Neither of these players has ever been to Day 2 of a Shonen Jump Championship before, and each devastated opponent after opponent on his way to the finals. Both would walk away from this table with a copy of Doomcaliber Knight, but only one would leave here with the title of Shonen Jump Champion.

Harris won the opening roll and opened with Neo-Spacian Grand Mole, Gladiator Proving Ground, D.D. Crow, Test Tiger, Spirit Reaper, and Solemn Judgment. He summoned Grand Mole, set Judgment, and ended. “Summon,” announced Magnin, summoning Gladiator Beast Murmillo. Murmillo attacked, Harris thought the monsters would bump, but Magnin activated Book of Moon! Harris had to play Solemn Judgment, and both monsters bounced. “That didn’t go as planned,” noted Magnin. Still, drawing out that Solemn early seemed good. A set spell or trap ended Magnin’s turn.

Proving Ground got Harris Gladiator Beast Hoplomus, and he used Test Tiger to swap it out for Gladiator Beast Secutor. Secutor attacked, and then brought out Gladiator Beast Bestiari and Gladiator Beast Laquari! Bestiari destroyed Magnin’s set Reinforcement of the Army, and all three Gladiators were contact Fused for Gladiator Beast Heraklinos! Harris had four cards in hand and ended his turn.

Magnin drew to five cards, set three of them to his back row, and set a monster. Harris summoned Grand Mole, attacked with it to bump away Magnin’s set monster, then attacked directly with Gladiator Beast Heraklinos. “It’s your turn.”

Magnin set another monster, then a fourth spell or trap. Harris summoned Grand Mole, Magnin activated Torrential Tribute, and Harris discarded Gladiator Beast Darius to negate Torrential with Heraklinos. A blind Mystical Space Typhoon ripped through Magnin’s most recent set, Solemn Judgment, and Harris activated Monster Reborn to bring back Darius! Mole attacked to clear the field, Darius attacked directly, and Heraklinos swung for game!

Steven Harris takes game 1 in a short few turns. Three minutes of siding and shuffling later, Danny Magnin began the second duel.

He opened with a set card to each zone. “Pass to you.” Harris fired back with Gladiator Beast Laquari, summoning it, then activating Shield Crush — it destroyed Sangan! Magnin got to fetch a copy of Test Tiger, and when Laquari attacked it was destroyed by Mirror Force. “I’ll end.” Harris had nothing on the field.

Magnin summoned Hoplomus, special summoned Test Tiger, then sent Hoplomus back to the deck. He contact Fused in a flurry of cards, bringing out Gyzarus to hit for 2400 damage, then Fused again for Heraklinos. Next turn Harris summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, special summoned Test Tiger, turned Prisma into Bestiari, then brought out Darius with Test Tiger. But when Darius tried to use its special summon ability to bring back Bestiari for Gyzarus, Magnin shut him down with D.D. Crow! Harris had to pass.

That left Magnin to summon Elemental Hero Prisma, sending Bestiari to the graveyard. He ran over Darius with Heraklinos, and then made a direct attack with Prisma. The duel stood at 4600 to 8000, with Magnin leading. Harris drew for his next turn and scooped moments later.

“Yay, Crow!” Magnin knew precisely why he’d won, and was quite happy to press the match, and this tournament, to a third and final duel. Again, much side decking and shuffling ensued.

The competitors wished each other good luck, and Harris opened with three set cards to his back row. He had no Trap Dustshoot on his opponent’s turn, and Magnin was free to summon Neo-Spacian Grand Mole. It swung for 900 damage, and Magnin set two cards to his spell and trap zone. “Pass to you.”

Harris was up. He summoned Bestiari, special summoned Test Tiger, and traded Bestiari for Gladiator Beast Murmillo. Murmillo’s effect destroyed Grand Mole, and it attacked directly to tag out to Bestiari. The target for Bestiari’s effect was chained though, and Dust Tornado took out Harris’ Torrential Tribute. He ended his turn.

Gladiator Beast Laquari hit the field for Magnin, but when he sent it to attack it ran into Mirror Force. He ended his turn with three cards in hand and one card set in his back row. Harris drew to three cards in hand, with one card set and Bestiari on field. He activated Monster Reborn, brought back his opponent’s Laquari, and both Gladiator Beasts attacked! They each scored direct hits, and Laquari was rotated out for Gladiator Beast Bestiari — Magnin lost his Solemn Judgment. The first Bestiari was then traded out for a pumped Laquari, and Harris ended.

Magnin activated Gladiator Proving Ground, searching his deck for Gladiator Beast Laquari and summoning it. Solemn Judgment negated it! “Show me a monster,” requested Magnin. Another attacker would mean game.

Harris revealed his hand, which included Reinforcement of the Army! Magnin gave him the handshake immediately, and Steven Harris becomes a Shonen Jump Champion!