It all came down to this. Jonathan Labounty, formerly of Team Rampage and now on the new Team YugiohETC was up against arguably the most consistent duelist of this format: Outphase’s Fili Luna. While Labounty was armed with the Cyber Phoenix deck Luna had innovated, Luna was running an aggressive deck built around Crush Card Virus that defied categorization.
For Labounty, this win would be his first, and would be a huge way to kick off the founding of the new team he was a part of. But Luna was hungry for his second Championship win and, after a recent streak of Top 8’s, he’d like nothing better than to take home another title. This was a direly important match for both duelists.
“We don’t need anymore of your kind,” remarked Paul Levitin, addressing Luna from the sidelines with a grin. “We don’t need anymore two-time champions!” Luna and Labounty both laughed, and the tension was clearly broken. This one was for all the glory.
Labounty won the roll and opened with a set card to each zone. Luna special summoned Cyber Dragon, set a spell or trap, and attacked to destroy Gravekeeper’s Spy: Labounty special summoned another in defense and Luna set a monster. “Go ahead.” Labounty was up.
He tributed Gravekeeper’s Spy for Raiza the Storm Monarch, spun Luna’s set monster to the top of his deck, then lost Raiza to Ring of Destruction. Labounty set a second back row card and passed. Cyber Dragon attacked him directly and he took the damage. Luna set his monster again and ended.
“Go ahead.” Labounty passed, Cyber Dragon attacked, and Labounty flipped Scapegoat. Cyber Dragon hit a Sheep and Luna set another monster, then a spell or trap. Labounty set another card to his back row and Luna attacked another Sheep with Cyber Dragon.
Labounty set and activated Trap Dustshoot, sending Jinzo back to Luna’s deck from a hand of Raiza, Dekoichi, and Trap Dustshoot. Luna attacked a Sheep, Labounty summoned Cyber Phoenix, and flipped Torrential Tribute, but both of Luna’s set monsters were Card Troopers! He drew for both, Labounty reeled, passed, and Luna set a monster and Trap Dustshoot. He used the latter during Labounty’s turn to send his only monster, Cyber Dragon, back to his deck. Labounty passed, Luna flip summoned Dekoichi the Battlechanted Locomotive and drew into Gravekeeper’s Guard, the perfect match for his in-hand Crush Card Virus.
Luna had Raiza in his hand, but debated between tributing for him and just attacking with Dekoichi. He attacked first, then tributed for Raiza; the targeted card, Book of Moon, was chained to put Raiza face down in defense.
Labounty flipped Heavy Storm, but Luna chained Mind Crush! It was enough for Labounty to scoop the first duel.
Fili Luna dominates the first game after engineering a huge backfire for Labounty’s Torrential Tribute!
Siding was quick and shuffling even quicker. Labounty opened the second duel with Confiscation, revealing Luna’s hand of Jinzo, Spirit Reaper, Gravekeeper’s Spy, Night Assailant, and Call of the Haunted. Spy was discarded, Labounty set a monster, and Luna set a card to each zone.
Gravekeeper’s Spy was flip summoned by Labounty, who brought out another in defense position with her effect. He summoned Card Trooper, boosted it, and ran his Spy into Spirit Reaper. “Go ahead.”
Luna summoned Card Trooper himself, sending three cards to his graveyard with priority. His Trooper ran over Labounty’s and Luna ended. Labounty summoned Cyber Phoenix, attacked his opponent’s Card Trooper, and set a spell or trap card to finish his turn. Luna set another monster, and then set Mirror Force.
Labounty summoned another Card Trooper and activated Brain Control to target Spirit Reaper, but Luna tributed it on the chain for Crush Card Virus! It cost Labounty his in-hand Cyber Dragon. He set a card to his back row, attacked, and lost both copies of Cyber Phoenix to Mirror Force when he attacked! Labounty heaved a tremendous sigh and ended his turn.
Luna set two cards to his back row and ended. Labounty drew Raiza the Storm Monarch, but had to discard him due to Crush Card Virus! He shook his head and checked his set cards a few times before turning one Spy to attack. She hit Night Assailant, and the Assailant’s effect destroyed the defense position Spy. Desperate, Labounty activated Pot of Avarice to send two Cyber Phoenix, Card Trooper, Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Raiza the Storm Monarch back to his deck. He drew Cyber Dragon and Sangan, losing the Dragon to Crush Card Virus. He set a monster and ended. “Go.”
It was Fili’s turn to activate Pot of Avarice, sending back five monsters to draw Raiza and Premature Burial! He activated Call of the Haunted to special summon Card Trooper, sent three cards to his graveyard to boost its ATK, then attacked over the Gravekeeper’s Spy. Fili was in no rush; with one turn left on Crush Card Virus he wasn’t about to over-extend just yet. “Go.”
Labounty drew Brain Control, summoned Sangan, and attacked Card Trooper. Luna set a monster, set another spell or trap and ended. Premature Burial brought back Jinzo for Labounty, and he attacked into Gravekeeper’s Spy with it: Luna special summoned another from his deck in defense, prompting Labounty to move to main phase 2 and turn his Sangan to defense.
Luna had Snatch Steal, Premature Burial, Gravekeeper’s Spy, Jinzo, and Raiza in his hand. He activated Snatch Steal, targeting Jinzo. He summoned another Spy in attack position, activated Premature Burial for Card Trooper and then fed it three cards. He sent Spy to attack and Labounty scooped it up! His set monster was Treeborn Frog, and would do nothing to defend his life points.
Fili Luna wins the match, the tournament, and his second Shonen Jump Championship! It’s over, and Fili Luna has captured his second title.