While T was off duking it out with Chris Bowling’s Diamond Dude Turbo deck, history was being made on the other side of the bracket. Michael Songloke and Brian Hanley, two players with little to no SJC experience, have made their way to the semifinals piloting Demise OTK. One of these players was guaranteed to make it through to the finals, ensuring that a Demise player would take home a Crush Card Virus today for the first time in the main event.
Michael won the opening roll and started out with Sonic Bird to fetch Advanced Ritual Art from his deck. He set two spell or trap cards and passed back to Brian, who had a hand full of nothing. Two Doom Dozers, Insect Knight, Metal Armored Bug, Giant Trunade, and Advanced Ritual Art do not make a winning hand. Still, Brian kept his chin up and summoned Insect Knight to dispose of Michael’s Bird before setting his Trunade and passing. Michael activated Jar of Greed and then set a spell or trap before passing. Brain drew into Neo Bug, and flipped his Giant Trunade, forcing Michael to chain with Threatening Roar. He added Neo Bug to his field and passed back to Michael, who apparently wasn’t getting much in the way of card quality either.
Michael set a pair of spell or traps, and Brian drew into Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. He summoned it, but Michael flipped Torrential Tribute! The field was clear of monsters, but Brian got to search out Demise, King of Armageddon before they went. He activated Advanced Ritual Art, sending Neo Bug and Insect Knight to the graveyard to summon Demise and activated his effect. Michael had another threatening Roar however, and it kept him in the game! Michael drew and was visibly pleased with his topdeck. He summoned a Manju of his own to fetch Demise, King of Armageddon and activated Contract with the Abyss to summon him. He activated Demise to clear the field and then activated Premature Burial to pull back the Metal Armored Bug he had sent to the graveyard for Contract with the Abyss. Brian was dropped to 800, and Michael set Ring of Destruction, sealing the game on Brian’s draw. Michael pulls out game 1 thanks to his main decked Threatening Roars!
Despite winning game 1, Michael was in a bit of a tight spot now that Brian had access to his side deck. Brian actually had a fair number of cards to side in the event of a mirror match, and he got to go first and set them. Brian started with Senju of the Thousand Hands to fetch Shinato, King of a Higher Plane. He then set a spell or trap and passed over to Michael, who brought the beats with Neo Bug. Enemy Controller stopped the Bug’s attack, and Michael activated Swords of Revealing Light before setting a spell or trap. Heavy Storm came down for Brian, and Michael chained Jar of Greed. Another Senju came down for Brian, this time fetching Demise, and he activated Advanced Ritual Art to bring out Shinato. A pair of Neo Bugs were sent to the graveyard in the process, and we moved to the battle phase. Shinato punished the defense position Neo Bug by burning Michael for 1800, while the Senjus attacked directly. Michael fired back with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to fetch Demise, and he activated Advanced Ritual Art to summon him, sending Metal Armored Bug to the graveyard. Demise cleared the field of everything but himself and Metamorphosis turned Demise into Cyber Twin Dragon! Cyber Twin hit for 5600 and Michael set a spell or trap. Mystical Space Typhoon targeted the set Threatening Roar next turn, but Michael chained it to shut Brian down for a turn. Sonic Bird came down to fetch Advanced Ritual Art for Brian, and he activated it to summon his Demise. Metal Armored Bug was sent to the graveyard, and Brian paid to clear the field. He couldn’t attack, however, and set Royal Decree before ending. Michael drew his last card, and conceded the second game, bringing this mirror match down to the wire!
Neither player had seen any side deck cards last game. Pulling the Rug would be huge if it came up in this last game, and each player really hoped the other wouldn’t have it. Michael had the option to go first, and he took it, starting things off with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to get Advanced Ritual Art. He set a pair of spells or traps and passed over to Brian who set a monster and a pair of spells or traps before ending. Insect Knight came down for Michael next turn, attacking Sangan and prompting Brian to fetch Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands. Michael’s Manju then attacked directly, and play returned to Brian. Brian summoned his Manju and activated, but lost it to Pulling the Rug! Brian passed and Michael got a turn of free direct attacks in before setting a monster and passing. Brian drew and summoned Neo Bug. He declared an attack on Manju but lost the Bug to Ring of Destruction. There was nothing to be done and in the next turn Michael attacked directly to win the game!