Joe Mooney from Team Top Control plays out of Iowa. He’s here today hoping to make it big, but in his way is Team Overdose member Anthony Alvarado. Anthony’s deck choice is the reason for this feature.

Anthony won the roll and opted to go first. He set two cards to his back field and passed. He flipped Trap Dustshoot during Joe’s standby phase revealing five spell or trap cards and Cyber Dragon. A pair of Reasonings telegraphed Samurai, and sure enough a missed call meant The Six Samurai – Zanji came down for Joe. The second Reasoning brought out Spirit of the Six Samurai. He equipped the monster to Zanji and swung directly. A pair of set spell or trap cards ended his turn.

Anthony summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari and special summoned Test Tiger. Joe allowed both monsters and Gladiator Beast Murmillo was brought out thanks to Test Tiger, who returned himself and Bestiari to the deck. Murmillo destroyed Zanji, and another Tiger meant another Murmillo for Ant. Solemn Judgment attempted to negate the Murmillo, but Ant’s own Solemn denied it. Zanji was destroyed, and Ant attacked directly with the Murmillo. That meant he got to special summon Bestiari again, which destroyed Joe’s set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Swords of Revealing Light and a face-down spell or trap were Joe’s only plays. Ant responded with Premature Burial for Test Tiger, using his effect to special summon another Bestiari. That attempted to get another Bestiari, but a second Solemn Judgment stopped that from happening. Ant set a monster, and on his turn Joe dropped a Cyber Dragon to beat up Bestiari. Ant set a spell or trap card on his turn, and when Joe was up he summoned The Six Samurai – Irou and passed.

Ant was up now and he summoned Gladiator Beast - Laquari, destroyed Irou, and searched out Murmillo with its effect. Murmillo’s effect took care of Cyber Dragon, and Joe could do nothing but set a bluff on his turn. Ant didn’t buy it though and flipped his face-down monster and attacked with both Murmillo and Gladiator Beast Hoplomus for game.

Joe began the second game with one set spell or trap. Ant summoned Spirit Reaper, but it was destroyed by Torrential Tribute. Ant set a pair of spell or trap cards, one of which was a Solemn Judgment that was chained to the Heavy Storm Joe used. Next Joe played two copies of Reasoning, both of which Ant called correctly, sending Cyber Dragon and Spirit of the Six Samurai to the graveyard. He set a monster and some spell and traps, and Ant’s next two summons were negated with Solemn Judgments.

Ant set a monster when it was his turn again. Joe summoned The Six Samurai – Irou, but Ant responded with Torrential Tribute, destroying the field and his Sangan. Joe had 2000 life points, a card in hand, and a set spell or trap, so Ant searched out Test Tiger. Next turn he flipped Gladiator Proving Ground, searching for Gladiator Beast Laquari. He summoned that monster, special summoned his Test Tiger, and attacked for game. Joe stopped that from happening with Raigeki Break, and next turn summoned Cyber Dragon to destroy the Tiger. Soul Taker would take that out next turn though, and a Kinetic Soldier dropped to attack. Joe set his spell or trap next turn, but Ant flashed Heavy Storm and the game was over.

Anthony Alvarado takes the match 2-0, moving on to the third round undefeated with Gladiator Beasts.