In 2006, Ryan Spicer went undefeated in the Swiss Rounds of the first SHONEN JUMP Championship held in Austin! This weekend he’s repeated that feat, and now he’s three wins away from his second SHONEN JUMP Championship win. He’s playing the Alchemist / Chaos Deck he himself created.

But his opponent is Chris Bowling, another Texan great! The 2008 U.S. National Champion, Bowling finished 8-1 yesterday with his Twilight Deck. Of 3 Twilight Decks that made it to Day 2, Bowling is the only one still in contention. He teched two copies of “Shiny Black “C”” from Ancient Prophecy in his Main Deck, but those cards wouldn’t help him here.

Spicer opened the match with “Torrential Tribute,” “Destiny Hero – Fear Monger,” “Brain Control,” “Allure of Darkness,” “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” and “Mirror Force.” He activated Allure, drawing another Allure and “Chaos Sorcerer.” He removed his Fear Monger, and Set “Mirror Force” and Ryko.

Bowling activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Honest,” and “Solar Recharge” to search his Deck for “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He Summoned Lyla, activated her effect, and destroyed “Mirror Force.” He then activated a second Charge, sending “Honest,” “Shiny Black “C”,” and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard. He grabbed “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” from his Deck and Special Summoned the Wulf to end his turn. Lyla sent “Gold Sarcophagus,” “Shiny Black “C”,” and “Solar Recharge” to the Graveyard.

Another “Allure of Darkness” was activated by Spicer, who drew into a total hand of “Dark Armed Dragon,” “Mind Control,” “Torrential Tribute,” “Chaos Sorcerer,” “Brain Control,” and “Dark Grepher.” He removed Grepher, since any monster Spicer removes from the game can be retrieved later with the effect of “Dimensional Alchemist,” so those early Allures were even more helpful than they would be in other Decks. He Flip Summoned Ryko, sending “Destiny Draw,” Alchemist, and “Destiny Hero – Malicious” to his Graveyard. He Set “Torrential Tribute” and ended.

But Bowling had more removal! “Heavy Storm” destroyed the “Torrential Tribute,” and he Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to discard “Necro Gardna” and Special Summon back his Wulf. He knew Spicer had no defenses this turn and pressed to destroy Ryko, and knock Spicer down to 5100 Life Points. In the End Phase he sent “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” “Judgment Dragon,” Garoth, “Beckoning Light,” “Burial From a Different Dimension,” and Wulf to the Graveyard. He Special Summoned Wulf.

Spicer drew “Call of the Haunted” and Special Summoned “Chaos Sorcerer” by removing Malicious and Ryko from his Graveyard. He removed Lyla from the game with Sorcerer’s effect, Set a Spell or Trap and ended.

Bowling activated “Pot of Avarice.” He sent “Judgment Dragon,” Celestia, 2 “Honests,” and “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” back to his Deck to draw two cards. He activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Solar Recharge,” “Necro Gardna,” and “Beckoning Light” to the Graveyard to get another Lumina from his Deck. He Set a monster and ended, sending “Honest,” Garoth, and “Bottomless Trap Hole” to the Graveyard in his End Phase.

Spicer drew “D. D. Crow.” He took Bowling’s face-down Ryko with “Mind Control,” Flip Summoned it, and sent “Caius the Shadow Monarch,” “Heavy Storm,” and “Solemn Judgment” to his Graveyard to destroy one of Bowling’s Wulfs (or should that be “Wulves”?). He removed Lumina from the field with “Chaos Sorcerer’s” effect to finish the turn.

Bowling needed to find a way through that Sorcerer. He sent a card to the top of his Deck to try and Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie,” but lost it to Spicer’s Chained “D. D. Crow.” He Normal Summoned Lumina, discarded “Necro Gardna” to Special Summon Garoth, and turned his Ryko to Defense Position. In the End Phase he got to Special Summon another Wulf, but lost another Celestia and “Judgment Dragon,” either of which could have destroyed “Chaos Sorcerer.”

Spicer activated “Gold Sarcophagus” next turn, removing another Sorcerer from the game. He didn’t use the Sorcerer’s ability – Bowling’s Deck was down to 7 cards, and Bowling was close to decking out. Bowling drew a card, then Tributed his Ryko for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel”!

He sent 4 cards from his Deck to the graveyard and Spicer scooped up his cards – the Set card in his Spell & Trap Card Zone was “Call of the Haunted,” which was no help against Bowling’s five-monster field.

Chris Bowling comes within 2 cards of Decking out, but manages to finally draw Celestia and win the Duel! Bowling has never won a SHONEN JUMP Championship, but today might be the day.

Spicer started Duel 2 with “Heavy Storm,” “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” “Torrential Tribute,” “Book of Moon,” “Mystic Tomato,” and “Mirror Force.” He Set Tomato, Set “Light-Imprisoning Mirror,” and ended.

Bowling Summoned “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” and attacked, destroying the Tomato and letting Spicer Special Summon another with the effect of the first. Bowling Set a card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone.

Spicer drew “Trap Dustshoot” – Bowling still had four cards in hand. He sent “Mystic Tomato” to attack Garoth, turned Garoth face-down with “Book of Moon,” and Garoth was destroyed. He Set Dustshoot and flipped it next turn, revealing a hand of “Beckoning Light,” “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” “Twister,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” Spicer instantly sent back Lumina. Bowling had nothing he could do, and ended.

Spicer drew “Mystical Space Typhoon” and attacked for 1400 damage with the Tomato. Bowling Set a monster, Spicer drew “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and he activated “Mystical Space Typhoon” to destroy Bowling’s “Royal Oppression.” Tomato attacked, destroyed Bowling’s “Card Trooper,” and Bowling drew with the Trooper’s effect. Spicer Set another Spell or Trap. He activated “Light-Imprisoning Mirror” before attacking.

He lost his Set “Bottomless Trap Hole” to “Mystical Space Typhoon” next turn, and Twister destroyed “Light-Imprisoning Mirror.” Bowling activated “Charge of the Light Brigade” to send “Shiny Black “C”,” “Necro Gardna,” and “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” to his Graveyard! He searched out Lumina and Summoned her, discarding Wulf to Special Summon Garoth. He sent Wulf, “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Heavy Storm,” “Necro Gardna,” and “Honest” to his Graveyard in the End Phase. Wulf was Special Summoned.

Spicer drew “D.D. Crow,” and sent “Mystic Tomato” to attack Lumina – “Necro Gardna” protected her. He Set a card to his back row. Bowling tributed Wulf for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” sending “Legendary Jujitsu Master,” “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness,” “Solar Recharge,” and “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” to the Graveyard, but Spicer Chained “Torrential Tribute” to clear the field. Bowling had 2 cards left in hand and ended.

Spicer drew to 4 cards and Set “Mirror Force.” Bowling drew “Gold Sarcophagus,” activated it, and sent “Judgment Dragon” out of the game. He ended with an open field. Spicer drew: he had “D.D. Crow,” “Brain Control,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and “Heavy Storm.” He couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity Bowling was giving him. Bowling Summoned “Honest,” attacked, and after a bit of thought Spicer destroyed it with “Mirror Force.”

Spicer drew “Breaker the Magical Warrior” but opted to hold back with it, passing his turn. Bowling Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon”! He attacked for 3000 damage and sent 4 cards to his Graveyard. Spicer drew another “D. D. Crow” and Set his “Plaguespreader Zombie,” with 5000 Life Points remaining.

Bowling paid 1000 Life Points to clear the field with “Judgment Dragon’s” effect, then attacked for another 3000 Battle Damage. Another 4 cards were sent to his Graveyard, leaving 6 in his Deck. Spicer activated “D. D. Crow’s” effect in the End Phase too, removing Bowling’s “Necro Gardna.” Bowling had 5100 Life Points left, and Spicer had “Brain Control.”

He Special Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Normal Summoned “Breaker the Magical Warrior,” and took “Judgment Dragon” with “Brain Control”! Breaker, “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and finally “Judgment Dragon” each attacked – a total of 5300 Damage.

Both Duelists draw and pass for turn after turn, until Ryan Spicer finally draws a bit of offense and scores the win with a borrowed “Judgment Dragon”! Bowling would start the third Duel. Just five minutes remained in the round.

Bowling started things off with “Gold Sarcophagus,” removing “Solar Recharge” from his Deck. He Set a monster.

Spicer had “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “D.D. Crow,” “Smashing Ground,” “Mystic Tomato,” “Dark Armed Dragon,” and Breaker. He attacked with Breaker, hitting “Legendary Jujitsu Master.” Bowling passed and Spicer drew Breaker again. He Summoned Tomato, attacked with it, and Bowling discarded Wulf for “Solar Recharge.” “Charge of the Light Brigade” got him “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” from his Deck. 3 minutes remained in the round.

He shuffled his hand, Set a monster, and Set 3 cards to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. Spicer drew “Reinforcement of the Army,” activated “Mystical Space Typhoon,” and destroyed Bowling’s “Dimensional Prison.” “Breaker the Magical Warrior” hit the field, destroyed Bowling’s “Royal Decree,” and Tomato attacked into Bowling’s Ryko. Ryko destroyed Breaker and play was back to Bowling.

He removed “Necro Gardna” and Wulf from his Graveyard to Special Summon “Chaos Sorcerer,” then tried to activate “Pot of Avarice” – Spicer removed one of his targets, “Judgment Dragon,” from play with “D. D. Crow.” He Normal summoned Lumina, discarded “Beckoning Light” for her effect, and Special Summoned another copy. He removed Tomato with “Chaos Sorcerer’s” effect, made two attacks with the Luminas, and sent 6 cards to his Graveyard in the End Phase – including “Necro Gardna.” The Duel stood at 6600 Life Points to 6000 with Bowling leading.

Spicer started his turn and time was called. Each Duelist would have two turns from this point forward.

Spicer had “Brain Control,” “Reinforcement of the Army,” “Dark Armed Dragon,” and “Smashing Ground,” with only two DARK monsters in his Graveyard. He activated Reinforcement, got “Destiny Hero – Fear Monger” from his Deck, and Summoned it to attack Lumina. Bowling negated the attack with “Necro Gardna,” and probably understood that Spicer had “Dark Armed Dragon.” “Brain Control” let Spicer take “Chaos Sorcerer,” he removed it from play with its own effect, destroyed a Lumina with “Smashing Ground,” and ended. He had Fear Monger on the field and “Dark Armed Dragon” in hand, his last 2 cards.

Bowling discarded “Honest” to Special Summon Garoth in Defense Position, then turned Lumina to Defense. He Special Summoned a Wulf in his End Phase, putting that in defense too.

Spicer drew “Allure of Darkness,” activated it, and saw no help. He’d needed to win this turn and couldn’t do it, so he immediately conceded.

Chris Bowling moves on to the Top 4 with Lightsworn! All 4 Decks remaining in the tournament are Lightsworn Decks.