plasma. Paul got his Sangan and searched for Test Tiger. Gladiator Proving Ground dropped next taking Gladiator Beast Secutor. Test Tiger allowed Secutor to bump in the deck and back out to hit the final Sheep token. Two more Gladiator Beasts joined the Secutor just in time to return to the deck to special summon Gladiator Beast Heraklinos. Paul passed, Duke set a monster, and Paul hit the Grepher on his turn.

Duke was up now, and he special summoned his top deck with Dasher. It was Darklord Zerato, and Duke used priority to activate its effect. Paul chained Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror and the effect was negated. Duke passed, and Paul summoned Gladiator Beast Laquari. Herk hit the Zerato and Laquari attacked a face-down Card Trooper. Anthony drew and played Heavy Storm. Paul discarded Torrential Tribute to negate the effect with Heraklinos. “Oh yah,” said Duke, and he scooped up the game.

Duke opened up game 2 by playing Allure of Darkness and removing Dark Magician of Chaos from play. Elemental Hero Stratos came down next, grabbing Destiny Hero – Malicious. Duke passed his turn. Paul had to like that.

He couldn’t capitalize though, and simply set a spell or trap before passing. Duke summoned Snipe Hunter and discarded Destiny Hero – Disk Commander to attempt to destroy Paul’s set card. He flipped Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror to negate the effect. Duke then special summoned Dark Grepher and attacked directly with the team.

Paul was up now, and we’d soon see if he actually had a weak hand or simply wanted Duke to invest more cards to the field. He planned his turn out carefully, and then summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari. Test Tiger came down next and Paul used the effect to switch out Bestiari for a Gladiator Beast Murmillo. Stratos was destroyed, and Paul used Monster Reborn to get back Test Tiger. He brought out Gladiator Beast Laquari, attacked Snipe Hunter, and swapped the Laquari for another Murmillo. Just like that Duke’s field was gone. Paul set another spell or trap and passed.

Duke drew and set Threatening Roar, which he used next turn. Paul passed, and Duke removed Malicious to get his graveyard to three Darks. Paul used D.D. Crow to remove a Dark and drop the graveyard down to two. With no playable cards in hand, Duke scooped the game.