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Pojo.com Exclusive: Match 4 of the Battle for North America
September 7, 2005

The tension was ramping up as soon as Team America scratched out their first match win.

Next up for America was Wilson Luc, champion of the best banned team in history, Comic Odyssey. While the other members were busy rigging side events and undermining the integrity of the game, ironically enough their best player managed to keep himself away from the fray. Known as a runner up in a Shonen Jump and a champion at Las Vegas, Wilson is respected by almost everyone in the community.

Jason Tan, on the other hand, is a young up and comer from Canada, a veritable prodigy who was runner up to Dexter at the Canadian nationals. Nicknamed Golden Dragon on the internet, he will be stacking more achievements on his resume in the years to come. “That’s huge!” is a catchphrase that will indubitably catch on in the near future.

Wilson won the roll and elected to proceed.

Luc Turn One: The now familiar opening play of one set in the monster and s/t zone prevailed.

Tan Turn Two: Jason responded by making two unusual plays that led me to question whether he had “gameplanned” (scouted and taken advantage of the intel) Wilson’s deck. He first played MST from hand, hitting Luc’s f/d Ring, then set Sinister for a TER Morph and absorbed the f/d Spirit Reaper. Both plays were unusual and warranted a raised eyebrow. Tan then played Delinquent Duo, hitting Wilson’s Call of the Haunted and Premature Burial. Wilson was playing a form of David Simon’s Airknight control, and losing both of the recursion cards was huge. Only Wilson and I knew it at the time though, so I simply tee heed in glee at the private knowledge.

8000 7000

L3: The game’s tempo had slowed now, and Wilson had taken two cards of advantage in loss. First the Duo hit, then the TER had taken his monster. However, the weakness of Thousand Eyes is that unskilled duelists sometimes do not follow up on advantage; they have no way of ridding themselves of its lockdown effect. The great player will sometimes simply dig in and pass numerous turns; Wilson set a s/t, Jason passed, and Wilson passed again. Voila! Cards were back in hand.

T6: Tan set a monster. He was unable to do anything with the extreme advantage generated in the beginning turns. The players passed three more turns, until Luc’s eleventh! Jason is an excellent player and one of the greatest Canadian duelists as well as a good friend of mine, but my own skills as a player force me to provide the objective truth. Rushing out to an early lead with Duo/monster kill and then passing the next six turns is a tactical mistake. If anything, the TER should not have been brought out unless Tan read Morphing Jar; an early game Duo or Pot without some sort of forced trade-off leads to this type of slow game; when the opponent recovers with his own piece of the trinity, you’ll suffer.

T11: Luc set another monster. I was observing from his point of view; this was, in my view, a tactical mistake UNLESS Luc was hoping to bait out a Tsukuyomi. With Jason holding six cards in hand and Luc holding a Graceful Charity with six cards in hand, the set was not necessary. It was highly likely (75% or higher) that Tan was holding the Tsuku judging by how he was playing the cards. Look at the ramifications of this seemingly innocuous set.
 
T12: Tan summoned Tsuku, then absorbed the f/d Spirit Reaper. This was another negative one in resources; after Tan set a s/t, Wilson was forced to use his end phase Scapegoat.

L13: Luc morphed a Goat, attempted to absorb. It was Ringed, and Luc was forced to play Graceful with no other defensive options to set. He discarded an Airknight and a SORL. He then set a s/t. This was the beginning of an indication to the end for Mr. Luc; he had a terrible hand to begin with, and losing advantage to TER twice and Delinquent Duo, then being forced to play GC without any suitable discards was critical. The SORL discard was forced based on the other cards in hand; if Tan actually pushed his advantage, the game was almost decided.

T14: Tan played a Pot of Greed. At this point, another colossal blunder was reached. He set a s/t and passed, discarding Serpent at the end phase. Such passive plays with such a huge advantage are shocking errors in judgement.

L15: In another indication of his substandard hand, Luc summoned Tribe and discarded Book to hit the TER. Remember in Conspire’s match when I said using Graceful AND Tribe in the same sequence without Sinister telegraphed a horrible hand? It happened again. The Tribe hit into a Spirit Reaper. Luc passed, feeling confident that the goats and Tribe would prevent the next turn discard.

T16: Tan summoned Tsukuyomi, it attacked into Sakuretsu Armor. He set a second s/t.

L17: Luc was paralyzed because of a lack of cards in hand and on field. He set a monster and refused to attack with Tribe (after flipping it up).

T18: Tan crossed out a Sangan. He played Vortex, discarding Serpent. He then attacked with Reaper, discarding a Magician of Faith. The game should have been decided at this point. Tan then set a monster.

L19: Luc had breathed a visible sigh of disbelief when the Magician was discarded. He was now forced to summon BLS, declaring priority to remove Tan’s Magician. Luc then set a monster and ended.

T20: An illustration of the feeble potential of Sakuretsu Armor compared to cards like Ring of Destruction proceeded. Tan was forced to set a third s/t.

L21:  BLS removed Spirit Reaper. It’s advantage was now at 2 for 0 and counting. Luc set a s/t. Tan was forced to pass.

L23: BLS now attacked into a Sakuretsu Armor, generating a three for one trade. Luc set a s/t.

T24: Tan set a monster and ended. He still had lots of advantage but was refusing to press it, falling right into the recovering Luc’s hands.
Turn 19: Summon BLS, declare priority. RFG fd monster. Set a monster, 1 CIH.

L25: Luc flipped Magician. He wisely chose to grab Premature over Graceful Charity. At this point a lesson can be learned; look at the spells in your graveyard instead of simply grabbing Pot or Graceful. There are a few cards that are better than Pot in certain key situations, here’s a brief list: Heavy Storm, Lightning Vortex, Snatch Steal, Premature Burial, Nobleman of Crossout, Swords of Revealing Light, and such. Especially Heavy Storm.

Luc then summoned Asura Priest; he crossed out Sinister and hit for 1700. Tan passed his next turn, again!

7700 5000

L27: Luc smelled blood. After achieving Pot/Duo and generating a Reaper hit and two TER absorbs, Tan had passed almost half his turns! Asura was summoned, it hit into a Book of Moon.

T28: If Tan did not summon a monster to hit Asura, Book would function as a -1. Tan set a monster and a second s/t! +1 for Wilson Luc.

L29: Asura attacked into another Book of Moon. He passed.

T30: The key turn of the game. Tan sacrificed his set Morphing Jar for Jinzo. Perhaps unable to relinquish the feeling of control generated by receiving the Pot/Duo, Tan overextended instead of setting his hand and resetting the game. This was a colossal mistake.

1) Morphing Jar would discard Premature Burial, which was the biggest card in Wilson’s deck now.

2) Jinzo would be destroyed next turn by BLS.

Jinzo hit the Asura Priest and Jason ended.

L31: Luc played Premature Burial. Luc then summoned Asura Priest. A successful hit by Soldier and Asura would end the game. Soldier declared on Jinzo, Tan triggered Scapegoat, and Asura cleared out the Scapegoats. Premature Burial bought Luc two cards (Scapegoat and Jinzo) with more to go.

6900 4400

T32: Tan played a Heavy Storm, triggering Luc’s Scapegoat. He summoned DDWL, which hit the Magician.

L33: Luc played Delinquent Duo. It hit Airknight and DD Assailant. Luc then morphed his Sinister to take DDWL. He hit for 1500.

5900 2900

T34: Tan played Graceful, discarding Crossout and Sakuretsu. He summoned Tribe, discarding Torrential. He hit for 1600. There are a litany of problems with this approach again. 1) Crossout and Sakuretsu are too good to discard just to hit a Thousand Eyes (which locks the board down anyways! 2) Wilson has Asura Priest. 3) There’s no way TER is worth Torrential at this point; Luc can play his monsters at will now.

4300 2900

L35: Luc summoned Asura, hit for 100. He then set a s/t. Tan simply set a monster on his turn.

4300 2800

T37: Asura hit Magician of Faith, which retrieved a Pot.

T38: Tan played Pot; Breaker hit Sakuretsu Armor, then attacked for 1600.

2700 2800

L39: Asura killed Breaker for 100.

2700 2700

T40: This was another crushing misplay. Tan summoned his own Asura Priest, which attacked for 1700. At this point, Tan had a f/d Call of the Haunted on either Jinzo or Airknight Parshath; instead of activating it, Tan simply passed. He was apparently afraid of missing with the Jinzo hit and leaving a clear open field (Asura would return to hand). However, he also had a down Scapegoat!

L41: Luc played Heavy Storm, hitting his own Crossout and Tan’s COTH and Scapegoat, which was chained. Luc then set a monster and a s/t.

T42: Tan played Asura, hitting the f/d Sinister. He then set a s/t. Luc simply set a monster, which was found to be DDWL when Tan attacked it next turn. It RFGed.

L45: Luc set another monster and a s/t. Tan simply set a monster, Luc then set another monster and a third s/t! This was a shrinking game; both duelists receded with low lifepoints.

T48: Tan set a s/t which was end phased MST; it was a Snatch Steal.

Luc then flipped his Morphing Jar; Tan decked out!

Wilson Luc snatches game one out of Tan’s hands! Tan begins the next game.

T1: Tan set a s/t and ended.

L2: Smelling a Scapegoat, Luc summoned Asura Priest and attacked for 1700. He then set 2 s/t (Spirit monsters force extra sets).

6300 8000

T3: Tan set a second s/t and ended. At this point, realizing that Asura was in hand, the second s/t represented a genuine threat. There was no way a player would set a second s/t with no monster and simply end.

L4: Of course Luc knew this, so he summoned Breaker this time. It was Torrentialed, a great trade, and Luc could again summon with impunity for the rest of the duel.

T5: Defenses were running low; Tan played a Graceful and discarded Tribe and Sakuretsu Armor. He then played Wave Motion and set a third s/t.

L6: Luc summoned Asura Priest which attacked for another 1700.

4600 8000

T7: Tan passed, WMC at one.

L8: At this point, Tan played one of the best sideboard tech cards in the game, Mind Crush! He called Asura Priest (why didn’t he play it last turn to save 1700 damage?) Luc summoned the next safest play, Sangan, to attack a Scapegoat.

T9: Tan summoned Tsukuyomi and then Crossed out Sangan. It attacked into a Scapegoat. Luc passed his next turn.

T11: Tan played a Pot. He summoned DDWL to hit another goat. WMC was at 3 and was a huge threat at this point.

L12: Luc flipped Metamorphosis; he took a DDWL and attacked a goat. He then set a monster.

T13: Tan launched Wave Motion Cannon. He morphed his own goat, taking Thousand Eyes. It took the f/d, then he sacrificed for Jinzo. Premature on Tribe cleared all Spellcasters and Beasts, and Tan attacked for another 4000 for game! 

Jason Tan stunningly seizes game two in seven turns! Luc opens game three. 

L1: Luc opened with a set, telegraphing Scapegoat. 

T2: Tan’s Asura Priest was wiped out by Ring of Destruction. Tan set a s/t and ended.

6300 6300 

L3: Luc set a s/t and ended. The duelists passed the next three turns. 

L7: Luc set a s/t, Tan set a s/t. 

L9: Luc played Graceful, discarding Torrential and Premature. He set a monster. Tan crossed it out and then passed. All Magicians were removed from game. 

L11: Luc set a monster, Tan crossed out a second Magician, and passed. 

L13: Luc set a third s/t, Tan set a third s/t, Luc pitched a Sinister at end phase on his next turn (which means he passed). 

T16: Tan summoned a Sangan which attacked a Scapegoat. Luc set a monster, pitched Sinister at the end phase. Both players hands were mighty full of cards. 

T18: Sangan attacks the f/d Tsukuyomi. He then sets a fourth s/t.

6300 5900 

L19: Luc flips Heavy Storm. He chains Ring, Tan chains Mind Crush, calling Metamorphosis. There was no morph in his hand and so Tan lost a Mind Crush. The Metamorphosis was a f/d bluff! Great call by Jason, but tough luck. Tan’s Sangan retrived Sinister Serpent. DDWL is summoned, attacks for 1500.

5300 3400 

T20: Tan sets a s/t and passes. 

L21: DDWL attacks into Scapegoat. He then sets a s/t and pitches Sinister at the end phase. 

T22: Tan morphs a goat, absorbs DDWL, then attacks a goat. He sets a s/t. Luc plays Dust Tornado at the end phase. 

L23: Luc returns Sinister, pitches it after his pass. 

T24: Tan plays Graceful, discarding Sinister and Jinzo and then passes. 

L25: Luc sets a monster. 

T26: Tan plays Heavy Storm. He then morphs again, taking the f/d Tsukuyomi. He plays a Wave Motion Cannon. 

L27: Luc plays his Pot of Greed (held for over five turns because of so many cards in hand!) He then MST’s Tan’s f/d Sakuretsu Armor. He pitches Sinister for TER and Tsuku for Scapegoat. The dark from Tsuku lets him summon Soldier. The two attack for game. 

Tan is under pressure as game four begins. A win by Luc and the series goes to the fifth and final match! 

T1: Tan summons Sangan and sets a s/t. This is one of the strongest openings in the game. 

L2: Luc plays Delinquent. He hits Crossout randomly, then Tan pitches Call. Luc takes a risk and sets his Serpent (figuring Tan can’t have the second one) and a s/t.

8000 7000 

T3: Tan hits a f/d Sinister. Luc sets another monster. 

T5: Tan wisely summons DDWL. However, it attacks into a f/d Sinister Serpent. Instead of attacking with Sangan, he moves it to defense.  

L6: Luc sets a s/t. 

T7: Tan can push with the Sangan here (a Mirror Force would be a one for one). He simply attacks with his fresh summoned DDA, losing the chance to do 1700 damage. End phase Dust Tornado by Luc reveals a bluff. 

L8: Luc plays Morph, using his own Sinister. It takes DDA, which then hits Sangan, which then searches out Tan’s Sinister. Luc sets a s/t. 

T9: Tan plays Graceful, pitching Sinister and Swords. He sets a second s/t. Luc simply attacks a goat next turn and passes.  

T11: Tan end phases Luc’s Call of the Haunted and sets a s/t.  

L12: Luc’s TEr attacks into a Sakuretsu. He sets a s/t. 

T13: Tan summons some sideboard tech, King Tiger Wanghu. It hits for 1700.

8000 5300 

L14: Luc summons Tribe. It gets a 2 for 1, discarding Sinister to hit KTW and all Scapegoats. He attacks for 1600.

6400 5300 

T15: Tan summons Breaker. Instead of attacking TIV (perhaps the better play), he breaks Premature and hits into Tribe. He plays Delinquent Duo, hitting Asura and Mobius, but leaving no monster on the board.

5400 5300 

L16: Luc summons an Asura and hits for 1700.

3700 5300 

T17: Tan sets one of each. 

L18: Luc summons BLS, rfging Sinister. Asura hits for 1700.

2000 5300 

T19: Tan plays Snatch Steal, which is huge, and also summons King Tiger. They attack for 3700.

2000 1600 

L20: Luc rips a Snatch Steal for game. He would have lost otherwise, proving that even the best can get a little lucky.

Wilson Luc takes down Jason Tan 3-1 to force the series into a fifth and deciding match!