Top 4 Feature Match: Adam Corn vs. Stephen Silverman
Once again, we were about to see what’s become a familiar matchup: Lightsworn versus Zombies! In the undead corner we have former U.S. National Champion and SHONEN JUMP Championship winner Adam Corn, and piloting Lightsworn we have three-time Day 2 competitor Stephen Silverman.
Corn opened with a hand of “Bottomless Trap Hole,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Torrential Tribute,” “Mirror Force,” “Mystic Tomato,” and “Zombie Master.” He Set Tomato, Set Bottomless, and ended. Silverman activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin” to his Graveyard to get “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk.” He Summoned her, lost her to “Bottomless Trap Hole,” Set “Mirror Force,” and Corn attacked with “Mystic Tomato.” Silverman destroyed it with “Mirror Force” and Corn Set “Torrential Tribute.”
Another Charge sent “Gold Sarcophagus,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Necro Gardna” to the Graveyard, getting Silverman “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.” He Summoned “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid,” Corn let it go, and Aurkus struck for 1200 damage. Corn dropped to 6800 Life Points and Silverman Set a card to his back row, sending “Mystical Space Typhoon” and “Solar Recharge” to his Graveyard.
Corn drew “Heavy Storm.” He Set “Mirror Force,” considered Setting “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and ended instead.
“You probably have Torrential,” remarked Silverman, correctly. He attacked with Aurkus again, and this time Corn destroyed it with “Mirror Force.” Silverman Summoned Lyla and Corn responded with “Torrential Tribute” to destroy her. Silverman ended.
Corn activated “Heavy Storm” and Silverman Chained “Beckoning Light,” sending 2 “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” and “Plaguespreader Zombie” to his Graveyard to bring back Lyla and 2 “Judgment Dragon.” Corn immediately conceded and dove for his Side Deck.
Stephen Silverman forces out Adam Corn’s “Mirror Force” and “Torrential Tribute,” forcing him to give them up to destroy just 1 monster each before unleashing double “Judgment Dragon” and making Corn surrender! Play quickly proceeded to the second Duel.
Corn opened Duel 2 with “Torrential Tribute,” “Plaguespreader Zombie,” “Deep Sea Diva,” “Dark Armed Dragon,” “Mystical Space Typhoon,” and “Mind Control.” He Set “Torrential Tribute.” Silverman activated “Heavy Storm,” forecasting big plans for the turn. “Charge of the Light Brigade” sent “Necro Gardna,” “Honest,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” to his Graveyard, getting him a Lumina from his Deck. He Normal Summoned “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” snapping it down to the table and attacking for 1900 Damage. He Set “Dust Tornado” to end.
He lost his “Dust Tornado” to “Mystical Space Typhoon” next turn, and Corn took his Thunder King with “Mind Control.” He Normal Summoned “Deep Sea Diva,” Special Summoned another from his Deck, and Tuned one to Thunder King to Synchro Summon “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier”. He Tuned the second Diva to that, Summoned “Colossal Fighter,” and attacked for 2900 damage. He finished out by Setting “Bottomless Trap Hole.”
Silverman Set 2 cards to his back row, Summoned Lumina, and sent Jain, “Honest,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” to his Graveyard. Corn drew “Solemn Judgment.” He Set it, Set a monster, and play was back to Silverman. Silverman Summoned another Thunder King!
Corn activated “Bottomless Trap Hole,” destroying and removing Thunder King. Silverman turned Lumina to Defense Position, sending “Lightning Vortex,” “Beckoning Light,” and “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard. Corn drew “Pyramid Turtle,” attacked Lumina, and lost his “Colossal Fighter” to “Mirror Force.” He Set “Pyramid Turtle” and Silverman flipped “Royal Decree” in the End Phase.
Silverman Summoned “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” and ended his turn, sending 5 more cards to his Graveyard. He had 1 card left in hand. Corn drew “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” adding it to his hand of “Dark Armed Dragon” with “Solemn Judgment,” “Pyramid Turtle,” and “Plaguespreader Zombie” Set. He Flip Summoned the Turtle, Normal Summoned Gale, and attacked with “Pyramid Turtle” into Aurkus – Silverman stopped it with “Necro Gardna.” Gale attacked next, and Silverman stopped that with another Gardna.
Corn Tuned Gale to “Pyramid Turtle,” Synchro Summoning “Blackwing Armor Master” in Attack Position. Silverman turned Aurkus to Defense Position, sent 5 more cards to his Graveyard and Special Summoned a copy of “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” in Defense. Corn drew “Book of Moon,” Flip Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and attacked Wulf with it. Armor Master destroyed Lumina and Corn Set “Book of Moon.”
Silverman Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon”! He activated its effect, Corn Chained “Book of Moon” to turn the Dragon face-down, and its effect destroyed everything else on the field. Silverman ended.
Corn now had 4 DARK monsters in his Graveyard, one of them being “Plaguespreader Zombie.” Silverman counted them, and had been paying close attention to Corn’s DARK count all game. Corn placed his draw for the turn back on top of his Deck to Special Summon Plaguespreader in Defense Position – all Silverman had to do if he was reading “Dark Armed Dragon” would be to Chain “D.D. Crow” and remove any of the other DARKs from Corn’s Graveyard.
He didn’t. Instead, he Chained “D.D. Crow’s” effect to remove Plaguespreader in a Chain before it could be Special Summoned, and that left Corn free to Special Summon “Dark Armed Dragon”! It was a huge misplay and Silverman instantly realized it. Corn removed Gale for Dark Armed’s effect, destroyed “Judgment Dragon,” and attacked for 2800 damage. Silverman now had just 1300 Life Points remaining.
He was clearly unhappy with his mistake. Next turn he wound up using “Charge of the Light Brigade” to get “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” from his Deck (his only possible search after sending Garoth to the Graveyard as Charge’s cost), attacked with it, and discarded “Honest” to destroy “Dark Armed Dragon.” He had 5 or 6 cards left in his Deck with nothing in-hand, and nothing on the field except Ryko. Corn Set a Spell or Trap and ended.
Silverman set his draw for the turn back on top of his Deck, brought up “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and Tuned it to Ryko to Synchro Summon “Armory Arm”! It attacked for 1800 damage and Corn was down to 4100 Life Points. He passed his next turn, took another 1800 damage, and dropped to 2300 Life Points. A turn later he activated “Burial From a Different Dimension,” returned “Plaguespreader Zombie” to his Graveyard, Special Summoned it, and Tributed it for “Caius the Shadow Monarch”! Its effect removed “Armory Arm,” Caius attacked, and we were headed to a third Duel!
Silverman started with “Solar Recharge,” discarding “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” to draw 2 cards and send “Charge of the Light Brigade” and “Honest” to his Graveyard. He Normal Summoned “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” Set a Spell or Trap, and ended. Corn had “Book of Moon,” “Spirit Reaper,” “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer,” 2 “Goblin Zombie,” and “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He Set Reaper, Set Bottomless, and ended. Silverman destroyed Bottomless in the End Phase with “Mystical Space Typhoon.”
He Normal Summoned Lumina next turn, discarded “Plaguespreader Zombie” for her effect and Special Summoned Lyla. Lyla attacked “Spirit Reaper,” Silverman gave up on his remaining attacks and ended. He sent “Torrential Tribute,” “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” “Necro Gardna,” “Lightning Vortex,” “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” and another Lyla to his Graveyard.
Corn drew “Mezuki.” He Summoned Kycoo, attacked Lyla, and destroyed her, removing “Necro Gardna” and “Plaguespreader Zombie” from Silverman’s Graveyard! A Set card to the Spell & Trap Card Zone ended Corn’s turn. Silverman turned Lumina to Defense Position, attacked with “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” and Corn turned it face-down with “Book of Moon” to stop the attack. Silverman Set 2 cards to his back row, then sent “Honest,” Lumina, and “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin” to his Graveyard.
Corn drew “Trap Dustshoot,” Summoned “Goblin Zombie,” and attacked into “Mirror Force”! He lost his Kycoo and his “Goblin Zombie,” but got to search his Deck with the Goblin’s effect, nabbing “Plaguespreader Zombie” while his opponent’s Thunder King was still face-down. He Set another card to his back row.
Silverman discarded another “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” Special Summoned Lyla with Lumina’s effect, used her effect to destroy Corn’s “Trap Dustshoot,” and activated “Beckoning Light”! He traded his hand for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” and “Judgment Dragon.” He Tributed Lyla for Celestia, sent Ryko, “D.D. Crow,” “Solar Recharge,” and and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard, Summoned Wulf, Flip Summoned Thunder King, and attacked with Wulf, Celestia, and Thunder King! Corn dropped to 1300 Life Points, and his opponent sent “Beckoning Light,” Celestia, and Oppression to the Graveyard in the End Phase.
Corn was on pins and needles, knowing his opponent could finish him off next turn with “Judgment Dragon.” He activated “Brain Control,” took Thunder King, Normal Summoned “Plaguespreader Zombie,” and Tuned it to “Thunder King Rai-Oh” for “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.” He discarded “Mezuki” for Brionac’s effect, bounced Wulf back to Silverman’s hand, and removed “Mezuki” to Special Summon… nothing. Silverman offered the handshake, Corn accepted it, and Silverman was moving on!
Stephen Silverman takes a 2-1 victory over Adam Corn, moving on to the Finals of this tournament!
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See what our panel of experts had to say about this Duel after the event was over.
Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
Silverman had multiple copies of “Thunder King Rai-Oh” in his Side Deck to use against Corn’s Zombie Deck. I like “Thunder King Rai-Oh” as a Side Deck card against Zombies since it negates the Synchro Summons that Zombie Decks rely on to win, and shuts down the searching ability of “Goblin Zombie” that makes Zombie Decks so consistent. Rai-Oh is especially strong in Lightsworn Decks, since it can be protected using “Honest.”
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Matt Peddle (2009 Canadian National Championship Runner-Up; Five-Time Top 8 National Finalist)
Losing “Mystic Tomato” to “Mirror Force” is ultimately what cost Corn the first Duel. Without Tomato, he was forced to use “Torrential Tribute” and “Mirror Force” ineffectively and was left with nothing to protect himself from a pair of “Judgment Dragons.”
It would be interesting to see how the Duel might have played out if Corn had Summoned his Tomato on turn one instead of Setting it, and never attacked with it. Of course this strange kind of play would only have worked because of the specific hands both players drew, but it’s important to look at a loss and see if you could figure out if there was any way to win at all. Silverman wouldn’t have been able to trade monsters with Corn’s defensive Traps, allowing Corn to save those for later when “Judgment Dragon” showed up.
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Michael McTavish (Top 8 Finalist – 2009 Canadian National Championship)
The one single misplay that cost Silverman game 2 was very small, but very key. If the right play had been made, Corn would have been left in a much tougher situation and the Match might not have proceeded to game 3 at all. Of course, in the end it didn’t matter as Silverman still ended up victorious, but that doesn’t mean the mistake shouldn’t be noted and remembered for future Duels. This goes for all Duelists everywhere, remember to look back at every Match you have, win or lose, and think of any mistakes you might have made. Fix them for next time, and you might end up in the winner’s seat some day.
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P.J. Tierney (Duelist from across The Pond)
The first Duel showed how learning to make the right reads can swing a Duel in your favour. Silverman was able to examine how Corn played his cards, and figure out what he had Set. He then forced Corn to use those cards when Corn didn’t want to, putting him in a stronger position and winning him the Duel.
Duel 2 saw Silverman make a fatal error. He knew that Corn had 4 DARK monsters in his Graveyard, and when Corn tried to get “Plaguespreader Zombie” out of there, he removed it with “D.D. Crow” which kept Corn at 3 DARKS and allowed him to Summon “Dark Armed Dragon.” If Silverman had used Crow on any of Corn’s other DARK monsters, Corn would only have 2 DARKs in his Graveyard, and wouldn’t have been able to bring out his dragon.
