Cesar Gonzalez is from Springfield, Massachusetts and plays for Team Bangfield. At seventeen years of age, he’s a student and bothered me all day for a feature match. Now, with an on-the-bubble record and facing down Anthony “Big Shark” Alvarado, he’s getting his wish.

Gonzalez won the opening roll and began the match with a set card to each zone. Alvarado fired back with the same, then added another set spell or trap: he lost his Enemy Controller to Mystical Space Typhoon in the end phase. Gonzalez activated Nobleman of Crossout in his first main phase, removed Magician of Faith from Alvarado’s side of the field, and two copies total were removed on each side of the field. He set a card to each zone and passed, but lost his Mirror Force in the end phase to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Alvarado set a spell or trap, passed, Gonzalez passed, Alvarado passed, Gonzalez passed, and Alvarado summoned Sangan to trigger his own Torrential Tribute. Torrential destroyed Treeborn frog and Night Assailant on Gonzales’s side. Alvarado took his Treeborn with Sangan, passed, Gonzalez set a second spell or trap, passed, and Alvarado flipped Heavy Storm: Gonzales chained Scapegoat. He lost one to Cyber Dragon. Alvarado set a monster, and play passed to Gonzalez.

He summoned Cyber-Stein, used its effect to bring out Cyber Twin Dragon, gave it Megamorph, and then attacked twice for game! The duel was over in about three minutes, and both duelists set to some quick side decking.

Alvarado opened with Confiscation, revealing Gonzalez’s hand: Nobleman of Crossout, Snatch Steal, Cyber Dragon, Breaker the Magical Warrior, and Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive. An opening hand doesn’t get much better than that, barring Graceful Charity and Confiscation. He wound up discarding the Nobleman. He set a monster and passed.

Gonzalez brought out Cyber Dragon, attacked into Alvarado’s set Magician of Faith, and Alvarado took back Confiscation. Gonzalez had drawn into Confiscation himself, and activated it to rob Alvarado of his! He set a monster and passed.

Alvarado special summoned Cyber Dragon after a lot of thought. He rammed his into Gonzalez’s to destroy both, set a card to each zone, and passed. In Gonzalez’s draw phase he flipped Ceasefire, negating Gonzalez’s set Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive and revealing his own Treeborn Frog. Gonzalez set a monster and passed. Next turn Alvarado tributed his Frog for Cyber Dragon, set a spell or trap, and passed.

Gonzalez flipped Magician of Faith, taking back Confiscation. It cost Alvarado his last in-hand card, Snatch Steal, and Gonzalez summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior. He had two more cards in hand, and Alvarado fingered his set Enemy Controller for a while before using it to tribute Cyber Dragon and take Breaker the Magical Warrior.  Gonzalez just passed and took it back. The Big Shark seemed to be running out of steam.

He returned his Frog to the field in defense position and debated how best to use his draw for the turn: Mystic Tomato. He summoned it, ran over Magician of Faith, and passed. Gonzalez took it next turn with Snatch Steal, rammed it into Treeborn frog, and attacked directly with Breaker the Magical Warrior before setting a monster. Gonzalez lost that set monster, Magician of Faith, to Nobleman of Crossout on the next turn, and Alvarado passed with nothing but Treeborn Frog in defense. He had nothing left in hand.

Gonzalez tributed the Tomato for Cyber Dragon, attacked with Breaker the Magical Warrior, and hit directly with Cyber dragon for 2100. Alvarado took back his Frog, passed without using his topdecked card, and Gonzalez inspected his graveyard. He summoned Spirit Reaper, used Breaker to clear out the Frog, and hit directly with both Reaper and Cyber Dragon to discard Alvarado’s Breaker the Magical Warrior. Alvarado drew Book of Moon, set it, and passed with his Treeborn out yet again. Breaker hit it next turn, and while Book of Moon held off Cyber Dragon there was simply nothing Alvarado could do. It was all over a turn later!

Cesar Gonzalez moves on with a great chance at making Day 2, while Anthony Alvarado will need a combination of prayer and amazing tie breakers in order to make Top 8.