Jon Mak is a member of Team AZN Carnage — yes, that Team AZN Carnage: the one that claimed the American Team Dueling Championship at US Nats last summer. Jon is actually the brother of Team Dueling Champion Tom Mak, and now, he was gunning for a title of his own. He immediately gave shout-outs to his brother, and teammate Shawn Brown.
He’s up against Jeff Walker, taking Gladiator Beasts against Walker’s Teleport Dark Armed deck. The matchup was not in Mak’s favor, and Walker had a big advantage. Mak would need some serious luck on his side to claim victory.
Walker won the roll and opened with Destiny Draw, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious! He lost Malicious at resolution, as Mak activated D.D. Crow. Walker summoned Armageddon Knight, sent Sangan to the graveyard, and activated Monster Reborn to bring it back. Did he have Crush Card Virus? He set two cards to his back row and ended. “Oh shi- . . .” muttered Mak: he could see what was coming.
He set two cards to his back row, set a monster, and passed with Test Tiger and Gladiator Beast Laquari in hand. Walker activated Emergency Teleport from his hand next turn, special summoned Krebons from his deck, and Mak targeted it with Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Gladiator Beast Laquari — Walker’s Krebons went back to the top of his deck, and Mak was down to just three cards.
Walker tributed his Sangan for Crush Card Virus to get a peek at Mak’s set monster, revealing that it was Gladiator Beast Hoplomus. He saw Mak’s in-hand Test Tiger, and the Sangan let him get back Krebons! Walker Synchro summoned, giving up Armageddon Knight and Krebons for Goyo Guardian. He followed it up with Dark Armed Dragon!
He removed Armageddon Knight to destroy Mak’s face-down Gladiator Beast War Chariot with priority, then removed Krebons to destroy Hoplomus! Dark Armed Dragon and Goyo each made a direct attack.
Mak had to reveal his next draw — Monster Reborn. He had Reborn and Test Tiger, with Gladiator Beast Laquari and Hoplomus in his graveyard. He activated Reborn, targeted Hoplomus, and scooped when Walker dropped his last in-hand card: D.D. Crow!
Jeff Walker overcomes the loss of his turn 1 Malicious, dominating Jon Mak. He was just one duel away from making it to the Top 4.
Minutes later the second duel began: Mak had Gladiator Beast Bestiari, Gladiator Beast Equeste, Gladiator Beast Secutor, Shrink, Dimensional Prison, and Gladiator Beast Darius. He summoned Bestiari, set Dimensional Prison, set Shrink, and ended. Walker activated Reinforcement of the Army, searched out Elemental Hero Stratos, and summoned him to search his deck for Destiny Hero – Fear Monger. Stratos attacked and when battle got to the damage step, Mak flipped Shrink! Stratos went down and Mak tagged Bestiari out, special summoning Gladiator Beast Laquari from his deck. Walker set two cards to his back row to finish his turn.
Mak attacked with Laquari, and sent it back to his deck to special summon Bestiari. He activated Bestiari’s effect, but his target was Walker’s Mystical Space Typhoon, and he chained it to destroy Mak’s face-down Dimensional Prison! Mak was out of spell and trap cards, stuck with a hand full of monsters. He set one of them and ended.
Walker summoned Psychic Commander! He sent it to attack Bestiari, paid 200 life points, and pressed the Commander over Bestiari. He set two more cards to his back row, leaving himself with three cards set.
Mak topped Heavy Storm! He activated it and Walker negated the Storm with Solemn Judgment. Mak set Gladiator Beast Bestiari, contact Fused it with his face-down Gladiator Beast Secutor, and special summoned Gladiator Beast Gyzarus! Walker shut it down with Solemn Judgment, dropping to 1275 life points. Mak still had 7900 life points, but was running out of options fast.
Walker set a spell or trap card as soon as he could on the turn that followed, then attacked for 1400 damage with Psychic Commander. Mak topped Mystical Space Typhoon, and had Equeste and Darius in hand. He had three cards in hand to Walker’s Psychic Commander, two set spell or trap cards, and two cards in hand. He set a card to each zone and lost his Mystical Space Typhoon to Dust Tornado in the end phase.
“Summon Fear Monger,” announced Walker. He flipped his set Emergency Teleport, brought out Krebons from his deck, and Synchro summoned with Fear Monger to bring out Goyo Guardian! Goyo attacked Mak’s face-down Gladiator Beast Equeste, Walker left it in the graveyard, and Psychic Commander made another attack.
Mak set a monster next turn, passed, and it was all over! Walker tributed Psychic Commander for Caius the Shadow Monarch, targeted Mak’s face-down monster, and Mak conceded immediately!
Jeff Walker is going to the Top 4!