This is Jerry Wang’s third Top 8 Shonen Jump Championship showing. He also made the Top 8 at Shonen Jumps Chicago and Boston. This third Top 8 appearance puts him in the leagues of the greatest, most consistent duelists of all time, and this might finally be his day. If he’s studied Austin’s deck and his tactics yesterday, this might be a very short match. After a motivational hug from teammate Anthony Alvarado, Wang sat and began shuffling his deck.

“Do you want to roll highest?” asked Austin. Wang nodded, and Austin rolled a five.

“Wait, let’s do lowest . . . ” Wang tossed the die, and rolled a six. “No, wait! I mean highest!” He opted to open the first duel.

“I don’t like this card, I don’t like this card . . .” Wang drew his cards one by one. “I don’t like my hand.” He set one spell or trap early, and then shuffled his hand a bit. He set one monster without removing his finger from it, took it back, and then opted to set a different one. “End my turn.”

Austin played Exiled Force, tributed it to destroy Magician of Faith, and then set two cards in his back row. Wang summoned Don Zaloog, attacked with it, and was repelled by Magic Cylinder. It was 8000 to 6600 in Austin’s favor. Austin set a monster, activated Level Limit – Area B to turn Zaloog to defense, and then set a third card in his back row. He passed his turn and Wang debated flipping his set card. It was Dust Tornado, and he decided not to flip it.

He drew, played Reinforcement of the Army, and debated his choice. “Do you have Lava Golem in your hand…? Takin’ my chance, takin’ my chance…” He pulled Mystic Swordsman LV2, an obviously precious card in the match, and brought it to the table. Dust Tornado hit Level Limit - Area B, Mystic Swordsman LV2 attacked and was hit by Book of Moon, and Don Zaloog hit the face down monster. Magician of Faith flipped, and Austin took back Level Limit – Area B. Wang set a spell or trap and passed.

The Level Limit came down, again shifting Don Zaloog. Austin set a third card to his back row yet again, and ended. Wang tributed Mystic Swordsman LV2 for Mobius the Frost Monarch, targeting Level Limit - Area B and Austin’s freshest set. Austin chained the targeted card, Ceasefire, and then chained Torrential Tribute. It was his one card in hand to Wang’s three, and a set card.

Austin drew, set a monster, and passed. Wang drew, played Premature Burial, and debated his pull. He took Mystic Swordsman LV2, attacked with it, and cleared out Cyber Jar! It was a huge blow to Austin, who would now need another backup plan to regain lost ground. He drew, and again did nothing but set a monster. Wang attacked it with Mystic Swordsman LV2, destroying Mask of Darkness, and passed. Austin had nothing, passed back, and Wang made him eat the Swordsman’s blade.

It was nothing but bad things for Austin. He drew, set one card in his spell and trap zone, and ended. It was 4800 to 7100 with him still in the lead, but he’d lost major momentum. A turn later he was taking another direct attack from Mystic Swordsman LV2. Wang just couldn’t draw another monster, packing a hand full of spells and a Cyber Dragon.

“Your go,” Austin was again forced to pass his turn, now sitting on three in-hand cards and the same set spell or trap he had placed on the field a few turns before. The Swordsman swung again, and in the end phase Austin flipped Ojama Trio. It resolved, Wang’s turn ended, and Austin drew. Once again, he set one card to his back row and looked at his hand, shaking his head. The Swordsman was keeping him pinned to the wall.

He opted not to summon, and ended his turn. Wang quickly summoned Spirit Reaper, attacked with it, and Austin was forced to discard Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. Mystic Swordsman LV2 attacked directly again, and it was 4800 to 4100.

Austin summoned Lava Golem on Wang’s side of the field, but Wang played Torrential Tribute! He took the damage from the Ojama tokens, Austin played Level Limit - Area B, and passed. Wang drew, played Pot of Avarice, and shuffled back his monsters. Austin had only one card in hand, a Level Limit – Area B and a set card in his back row. Once Pot resolved, Wang had a full hand and a set back row card. He summoned another Spirit Reaper, attacked with it to force Austin to discard Stealth Bird, and set a second spell or trap. Austin was again forced to pass, and again lost his only card in hand, another Lava Golem. Wang set another monster and ended.

“That’s it, that’s the Lava Golems gone.” Austin set a monster off his draw and passed. Wang flipped Old Vindictive Magician, destroyed Austin’s set Stealth Bird, and Austin flipped Ojama Trio to clog Wang’s field. Both Reaper and the Magician attacked directly.

Austin played Wave-Motion Cannon, but was down to 2000 life points after another attack from Reaper and Magician. Wang tributed the Magician for Mobius, destroyed the Wave-Motion Cannon and Level Limit, Mobius went to defense position, and Wang attacked with the Reaper again. Austin went to 1700, while Wang sat at 3900. Next turn Austin set a spell or trap card and ended.

Wang attacked with Mobius, and Austin flipped his freshly set card. It was Just Desserts, and though it reduced Wang to 1400 life points, Mobius’s attack resolved and Austin was knocked below zero.

Jerry Wang wins the first duel!

Sure enough, Austin made good on his stated plan, and slipped his entire side deck into his main. He eliminated fifteen cards one by one as Wang debated his rotations. Wang was effectively side decking blind. He’d have no idea which version of Austin’s deck he’d be facing.

Austin made the obvious choice to open. He set two spell or trap cards, making Wang utter a curse. Wang seemed to know that Austin had rotated to Cyber-Stein. He set one monster and passed play to Wang.

He summoned Spirit Reaper, played Nobleman of Crossout on Austin’s face down and hit Stealth Bird. Reaper attacked directly, but was blocked by Scapegoat. “You put in the Burn AND the Stall, didn’t you?” asked Wang. He ended his turn, leaving Austin with all four Sheep. Austin opted not to make a play on his turn. Wang set another monster and passed right back.

A set monster completed Austin’s filled field on the following turn, and again, Wang made a displeased comment. Of course, he’s from Team Overdose, so you never really know if he was honestly perturbed or acting. He summoned Exiled Force, tributed it to destroy the face down monster on Austin’s side, and destroyed Nimble Momonga. “I knew it was Cyber-Stein . . . shoot.”

Austin set another monster, and Wang summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior. He shot its counter at Austin’s lone set card, prompting Austin to flip it, revealing Secret Barrel. Wang took 1400, Breaker attacked the face down monster, found it to be Cannon Soldier, and destroyed it in battle. Wang ended his turn and Austin was left with four Sheep tokens and a ton of cards in hand.

Megamorph hit Austin’s side of the field, attached to Wang’s Spirit Reaper to blow it away. He set two spell or trap cards, set a monster, and passed. In Wang’s draw phase he flipped Ojama Trio, filling Wang’s field. Breaker attacked the face down monster, flipping and destroying Morphing Jar to load Austin with a new hand. Wang whispered a curse yet again, and set another back row card.

Austin set another back row card, bumping himself back up to two total. He set another monster and ended. Wang attacked it with Breaker again, and this time hit Stealth Bird, taking some battle damage in return. In the second main phase, Wang flipped Smashing Ground to destroy the Bird, and set another spell or trap to replace it. The life point totals were 6500 to 8000 in Austin’s favor.

Another set monster hit the field on Austin’s side, and he set two spell or trap cards. Wang destroyed the last one in his end phase with Mystical Space Typhoon, costing Austin Torrential Tribute. Breaker attacked the face down monster yet again, destroying Sangan and sending Austin off to fetch Dekoichi. Austin set a monster, Breaker attacked it once more, and Nimble Momonga flipped. Austin went up to 9000, and he brought out another squirrel in face down defense. Wang set yet another spell or trap and ended.

Surprise! Austin didn’t set another monster due to lack of space. And Breaker didn’t swing at the Momonga. Huzzah for variety! Wang set a spell or trap card, Austin set a spell or trap card and play passed back to Wang.

Wang flip summoned Sangan, and activated Torrential Tribute to clear the field. Austin chained Secret Barrel, dishing out 3900 damage total! It knocked Wang down to 2600 life points, while Austin still sat at a comfortable 9000!

Sangan fetched Don Zaloog for Wang, and it attacked directly without interruption. Exiled Force was discarded, Wang set two more spell and traps, and passed.

“Trunade. Anything?” Austin placed Trunade on the table. Wang chained Call of the Haunted to bring back Sangan, and chained Book of Moon to flip Don into defense position. Sangan was sent to the graveyard after being forcibly detached from Call, and Wang pulled Spirit Reaper with its effect. Austin dropped Cyber-Stein to the field, paid 5000 life points, and brought out Cyber End Dragon! The Dragon pressed into Zaloog with its pierce effect, Austin dropped Limiter Removal in the damage step, and the second duel was won!

The match stood at one to one.

“I thought this game would be short!” confessed Wang with good-natured cheer. “It turned out totally opposite.” Both players took their time side decking.

Wang again took the loser’s right to open. He set two spells or traps and a monster, passed, and Austin carefully considered his hand. He eventually decided to match Wang’s play, with two back row cards and a set monster.

Reinforcement of the Army was flipped on Wang’s side of the table, and with its effect he took Exiled Force from his deck. He then played Heavy Storm form hand, forcing Austin to flip Ceasefire and lose his Book of Moon. Wang lost 1000, flipped his set Don Zaloog, and Austin flipped his set Sangan. Wang summoned Mystic Swordsman LV2, attacked Sangan with it, and Austin used Sangan’s effect to take Cyber-Stein from his deck. Zaloog swung directly for 1400, and Austin shuffled his hand carefully.

Wang selected one of Austin’s cards and asked the table judge to flip it for him. It was Dark Hole, not the Cyber-Stein he had hoped for. The life point totals stood at 7000 for Wang to 6600 for Austin.

“You have three cards in your hand?” asked Austin. “Is one of them an Exiled?”

“No it’s not!” snapped Wang. He was visibly lying, and did in fact have one in his hand.

Austin took the gamble. He obviously didn’t have Megamorph or Limiter Removal, but he needed to act. He summoned Cyber-Stein, paid 5000, brought out Cyber Twin Dragon, attacked both of Wang’s monsters with it, hit with Cyber-Stein, and passed.

Wang brought out the Exiled. It attacked the Stein, and then tributed itself to destroy Cyber Twin Dragon. His field was wide open, but so was Austin’s, who had only 1300 life points left. Wang had 3700. Austin set one monster and passed.

“Oh, topdeck,” declared Wang. He summoned Mystic Swordsman LV2, used Premature Burial to bring back Don Zaloog, and attacked with the Swordsman. It destroyed Austin’s face down monster, Don Zaloog attacked directly, and Austin went down to -100!

“You’d better win,” said Austin, shaking Wang’s hand.

Jerry Wang of Team Overdose moves on to the semifinals!