For Lux, this is a matter of personal pride: it’s the first time he’s played in a Shonen Jump since his victory at Orlando. For Palazzo, it’s a matter of ambition. A regular at the legendary Neutral Ground in New York City, this is his first Shonen Jump ever, and making the Top 8 here would be a remarkable accomplishment.

He won the roll and opened with a set card to each zone. Lux returned the double set, then set a second spell or trap card in addition. Palazzo summoned Spirit Reaper, flip summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, and attacked with the Lady. Book of Moon stopped the attack, turning it face down. Palazzo ended his turn.

Snatch Steal destroyed his Reaper, and Lux flipped Magician of Faith to take back the Snatch. Tsukuyomi turned Magician of Faith face down, and Lux ended. D. D. Warrior Lady flipped to attack the set Magician again next turn, and Lux pulled Book of Moon with Faith.

He played Snatch Steal, took D. D. Warrior Lady, and used Tsukuyomi to turn her down. D. D. Warrior Lady attacked his set Mystic Tomato, removed both from play, and Tsukuyomi hit directly. Lux set a spell or trap, passed, Pallazo set a card to each zone and passed back. In the end phase, Lux activated Call of the Haunted to bring back Magician of Faith. Tsukuyomi turned it face down, detaching Premature but leaving it on the field, attacked, and Pallazo flipped Sakuretsu Armor, but a chained Book of Moon saved Tsukuyomi by turning it face down!

Pallazo tributed Magician of Faith for Zaborg, destroying Lux’s Magician of Faith and then attacking the Tsukuyomi: Zaborg was turned face down and Pallazo ended his turn. Lux special summoned Cyber Dragon, set a monster, and attacked the face down Zaborg to destroy it. Pallazo drew for his turn, flipped Return from the Different Dimension, and summoned Spirit Reaper. Smashing Ground destroyed Cyber Dragon, D. D. Warrior Lady hit Magician of Faith, Lux took back Snatch Steal, and Reaper discarded it. The Tomato then attacked directly, and it was then removed from play. It was 6300 to 3450 with Lux leading. Palazzo set a spell or trap before the end of his turn.

Lux set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, but lost it next turn to Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. Last Will got Palazzo another Reaper, and both monsters attacked directly, costing Lux his in-hand Reaper and knocking him down to 3600 life points.

He drew and set D. D. Warrior Lady, his only other card being Treeborn Frog. Zaborg attacked into it, both were removed, and Spirit Reaper hit directly to discard the Frog. Next turn, Lux special summoned Chaos Sorcerer, removed his opponent’s Reaper, and ended – he couldn’t retrieve his Treeborn Frog, since he was stuck with the dead Call of the Haunted on the field from earlier. Two turns later Lux scooped: Jinzo hit the field and Lux’s only remaining cards were Return from the Different Dimension and a useless Metamorphosis.

Lux opened the second duel with a set monster, then set Ceasefire. Palazzo special summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked, but Ceasefire was activated in response! It flipped Lux’s set Tsukuyomi, turning Cyber Dragon face down to prevent the attack! Palazzo set a spell or trap, Tsukuyomi bounced back to Lux’s hand, and he became the turn player. He summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, broke Sakuretsu Armor, and then attacked the face down Cyber Dragon. He ended, Pallazo special summoned another Cyber Dragon, and Breaker was attacked and destroyed. Pallazo set a card to each zone and passed.

Lux blew away Palazzo’s Torrential Tribute with Mystical Space Typhoon in the end phase, then drew for his turn. With an all monster hand he set a monster. Palazzo flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, summoned Mystic Tomato, used Premature Burial to special summon his First Cyber Dragon back from the graveyard, and then used Nobleman of Crossout to remove Lux’s Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive from the game. All four monsters then attacked for 7000 damage total, leaving Lux with 500 life points!

“500 life points! That’s plenty!” said Lux. “I can top one of three cards [to get out of this].”

He drew Scapegoat.

“That’s not one of them.” He set Scapegoat, set a monster, and passed. Palazzo’s Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive and Tomato went to defense, and the two Cyber Dragons attacked. The first hit Magician of Faith, getting Lux back Mystical Space Typhoon. When the second attacked directly Lux flipped Scpaegoat, and Cyber Dragon ate one of the Sheep that resulted.

Lux set two back row cards and a monster. Pallazo turned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive to attack, Cyber Dragon attacked another of Lux’s Magician of Faiths, and he took back Scapegoat. The Cyber Dragon with Premature Burial attacked, but Mystical Space Typhoon destroyed it. Dekoichi attacked, knocking Lux down to two Sheep. Lux set another spell or trap card, summoned Tsukuyomi to turn down Cyber Dragon, and ended.

“Torrential,” said Pallazo. He turned Mystic Tomato to attack position and bonked away the remaining two Sheep. He passed to Lux, who special summoned Cyber Dragon. Lux flipped Torrential Tribute, then set Spirit Reaper with Scapegoat still in his back row. Pallazo did nothing and passed back. Lux flip summoned Spirit Reaper, attacked Pallazo, and forced Pallazo to flip Mirror Force. Lux set Night Assailant, Pallazo set a spell or trap, and Lux passed back. Pallazo summoned Cyber Dragon, tributed it for Zaborg to destroy the Assailant, and played Last Will. Zaborg attacked into Scapegoat, destroyed a Sheep, and Last Will brought out Sangan to destroy another.

Lux topdecked into Graceful Charity and activated it, discarding Premature Burial, then Mobius the Frost Monarch. He special summoned Chaos Sorcerer, using its effect with priority to remove Zaborg from the game. He normal summoned Tsukuyomi, turned his Sorcerer face down, and attacked the Sangan with it. Pallazo pulled Mystic Tomato with its effect, and Lux set Return from the Different Dimension and Mirror Force. “I’ll pray you don’t have a Heavy.”

Palazzo summoned Mystic Tomato, and attacked the face down Sorcerer. Lux let the attack go and Sorcerer wasn’t destroyed by battle, but it was hit with Smashing Ground in main phase 2. Lux passed his turn, but Palazzo flipped Call of the Haunted in Lux’s end phase to bring back Cyber Dragon. He tributed for Jinzo, used Snatch Steal to take a Sheep token and attacked the last Sheep with Mystic Tomato! Jinzo then hit directly for 2400 damage, and the match was over!

Michael Lux’s valiant effort comes to an end just short of the Top 8, while fourteen-year old Carlo Palazzo has high hopes for a Day 2 qualification!