Ronald Ribao had just come from breaking Chris Bowling’s winning streak in the previous round, while David Bustillos, a prominent local judge, sat down across from him. The mood was friendly as they rolled the die.

Game 1

Ronald won the die roll and chose to play. He summoned Elemental Hero Prisma, sending Gladiator Beast Laquari to the graveyard with its effect. He set one back row card and passed the run.

David played Heavy Storm, destroying Ronald’s Book of Moon. He then summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked, dealing 400 to Ronald and destroying his Prisma.

Ronald set a monster and one back row and passed it back to David.

David attacked the set monster, Spirit Reaper, and passed the turn.

Ronald took no action and ended his turn. David set a monster and passed again. Ronald then played Cold Wave, which David let go with no reply. He then summoned Gladiator Beast Bestiari, attacking David’s monster Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, and both were destroyed.

David set another back row, on his turn, as did Ronald. David then played Allure of Darkness as his Cyber Dragon stared at Ronald’s Spirit Reaper sadly.

Ronald passed the turn back having set only one new back row card.

David passed it right back with no play.

“Dumb Reaper,” he sighed.

Ronald continued the slow pace with no action, sending it across to David, who also did nothing after filling his back row.

Ronald then started off his next turn with Reinforcement of the Army for Prisma and summoned it but David had Bottomless Trap Hole and Prisma was removed from play. David had little to do on his turn, and it was back to Ronald, who used Premature Burial targeting Prisma. David let it in, and Ronald activated it. David surprised Ronald with Divine Wrath and Prisma was destroyed with no effect. The turn then went to David.

David used his Mystical Space Typhoon on Ronald’s Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, which he chained, putting David’s Cyber Dragon on top of his deck. David continued to stare at Ronald’s Spirit Reaper as it sat there, heedless. David decided to go for a big play with Dark Armed Dragon, and tried to destroy one of Ronald’s back row cards. Ronald responded with Bottomless Trap Hole; David chained Solemn and Ronald wanted to chain Crush Card Virus, but couldn’t chain to the Solemn. Dark Armed attacked, bringing Ronald to 4000.

Ronald set a monster and a back row card and passed.

David destroyed Ronald’s set Cold Wave. He then special summoned a Destiny Hero – Malicious to the field who Ronald let go. David then tributed Malicious for Cyber Dragon and now Ronald chained Torrential Tribute, destroying David’s monsters.

Ronald played his Bestiari, but David had Torrential Tribute.

David played Destiny Draw, then Reinforcement of the Army for Stratos, and summoned him without searching for anything. He then attacked.

Ronald played Monster Reborn returning Bestiari from his graveyard in defense position. He set Gladiator Beast Darius and Fused them to summon Gladiator Beast Gyzarus, destroying David’s back row and attacking Stratos, bringing David to 3400. He then changed Gyzarus into Laquari and Darius, and Darius brought out Bestiari. Ronald passed.

David set a monster and a back row card and passed.

Ronald started off with another Gyzarus Fusion summon, but it was removed by David’s Bottomless Trap Hole. Laquari attacked and destroyed David’s face-down Sangan, which found a Ryko in David’s deck. Ronald passed the turn.

David played Premature Burial trying for Prime Material Dragon, but Solemn Judgment from Ronald stopped it.

Laquari attacked David’s set Destiny Hero - Fear Monger, and then switched out for Darius, which returned another Darius to play.

David used Fear Monger to special summon Disk Commander, drawing 2 cards, then summoned Dark Valkyria, attacking and destroying the first Darius, sending the other one back to Ronald’s deck.

Ronald had Brain Control for David’s Dark Valkyria, and attacked David’s Disk Commander, set Test Tiger, and passed. David attacked it and passed. When Ronald drew his next card, a Dust Tornado, he scooped it up for game 2.

Game 2

The game started with only 11 minutes on the clock, and the players were tense. Ronald chose to play first and started with Prisma again, sending Laquari to the graveyard. David had Heavy Storm on his turn, destroying Ronald’s set Solemn Judgment. He then played Stratos, searching for Malicious and attacking Prisma. David then played Prohibition, naming Bestiari, and passed the turn.

Ronald, now at 7900, played Premature Burial, targeting Laquari, but David removed it with D.D. Crow in response. Ronald set another back row and passed.

David started his turn with an attack and Stratos took Ronald to 5300. Ronald set a monster (Morphing Jar) and a back row on his turn, and passed.

David flip summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter planning on destroying the set monster, but Ronald used Solemn Judgment to stop it, going to 2650. David then summoned Dark Grepher, discarding Malicious to send Destiny Hero – Dasher from his deck to the graveyard. He then special summoned Dark Armed Dragon, but Ronald had another Solemn Judgment to use, going to 1325 life points. David special summoned his Malicious and attacked Stratos into the Morphing Jar refilling the hands of both players. The last attack with Dark Grepher took the game, the life point loss from Solemn Judgment having put Ronald in the red. The players laughed a bit and relaxed, glad at having finished a great match.

Ronald even showed his bottle of vitamin water in his photo. The match had been so good, what could I say?