With Andrew Fredella out of the tournament, John Jensen at 3-2 and Jason Zigander at 4-1, Shawn Kuchta was the last Team Nexus member clinging to his undefeated record here today. Now he was playing 22 year-old Grant Kelly, a student of Butler University from Indiana. Paired off at table 2, each had something to prove here today.
An enthusiastic Dale Bellido watched from the sidelines. See if you can spot him!
Both duelists wished each other good luck, and shook hands before play began. Kelly won the roll and started off with Destiny Draw, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious. He set a card to each zone and ended, all in all a classic opening. “Go ahead.”
Reinforcement of the Army let Kuchta search his deck for Elemental Hero Stratos, who he summoned to fetch Destiny Hero – Malicious. An even better opening, highly indicative of the format. He activated Destiny Draw, tossed Malicious, and then sent Stratos to attack Kelly’s set monster. It was Destiny Hero – Disk Commander, and Kuchta set a spell or trap to conclude his turn.
Call of the Haunted was flipped, and Kelly special summoned Destiny Hero – Disk Commander to draw two cards! He removed Malicious from his graveyard to special summon another, then tributed Disk Commander for Jinzo. Metamorphosis let him tribute Malicious for Steam Gyroid, and he revealed Brain Control to secure the scoop.
A flurry of signature T-Hero combos lets Grant Kelly take the first duel in two turns!
“Sorry man,” apologized Kelly. “I looked at my hand and was like, ‘Wow, that’s . . . uhh . . . that’s pretty good.’” Both competitors sided and shuffled up for game 2, both taking their fully allotted amount of time.
Kuchta opened with Elemental Hero Stratos, searching his deck for Malicious and discarding it for Destiny Draw. “I’m sorry.” He set a spell or trap to end his turn. Kelly summoned Card Trooper, sent three cards to the graveyard to boost its ATK, then ran over Stratos. He set a card to his back row and Kuchta was up.
He activated Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Kelly’s set Torrential Tribute. He followed it up by removing Malicious from his graveyard, special summoning another and then trading it for Steam Gyroid with Metamorphosis. He brought out a third Malicious, summoned Card Trooper, and revealed Limiter Removal for game!
More combos and yet another big KO-turn, this time in the favor of Shawn Kuchta!
The third duel began very quickly. Kelly got things started with Confiscation, discarding Kuchta’s Reinforcement of the Army and setting a monster. Kuchta set a card to each zone, then another spell or trap, and ended. Kelly flip summoned his set Card Trooper, boosted it, summoned another, boosted it as well, and attacked into Morphing Jar!
“You drew Morphing?!” Kelly couldn’t believe it — the Jar hadn’t been in Kuchta’s hand when he’d activated Confiscation. The second Trooper attacked directly for 1900 damage. Kelly activated Heavy Storm next, destroying Kuchta’s Premature Burial and Brain Control, and then set a spell or trap to finish out.
Kuchta activated Destiny Draw, discarding Destiny Hero – Malicious. He removed him to bring out another, then tributed him for Metamorphosis to special summon Ryu Senshi. He summoned Card Trooper, sent Jinzo, Limiter Removal, and Destiny Hero – Fear Monger to the graveyard to boost it, then took one of Kelly’s Troopers with Snatch Steal. That one got an ATK bonus too, and three attacks later Kelly was at 1600 life points.
He set a spell or trap to end his turn. Kelly drew and had nothing; he flopped his hand to the table, showing five monsters and Metamorphosis. There was just nothing he could do.
Shawn Kuchta hits hard and fast, taking advantage of an unfortunate hand from Grant Kelly to cinch the match!
“See you in top 2?” asked Kuchta, shaking Kelly’s hand.
“Definitely,” replied Kelly. “Win out.”
Shawn Kuchta is undefeated, with just three rounds remaining in the Swiss rounds of this tournament!