It all came down to this: both of these team-headlining duelists already had a Shonen Jump Championship title to their name, and one of them would go home today as the third two-time champ, matching the accomplishment of Emon Ghaneian and Ryan Hayakawa. One man would emerge from the Duel Dome bearing the weight of defeat. The other would leave here a legend.

Jensen won the roll and offered Yetter a handshake. “Good luck.” Both competitors drew their opening hands, and the last match of the day began.

A summoned Mystic Tomato and a set spell or trap card started things off for Jensen. Yetter set a card to his back row, set a monster, and passed. Jensen activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Yetter’s Apprentice Magician from the field, but when his Mystic Tomato attacked, it was destroyed by Sakuretsu Armor. Jensen set a monster, Yetter set a monster and a spell or trap, and play was back to Jensen.

He flip summoned D. D. Warrior Lady and attacked, hitting Magical Merchant. Yetter lost Cyber Dragon and Sangan, getting Nobleman of Crossout from his deck with Merchant’s effect. Jensen set a monster, developing his field presence before ending his turn. “It’s your move.”

Yetter removed Merchant and Sangan to special summon Chaos Sorcerer. He used its effect to remove D. D. Warrior Lady from Jensen’s field, used Nobleman of Crossout to remove his Tsukuyomi, and then attacked with Spirit Reaper to force Jensen to discard Magician of Faith. It left him with two cards in hand and 7700 life points to Yetter’s 8000.

Jensen considered his next move carefully, fingering his in-hand Cyber Dragon. He flipped Heavy Storm, destroying Yetter’s Scapegoat, and then brought out the Dragon. He tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Reaper with Zaborg’s effect, and then ran over Chaos Sorcerer with an attack.

But Yetter wasn’t subdued. Snatch Steal stole the Zaborg, and it attacked Jensen for 2400 damage. Yetter set a monster, Jensen set a monster, and Yetter flip summoned Apprentice Magician. Yetter activated Creature Swap, traded his Apprentice for Jensen’s set monster, and then sent his Zaborg into his own Apprentice Magician. Using the Apprentice’s effect, Yetter brought Magician of Faith to the field in face down defense. “Go.”

Jensen took his 1000 life points from Snatch Steal and passed. Yetter had a superior field presence, but Jensen had Torrential Tribute set. He needed Yetter to flip something, and he did—Yetter flip summoned Spirit Reaper, and Jensen punished him for it with Torrential Tribute. Yetter set his last two cards, one to each zone, and passed.

Jensen activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Yetter’s Treeborn Frog from the field. He ended his turn, Yetter passed, Jensen passed, and Yetter passed back. Jensen set a spell or trap (his second) to his back row, and Yetter set a monster. Jensen set one too, and when play passed to Yetter, he flip summoned Old Vindictive Magician to destroy Jensen’s set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Old Vindictive attacked, Jensen took 450 damage, and the life point totals were 4850 to 7900 with Yetter leading before ending his turn.

A quick graveyard check was in order for Jensen, after he topdecked into Chaos Sorcerer. He brought out the Sorcerer and announced that he was not going to use its effect. He was going to go for an attack, but Yetter decided to activate Torrential Tribute to wipe the field. Jensen took a moment to run some math. He did some calculations and inspected his graveyard again. He was either calculating a win, or figuring out his own chances to lose.

He activated Premature Burial, dropping himself to 4050. Premature brought back his Chaos Sorcerer, and the Sorcerer hit for 2300 against Yetter’s wide open field. The attack took him down to 5600. “It’s your move,” said Jensen, passing control of the game.

Yetter dropped Heavy Storm, and Jensen lost Premature, Smashing Ground, and Return from the Different Dimension! Yetter couldn’t press, though, and just set a spell or trap. Jensen set a monster, but Yetter blasted it with Nobleman of Crossout from his hand on the following turn. Jensen lost one Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive from the field and one card from his deck, and Yetter lost two from his. He set a second spell or trap and ended.

Jensen summoned Mystic Tomato and attacked. “Yep,” said Yetter, taking the hit and dropping to 4200 life points. Yetter drew into Graceful Charity, activated it, and pitched Confiscation and Creature Swap to the graveyard. Yetter set a monster, activated Metamorphosis, and tributed his set Magician of Faith to bring out Thousand-Eyes Restrict. It sucked up Mystic Tomato, and Yetter activated Last Will to bring out D. D. Warrior Lady in defense position. Thousand-Eyes Restrict then attacked for 1400. It was a rough situation for Jensen, who was now down to topdecking against a locked field he didn’t control.

He drew Scapegoat and set it—Yetter punished him for the mistake, flipping Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Scapegoat in the end phase. Jensen should have just activated it and ended his turn then and there. Thousand-Eyes Restrict swung for 1400, Yetter set a monster, and Jensen set one too, but a turn later, Yetter ripped Tsukuyomi—it was over, and Jensen scooped.

Brent Yetter was just one game away from winning his second SJC title, and his second copy of Shrink!

After some brief side decking and verification Jensen started the second duel. He opened up with a set card to each of his zones and ended. Yetter summoned Sangan, attacked, and flipped up Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive—Jensen got a card for the train’s effect. Yetter set a spell or trap to conclude his turn.

Jensen activated Graceful Charity, and his hand stood at Confiscation, Nobleman of Crossout, Premature Burial, Cyber Dragon, Torrential Tribute, Snatch Steal, Banisher of the Radiance, and Magician of Faith. He pitched Cyber Dragon and Torrential.

“What’s that, right here?” Jensen asked, pointing to Yetter’s set card. “Is it a bluff?” Yetter remained silent. “Is it Torrential?”

Jensen summoned Banisher of the Radiance, and Yetter flipped Torrential Tribute! Jensen gave a small sigh as Yetter searched his deck with Sangan to retrieve Spirit Reaper. It was an expert play. Jensen activated Confiscation, revealing Old Vindictive Magician, Snatch Steal, Royal Decree, Heavy Storm, and Spirit Reaper. He discarded the Heavy and ended.

Yetter summoned Spirit Reaper and attacked, but Jensen blocked him with Scapegoat. Reaper hit a Sheep, Yetter set a spell or trap, and play passed to Jensen. He set a card to each zone, and play was back to Yetter. Yetter tributed his Reaper for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Jensen’s face-down Magician of Faith, and attacked another Sheep. Jensen was sitting on dead cards, but he had Snatch Steal, which he used to take control of Yetter’s Zaborg for a direct attack. Yetter tried to take it back next turn with another Snatch Steal, but Jensen turned the Zaborg down with Book of Moon to retain control of it! Yetter normal summoned Exiled Force, attacked a Sheep token, and then tributed Exiled to destroy the set Zaborg.

Jensen summoned Sangan and attacked for a thousand damage. Yetter summoned Tsukuyomi, turned down Sangan, removed it with Nobleman of Crossout, and attacked the last Sheep before passing. Jensen activated Premature Burial, brought back Cyber Dragon, and attacked directly to lower Yetter to 3500. Jensen set a monster and passed.

Yetter activated Graceful Charity! He discarded Royal Decree and Cyber-Stein, then summoned a Cyber Dragon of his own. Tsukuyomi turned Jensen’s Dragon face down, Yetter’s Dragon destroyed it in battle, and Tsukuyomi attacked Jensen’s set monster—Old Vindictive Magician. It destroyed Cyber Dragon. Jensen summoned Banisher next turn, attacked directly, and set a spell or trap, but he lost it next turn to Tsukuyomi. Yetter ended, Jensen passed, and the life points stood at 1900 to 6200 with Jensen well in the lead.

Yetter set a monster, his only move for the turn. Jensen summoned D. D. Warrior Lady, and activated Nobleman of Crossout to remove Yetter’s Old Vindictive Magician from the field. Neither player had any left to remove from their decks. D. D. Warrior Lady attacked directly and Yetter dropped to 400. Jensen set a card to his back row and passed, just inches away from victory and a third duel.

Yetter special summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked D. D. Warrior Lady—it went through, and both monsters were removed from the game. Yetter set a spell or trap and passed. Jensen set one too, and passed back.

Magician of Faith flipped on Yetter’s side of the field, and he took back Graceful Charity from his graveyard! Yetter used it, discarded Confiscation and Magical Merchant, and summoned Tsukuyomi to turn the Magician of Faith face down. Tsukuyomi attacked and Jensen activated Mirror Force. Yetter chained Royal Decree, but Jensen countered with Mystical Space Typhoon on the chain—Tsukuyomi was destroyed! Yetter passed with no back row.

Jensen activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Magician of Faith from Yetter’s side of the field. But he couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity he’d created—his last card in hand was Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, useless without a tribute. Play passed to Yetter.

He set a monster and a spell or trap card, ending his turn quickly. Jensen drew and labored over his next move, examining both players’ graveyards for over a minute. He had Cyber-Stein and Zaborg in hand, and he had enough life points to pay for Stein. He did it, and then paid 5000 life points to special summon Cyber End Dragon. The Dragon attacked . . .

Yetter scooped! Jensen had won the second duel, and the match was moving to a third game!

“What was your other card in hand?” asked Yetter.

“Zaborg. I was worried that you might’ve kept Mirror Force. What was your set card?”

“Last Will,” replied Yetter. He had scooped his cards face down, and it was impossible to tell whether or not he was telling the truth. Yetter is very aware of the value information has in this game, and it’s possible he was bluffing just to give Jensen nothing he could use in the final duel.

He opened the last game with a set spell or trap card: no monster. Jensen summoned Sangan and attacked for 1000 damage. He then activated Confiscation, revealing Yetter’s hand: Exiled Force, Reinforcement of the Army, Asura Priest, Creature Swap, and Cyber Dragon. The Dragon was discarded, Jensen set a spell or trap, and play passed back to Yetter.

He activated Reinforcement, searching out D. D. Warrior Lady. The Lady hit the field and attacked Sangan, and the battle resolved: both monsters were removed from play. Jensen had Heavy Storm, Chaos Sorcerer, Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive, and Magician of Faith in hand. He set the Magician and passed, hoping to get back his Confiscation.

Sheep tokens hit the field in the end phase, as Yetter activated Scapegoat before beginning his turn. He drew, summoned Asura Priest, shifted one Sheep to attack, and activated Creature Swap, trying to trade one Sheep token for Jensen’s set Magician of Faith. Jensen had Enemy Controller set and had to activate it. Magician of Faith was tributed, Jensen took the Priest and when Swap resolved, the Priest went back to Yetter for his Sheep token. Yetter set a spell or trap and ended, while Jensen turned the Sheep token to defense, set another spell or trap, set a monster, and ended.

Yetter summoned Exiled Force and attacked the Sheep token. Then he tributed Exiled Force to destroy Jensen’s set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Jensen set a monster and ended his turn, and Yetter summoned Asura Priest. It hit Jensen’s set Apprentice Magician, which brought Magician of Faith to the field. Asura Priest attacked it, Jensen took back Confiscation, and Asura bounced.

Jensen activated Confiscation, revealing Cyber Dragon, Asura Priest, Magician of Faith, and Chaos Sorcerer in Yetter’s hand. He ditched the Priest, set a monster, and passed. Yetter set a monster and passed back. Jensen tributed his set Tsukuyomi for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, destroyed Yetter’s set Magician of Faith with its effect, and hit a Sheep. Yetter passed, and Jensen was free to attack another Sheep. He set a monster and passed.

Yetter summoned Mystic Swordsman LV2 and attacked Jensen’s set monster, a Dekoichi. The Swordsman’s blade hit, destroying Dekoichi and depriving it of its effect. Yetter ended, and Jensen searched his graveyard, sending Zaborg to pound on Mystic Swordsman LV2. Both duelists stood at 5500 life points.

Breaker the Magical Warrior came down on Yetter’s side of the field, and it broke Heavy Storm. Yetter then rammed Breaker into Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, giving himself a Light and Dark to remove for Chaos Sorcerer. Sorcerer removed Jensen’s Zaborg from play and Yetter ended his turn.

Jensen activated Graceful Charity, discarding Cyber Dragon and Mystic Tomato. He special summoned Chaos Sorcerer, removing Yetter’s Sorcerer from the field with priority. Yetter had no response, and lost his Sorcerer. “You removed Cyber and Dekoichi for that?” asked Yetter, smelling Return. Jensen nodded, set a spell or trap, and passed.

Yetter set a second spell or trap and ended. “Go.”

Jensen summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, but Yetter chained Torrential Tribute to Breaker’s token-acquiring effect. It resolved, and the field was cleared. Jensen activated Premature Burial, dropped to 4700 life points, and special summoned Chaos Sorcerer. Sorcerer attacked and Yetter took the damage, going down to 2400 LP. Jensen ended his turn.

Yetter special summoned Cyber Dragon, then tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch to destroy Sorcerer. Jensen flipped his one set card—Scapegoat! Zaborg hit a Sheep, Yetter set a second spell or trap card, and play passed to Jensen. He set a back row card, passed, and lost a Sheep to Zaborg. Yetter set a monster, and play was back to Jensen.

He activated Nobleman of Crossout, removing Yetter’s Magician of Faith from the field! Yetter wasn’t happy, removing his Magician and slapping it onto the table with a small, but audible thud. Jensen ended, Zaborg ate a Sheep, and Yetter set a monster to end his turn. Jensen had Cyber Dragon and Snatch Steal in hand, plus one card set. He passed.

Yetter hit the last Sheep with Zaborg. Jensen drew into Torrential Tribute—he had Call of the Haunted set. He special summoned Cyber Dragon, used Snatch Steal to take Zaborg, and attacked with Cyber. Yetter activated Mirror Force: Zaborg and Cyber Dragon were destroyed, and so were Jensen’s hopes for a quick end to the duel. He set his last card to his back row and passed.

Yetter set a second monster and passed back. Jensen flipped Call of the Haunted, declaring Sangan as his target, but Sangan was removed from play earlier in the duel. Jensen special summoned Chaos Sorcerer and attacked, hitting Old Vindictive Magician: the Magician destroyed Sorcerer. But Nobleman of Crossout removed Yetter’s other set monster (Magical Merchant) from the field. Jensen had one set spell or trap left to Yetter’s set spell or trap and two cards in hand. Jensen ended.

A Light and a Dark came out of Yetter’s graveyard and Sorcerer hit the field, but Jensen destroyed it with Torrential Tribute. Yetter set a monster, stymied for the moment. Jensen drew into Zaborg the Thunder Monarch, totally useless, and ended.

Confiscation robbed him of it next turn, lowering Yetter to 1400 life points. He set a spell or trap, flip summoned Apprentice Magician, and attacked.

Jensen topdecked into Chaos Sorcerer! He brought it to the field, removed Apprentice with priority, and ended. He could have special summoned Sorcerer and tributed it for Zaborg to try and attack for game, but he was playing it safe, trying to work around Yetter’s set cards. He passed, and Yetter activated Graceful Charity! Jensen’s heart visibly sank in his chest as Yetter got Snatch Steal with Graceful, took control of Sorcerer, and attacked Jensen directly. Ouch.

Jensen drew a monster and set it. Yetter summoned Spirit Reaper, attacked the set monster (Cyber-Stein) with Sorcerer to destroy it, and then attacked directly with Reaper. Jensen drew D. D. Warrior Lady and set her, and next turn she removed Yetter’s attacking Chaos Sorcerer from play. Still, Reaper whittled away at Jensen’s life points. Jensen drew into Creature Swap, set it, and then lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the end phase. Reaper hit directly again. Jensen drew and set his spell or trap card, and Yetter was up. He had full control of the duel, possessing four cards total to Jensen’s lone set spell or trap.

But it was 1400 to 3100, with Jensen still leading. Yetter summoned Cyber-Stein, turned Reaper to defense, and hit with the Stein directly, keeping the pressure on Jensen and working away at his life points. Yetter set another spell or trap card and Jensen drew.

He flipped Dust Tornado, targeting the first back row card Yetter had set. It was Sakuretsu Armor! Jensen then special summoned his topdecked Cyber Dragon, drawn this turn, and checked life points. Yetter only had 1400 remaining, the exact amount of damage that Cyber Dragon would do if it attacked Stein! The Dragon attacked, Stein went down, and John Jensen is your newest two-time Shonen Jump Champion, emerging victorious from Shonen Jump Championship Indianapolis!