Each of these Duelists has already appeared in a feature match today, but this matchup was too good to pass up.

Togores got the Match started with a hand of “Icarus Attack,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow,” “Book of Moon,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn.” He Set “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Set Bottomless, and ended.

Brown sent “Burial from a Different Dimension,” “Necro Gardna,” and “Allure of Darkness” to the Graveyard with “Charge of the Light Brigade,” searching his Deck for “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He discarded her for “Solar Recharge,” drew two, and sent “Chaos Sorcerer” and “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind” to the Graveyard. Then he Normal Summoned “Dark Grepher,” discarded “Necro Gardna,” and sent “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” to his Graveyard. “Dark Grepher” attacked, destroying “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and a face-down card Set to the Spell & Trap Card Zone ended Brown’s first turn.

Togores Summoned Sirocco, attacked, and Brown used a “Necro Gardna.” Togores Set another Spell or Trap Card, ended, and play was to Brown.

Brown discarded another “Necro Gardna” to kick Sirocco from his Deck to this Graveyard, and removed that and Vayu to Special Summon “Blackwing Armed Wing.” Togores used “Bottomless Trap Hole,” but Brown Chained “Icarus Attack,” Tributing Armed Wing to clear the field. A Set monster and Set card to the back row ended Brown’s turn.

Togores Summoned Vayu, attacked with it, and ran into “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” Its effect sent “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn,” “Heavy Storm,” and “Brain Control” to Brown’s Graveyard, destroying Vayu with Ryko’s effect. Togores Set another back row card to end. Brown set the same. Togores removed Vayu and Sirocco from his Graveyard, Summoned “Blackwing Armed Wing,” and attacked. Next turn Brown Normal Summoned Sirocco, activated its effect to buff up its ATK, and attacked. But Togores used “Book of Moon” to flip Sirocco face-down!

A Set monster finished that turn, and play was back to Togores. He Normal Summoned “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame,” attacked, but the field was again cleared by “Icarus Attack”! Togores set another card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone.

Brown attacked with “Chaos Sorcerer” and lost his monster to “Mirror Force.” He Set a Spell or Trap, and took 1700 damage from “Blackwing – Bora the Spear” next turn. Brown had 4000 Life Points, while Togores still had 8000. Brown passed and Togores attacked again.

“What am I at, 4000 Life Points?” asked Brown. “I’ll take 1700.”

He did not in fact take 1700 damage! Togores threw down a pair of Blackwing – Kaluts, and Brown took a whole lot more – 4500 damage total. Play swiftly moved to Duel 2.

Double Kalut brings a back-and-forth Duel home for Rodrigo Togores, who was now just one win away from a shot at Day 2!

Brown opened the second Duel with “Solar Recharge,” discarding “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin” to draw two cards and sending “My Body As A Shield” and “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” to his Graveyard. He Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” discarded a second Vayu, and brought back “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin.” He Set a card to his back row, then sent “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” “Legendary Jujitsu Master,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Dark Grepher,” and Burial to his Graveyard in the End Phase.

Togores activated “Black Whirlwind,” then Normal Summoned “Blackwing – Bora the Spear” to search his Deck for Blackwing – Vayu, adding it to his hand of “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow,” “Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North,” another Bora, and “Lightning Vortex.” Bora attacked Lumina, destroying her, and Togores ended.

Brown Summoned Blackwing – Gale, halved Bora’s ATK and DEF with Gale’s effect, and attacked, but Togores activated Kalut in the Damage Step. Bora went to 2250 ATK and Gale was destroyed. Togores started running some major numbers, doing calculations on pen and paper at a frightening pace. Jain sent another Burial, and “Necro Gardna,” to Brown’s Graveyard in the End Phase.

Togores Summoned “Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North,” and Brown blasted him with “Torrential Tribute” – he couldn’t let Togores get a Blackwing from his Deck and a Synchro Summon. Togores still had his Kalut though, which he played in Defense Position. Brown ran it over with Sirocco next turn, and Set a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. Play was back to Togores.

Togores Summoned Sirocco, but once again Brown had the “Icarus Attack” to clear the field, including Togores’ “Black Whirlwind.”

On Brown’s turn, “Charge of the Light Brigade” sent another Charge, “Threatening Roar,” and “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin” to the Graveyard, netting Brown “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He added her to his hand, going to three cards. He then removed Vayu and Sirocco to Special Summon “Blackwing Armed Wing,” then Normal Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie.”

He Tuned the Plaguespreader to Armed Wing, Synchro Summoned “Colossal Fighter,” and it hit the field with 3200 ATK! “Colossal Fighter” attacked and Togores dropped to 4800 Life Points. Brown ended with two cards still in hand.

Togores drew to five in hand: “Icarus Attack,” “Brain Control,” “Blackwing – Bora the Spear,” “Lightning Vortex,” and “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor.” He Set Vayu, Icarus, and “Brain Control,” but lost Vayu to “Colossal Fighter’s” next attack. Brown Set another monster.

Togores drew “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He Summoned “Blackwing – Bora the Spear,” attacked Brown’s face-down monster, and it was revealed to be “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” It destroyed Togores’ face-down “Brain Control” and got Brown another Sirocco in the Graveyard. Togores Set Bottomless, and when Brown Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” next turn and tried to destroy the “Bottomless Trap Hole,” Togores chained “Icarus Attack” to destroy Lyla and “Colossal Fighter.”

Brown removed Armed Wing and Vayu from his Graveyard, Special Summoning “Blackwing Armor Master.” Armor Master was removed by “Bottomless Trap Hole.” Brown kept pressing, activating Burial to send Armed Wing and two Vayu back to his Graveyard.

He removed Armed Wing and Vayu for “Blackwing Armor Master,” removed another Vayu and Sirocco for “Blackwing Armed Wing,” and Togores only had 4800 Life Points left – the exact total of Armed Wing and Armor Master’s combined ATK! That clinched it: we had one more Duel left in the Day, and Togores would start first.

Togores started with “Heavy Storm,” “Mind Crush,” “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” “Book of Moon,” “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame,” and “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor.” He Summoned Shura and Set “Mind Crush.”

Brown discarded “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” for “Solar Recharge,” drawing two cards and sending “Torrential Tribute” and Blackwing – Vayu to the Graveyard. He Normal Summoned Blackwing – Gale, halved Shura’s ATK and DEF, and attacked to destroy it. He Set a back row card and ended.

Togores drew “Icarus Attack,” and Set it alongside Vayu. He lost his “Icarus Attack” and “Mind Crush” to Brown’s “Icarus Attack” in the End Phase. Brown Summoned “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn,” attacked Vayu, and Set another back row card. Togores drew “Black Whirlwind.”

He activated “Heavy Storm,” destroying Brown’s second “Icarus Attack.” He activated “Black Whirlwind,” Normal Summoned Blackwing – Gale, and searched his Deck for a Vayu. Togores halved Sirocco’s ATK and DEF with Gale’s effect, attacked, and Set another Spell or Trap.

Brown removed Sirocco and Vayu from his Graveyard for “Blackwing Armed Wing,” then Normal Summoned “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin.” Jain attacked Gale, destroyed it, and when Armed Wing attacked, Togores flipped “Book of Moon” to turn it face-down. Jain sent “Legendary Jujitsu Master” and “Charge of the Light Brigade” to Brown’s Graveyard in the End Phase.

Togores Summoned Sirocco as time was called. Whirlwind let him get “Blackwing – Bora the Spear,” which he Special Summoned. The Duel stood at 7700 Life Points to 6750, with Brown leading.

Togores sent Bora to attack the Defense Position “Blackwing Armed Wing,” pounding through 700 Battle Damage. Sirocco then attacked over Jain for another 200 damage. Togores ended, Brown activated “Burial From a Different Dimension,” and he sent Blackwing – Vayu and Sirocco back to his Graveyard. He removed Vayu and Armed Wing to Special Summon “Blackwing Armor Master,” set two cards to his Spell & Trap Card Zone, and activated “Allure of Darkness” – no help there, as he sent two cards to his Graveyard that were not immediately of use. Armor Master attacked Sirocco, and Brown just needed Togores to not draw a monster if he was going to win on time.

Togores did: “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame.” He Summoned it, searched his Deck for Blackwing – Kalut with Whirlwind’s effect, and removed Vayu and Sirocco for “Blackwing Armed Wing.”

Shura attacked over Armor Master with a little help from Kalut! Shura’s effect Special Summoned another Kalut from Togores’ Deck, and Armed Wing, Bora, and Kalut dropped Brown to 400 Life Points. Brown drew and offered the handshake.

Rodrigo Togores finishes 8-2 in today’s tournament, and may make it to Day 2!