Lightsworn versus Blackwings may be the defining Match of this event, and we have an example of this head-to-head for this Match. Joe Torres is running Lightsworn, while Benjamin Sager is packing a teched out Blackwing build complete with “Blackwing – Mistral the Silver Shield.” “Mistral is Captain Amazing,” remarked Sager. “I can search all the way down the chain with “Black Whirlwind,” even Summoning Vayu to get Mistral. He’s a Tuner, he’s got 1800 DEF – it’s a great card.” Hopefully we’d see it in action here!

Torres opened the Match with “Solar Recharge,” discarding “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk” to send “Royal Decree” and “Monster Reincarnation” to the Graveyard. He activated “Charge of the Light Brigade” next, sending “Judgment Dragon,” another Charge, and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard. He got Garoth from his Deck and Special Summoned Wulf. He Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” discarded Garoth, and Special Summoned it. He Set a card to his back row, then drew a card with Garoth’s ability to finish out.

Sager had a hand of “D.D. Crow,” “Blackwing – Blizzard the Far North,” “Allure of Darkness,” “Black Whirlwind,” “Book of Moon,” and “Royal Oppression.” He activated Allure to draw “Icarus Attack” and “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame.” He thought a moment about what to remove for Allure’s effect. Since he knew that Torres has scored a strong start and had “Judgment Dragon” in his Graveyard with copies of “Monster Reincarnation” likely remaining in his Deck, “D.D. Crow” would be important. He removed Blizzard and kept the Crow, Normal Summoned Blackwing – Shura, and searched his Deck for “Blackwing – Bora the Spear.”

He attacked Lumina with Shura, destroyed her, and Special Summoned “Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor” in Defense Position. He Set “Icarus Attack,” then “Royal Oppression,” and ended.

Torres Tributed Garoth to Summon “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” sending four cards to his Graveyard for her effect. He targeted “Black Whirlwind” and Shura trying to destroy them, but Sager Chained “Icarus Attack” and Tributed the Shura! He targeted Celestia and Wulf for destruction, but Torres in turn Chained “My Body As A Shield”! “Icarus Attack” was negated, Celestia and Wulf survived, and Celestia’s attack destroyed “Black Whirlwind.”

To make matters more interesting, one of the four cards Celestia sent to the Graveyard was “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast.” Its effect activated, Sager Chained “Royal Oppression” to try and negate Wulf’s Special Summon, and Torres Chained “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy Oppression! But that wasn’t all: Sager then Chained “D.D. Crow’s” effect to target Wulf, and ripped it out of the Graveyard to stop it from being Summoned anyways! Two big Chains in one turn – the cards were really flying in this one. The first Wulf attacked the remaining Vayu, and Celestia made a direct attack for 2300 damage.

Sager Normal Summoned “Blackwing – Bora the Spear,” attacked Celestia, then activated “Book of Moon” to turn Celestia face-down. Torres took 1500 damage and Sager Set his last card to his back row.

Torres Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” attacked Bora, and activated “Honest’s” effect to destroy Bora. Wulf made a direct attack and Sager was down to 1100 Life Points. He drew “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn.”

He had “Giant Trunade” Set, and activated it, before Summoning Sirocco. Sirocco attacked Lyla and destroyed her.

On his next turn, Torres discarded “Solar Recharge” for “Monster Reincarnation,” targeted “Judgment Dragon,” and Sager conceded!

A big opening for Joe Torres leads to two huge Chains by both players and some serious damage, with “Judgment Dragon” finishing the Duel! Both competitors were eager to get to Duel 2.

Sager opened with 2 “Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawns,” 2 “Blackwing – Bora the Spears,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Allure of Darkness.” He activated Allure, drew “Icarus Attack” and “Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame,” and removed an extra Bora. He Normal Summoned Shura, Set Bottomless, and ended.

Torres activated “Charge of the Light Brigade.” He sent another Charge, “Royal Decree,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to the Graveyard, searching another Lumina from his Deck. He discarded “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” for “Solar Recharge,” drew two, and sent “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” and “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk” to his Graveyard. He then destroyed “Bottomless Trap Hole” with “Heavy Storm,” and Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon”!

“That was pretty quick,” remarked Sager. Torres paid 1000 Life Points to destroy Shura with “Judgment Dragon’s” effect, then Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He discarded “Necro Gardna” to Special Summon Aurkus, and attacked for 5200 damage total. He then sent 9 cards total to his Graveyard in the End Phase, including “Plaguespreader Zombie” and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” (which he Special Summoned).

Sager drew “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” He Normal Summoned Sirocco, Special Summoned Bora, and sent Bora to attack Aurkus – Torres responded with “Honest,” destroying Bora! Sager moved to Main Phase 2, Set “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” and Set “Icarus Attack.” He couldn’t risk that Sirocco – he had to forego his attack for the turn and leave it as Tribute for Icarus.

Torres sent a card back to the top of his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie.” Sager could do nothing but watch as Torres Synchro Summoned “Stardust Dragon,” and with Stardust pinning down his “Icarus Attack” it was all over. Sager offered the handshake.

After a fast back-and-forth see-saw in Duel 1, Joe Torres gets some massive hands with Lightsworn in Duel 2, and there’s just nothing Benjamin Sager can do! Torres is just one win away from a spot in the Top 16!