Top 8 Feature Match: Michael Anderson vs. Hunter Morgan
Eighteen year-old Michael Anderson is one of many Duelists this weekend that made the trip down from Seattle, Washington, and he’s one of 2 competitors playing pure Lightsworn in the Top 16. His opponent is Modesto, California’s own Hunter Morgan, a 16 year-old Duelist wielding Zombies that we saw in Feature Match action in Day 1. One of these competitors would move on to the Top 4, but for the other, this is the end of the line.
Morgan opened with a single Set card to his Spell & Trap Card Zone. Anderson had “Heavy Storm,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Beckoning Light,” “Necro Gardna,” “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid,” and “Plaguespreader Zombie.” He activated Charge, sending “Monster Reincarnation,” “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior,” and “Shire, Lightsworn Spirit” to his Graveyard to get “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” from his Deck. He Summoned Aurkus, attacked for 1200 damage, and ended, sending Charge and “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” to his Graveyard in the End Phase. Morgan’s only move was to Set another Spell or Trap. He lost both to “Heavy Storm” next turn – “Torrential Tribute” and “Mirror Force.” Something was clearly wrong with his hand.
Anderson Summoned Lumina and attacked for 2200 damage. He Set “Beckoning Light,” then sent Celestia, “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” “Archlord Kristya,” “Judgment Dragon,” and another Lyla to his Graveyard. Morgan Set another back row card. Anderson Set one himself, activated “Beckoning Light,” and Morgan immediately conceded, knowing he was about to see “Judgment Dragon” and a swarm of Summons.
Michael Anderson captures the first Duel! “I opened with three copies of Caius,” groaned Morgan. That’ll do it. Play quickly moved to Duel 2.
Morgan opened with “Mezuki” and a Set Spell or Trap Card. Anderson had “Royal Oppression,” Lumina, Aurkus, “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and two “Charge of the Light Brigade”! He activated Charge, sending “Necro Gardna,” Lyla, and Aurkus to his Graveyard to get “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior.” He Summoned it, attacked to destroy “Mezuki,” and Set Oppression.
Morgan activated “Book of Life,” targeting Anderson’s Lyla, but Anderson Chained “Royal Oppression” to negate the Book! Morgan Summoned “Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind,” used its effect to cut Garoth’s ATK and DEF in half, then ran over Garoth. Anderson drew “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.”
He activated Charge, sending Shire and 2 “Judgment Dragon” to his Graveyard to get Lyla. He Summoned her, attacked over Gale, and then activated her effect, destroying Morgan’s own copy of Oppression! Anderson Set Bottomless, then sent “Necro Gardna,” “Honest,” and “Beckoning Light” to his Graveyard. When Morgan Summoned “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer” next turn, he lost it to “Bottomless Trap Hole.”
Anderson Summoned Aurkus, attacked, and Morgan Special Summoned “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness” and its “Emissary of Darkness Token.” He Sent “Heavy Storm,” Archlord Kirstya, “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” and “Shiny Black “C”” to his Graveyard in the End Phase. Morgan Summoned “Mystic Tomato,” attacked Aurkus, and Anderson removed “Necro Gardna” to block the attack. The “Emissary of Darkness Token” attacked Aurkus next to trade off in battle, and when Gorz attacked Lyla, Anderson removed “Necro Gardna” to keep her on the field.
Keeping Lyla on the table allowed Anderson to Tribute her for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel” next turn! Her effect cleared away Morgan’s Gorz, attacked for 2300 damage, and Morgan Set a Spell or Trap next turn. Celestia attacked again, Morgan Special Summoned Tragoedia, and Anderson Set a monster and “Beckoning Light,” which he lost to “Mystical Space Typhoon” in his End Phase.
Morgan had just 900 Life Points left and spent a moment thinking about his situation. “If you have “Honest,” I’m going to end up losing anyways, so I’ll go for the cool play.” He Tributed Tragoedia for “Caius the Shadow Monarch,” removed Anderson’s face-down Ryko, and attacked Celestia – Celestia went down – no “Honest” in sight for Anderson! Morgan Set his last card to his back row.
Anderson discarded “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” for “Solar Recharge,” sending Celestia and “Plaguespreader Zombie” to his Graveyard. He discarded another “Necro Gardna” for “Monster Reincarnation,” took back “Honest,” and Summoned “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk.” Ehren attacked, “Honest” hammered home 1600 damage, and this one was over.
Michael Anderson sweeps the Match 2-0, as Hunter Morgan just seems deprived of playable hands here in the Top 8. Anderson capitalizes quickly and locks his spot in the Top 4!
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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)
In the second Duel, Morgan acknowledged that he would be unable to win if Anderson had an “Honest” in his hand. As a result, he chose to make the best play he possibly could make while assuming his opponent didn’t have “Honest.” This is an important tactic used by experienced Duelists. If there’s a card that guarantees your defeat if your opponent is holding it, you can’t worry about the card since any play you make based around that card will result in the same outcome. Instead, play around the other cards your opponent might be holding.
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Matt Peddle (2009 Canadian National Championship Runner-Up; Five-Time Top 8 National Finalist)
When you open with a bad hand like Hunter Morgan did it’s important to try and make the Duel go as long as possible. Setting both “Torrential Tribtue” and “Mirror Force” is not the best way to do this. If your opponent has “Heavy Storm” you’ll lose both and your opponent will rush you know you’re out of defense. If they don’t have “Heavy Storm” you’d be fine only setting the Torrential. After Summoning Arkus, Anderson probably wouldn’t have summoned another monster for a while. Taking 1200 damage a turn is fine when you need time to draw out of a bad hand.
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P.J. Tierney (Duelist from across The Pond)
Hunter Morgan just couldn’t catch a break in this Match. Every so often, no matter what Deck you use, you’re gonna draw hands that you can’t do anything with. Morgan was just unlucky enough to have it happen twice in the same Match.
