Joseph Grisham is 13 years old and from Tennessee. His opponent, Jeremy Walker, is 23 years old and came here from North Carolina. Grisham is running a Chaos Deck with “Dimensional Alchemist” in it and his opponent is running Zombies. Both Duelists are 3-1 going into this round and will be trying their best to advance in the tournament with 4-1 records.

Grisham won the dice roll and chose to go first. He opened up with “Sangan,” “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude,” “Dimensional Alchemist,” “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Mind Control.” He Set “Sangan” and “Bottomless Trap Hole” before ending his turn.

Walker Summoned “Zombie Master” next turn but lost it to Grisham’s “Bottomless Trap Hole.” Then he Set 2 Spell or Trap Cards and passed back to Grisham.

Grisham drew “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” next turn and Walker flipped “Trap Dustshoot” in his Draw Phase. Grisham revealed his hand and Walker sent Gorz back to his Deck. Then Grisham Summoned “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” and activated its effect, revealing “Brain Control” from the top of the Deck and sending it to his Graveyard. “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” attacked directly and Walker took the damage, dropping to 6600 Life Points. Grisham ended his turn.

Walker Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Zone before passing back to Grisham. Grisham drew “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast” and Set it on his next turn. Then he Normal Summoned “Dimensional Alchemist” and activated its effect to remove “Book of Moon” from the game. Next, he activated the effect of Diamond Dude to send “Deep Sea Diva” from the top of his Deck to the bottom of his Deck. Grisham switched “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” to Defense Position and attacked with “Dimensional Alchemist.” Walker took the 1800 damage and dropped down to 4800 Life Points. Grisham ended his turn.

Walker thought for a while before Setting a monster and ending his turn. Grisham drew “Allure of Darkness” next turn and activated “Mind Control” to take control of Grisham’s face-down “Goblin Zombie.” Then he activated the effect of “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude,” used its effect to put “Dark Armed Dragon” on the bottom of his Deck, and activated the effect of “Dimensional Alchemist” to remove “Destiny Draw” from the game. Grisham attacked with both monsters and Walker took the damage. Grisham ended his turn, giving the face-down “Goblin Zombie” back to Walker.

On Walker’s next turn, he activated “Enemy Controller” to Tribute “Goblin Zombie” and target Grisham’s “Dimensional Alchemist.” Grisham chained “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast” by discarding “Allure of Darkness,” but Walker paid half his life to negate it with “Solemn Judgment.” He dropped down to 800 Life Points. Walker searched his Deck for “Mezuki” with the effect of “Goblin Zombie” and added it to his hand. Then he Normal Summoned “Deep Sea Diva” from his hand and Special Summoned another copy from his Deck. He Tuned “Deep Sea Diva” to “Dimensional Alchemist” to Summon “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier”! Next, he removed “Mezuki” from his Graveyard to Special Summon “Goblin Zombie” and Tuned “Goblin Zombie” to the other “Deep Sea Diva” to Synchro Summon “Goyo Guardian.” He searched for another copy of “Mezuki” with the effect of “Goblin Zombie.” Walker discarded “Mezuki” to return “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” to Grisham’s hand. Then he activated “Foolish Burial” to send “Plaguespreader Zombie” from his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, he put a card from his hand on top of his Deck to revive “Plaguespreader Zombie” and removed “Mezuki” from his Graveyard to Special Summon “Goblin Zombie” again. He tuned “Plaguespreader Zombie” to “Goblin Zombie” and Synchro Summoned “Revived King Ha Des” before searching his Deck for another Zombie to add to his hand. Then Walker activated “Burial from a Different Dimension” to send 2 copies of “Mezuki” and a “Plaguespreader Zombie” back to his Graveyard. Grisham conceded, knowing that Walker could Summon another Zombie from his Graveyard to finish him off.

Grisham will be going first in Duel 2! Walker dipped into his Side Deck and Grisham chose not to.

Grisham opened up with “Deep Sea Diva,” “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” “Spined Gilman” “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude,” “Book of Moon,” and “Solemn Judgment.” He Set “Book of Moon” and “Solemn Judgment” along with Ryko before ending his turn.

Walker Set 3 back rows and passed right back to Grisham.

Grisham flipped Ryko next turn, targeting Walker’s face-down “Enemy Controller.” Walker chained it to switch Ryko into Defense Position, and Ryko sent 3 cards from the top of Grisham’s Deck to his Graveyard. Grisham Summoned “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” next, and activated its effect to reveal a monster and send it to the bottom of his Deck. Walker chained “Torrential Tribute” to clear the field! Walker passed his next turn and when Grisham Summoned “Spined Gillman” on the following turn, he lost it to Walker’s “Bottomless Trap Hole.”

Walker Set another 2 cards on his next turn and ended. Grisham drew “Reinforcement of the Army” next turn and used it to search his Deck for “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude.” He attacked with it and Walker dropped to 6600 Life Points. He flipped a monster from the top of his Deck with the effect of Diamond Dude and it went to was moved to the bottom of his Deck. Once again, Walker passed his next turn with no play.

Grisham drew “Elemental Hero Stratos” next turn and then activated “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” to send “Destiny Draw” from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. Finally, Diamond Dude pays off! Then Grisham activated “Heavy Storm.” Walker lost “My Body as a Shield,” “Royal Oppression,” and “Dust Tornado.” Grisham lost “Solemn Judgment,” “Book of Moon,” and “Torrential Tribute.” He followed up by Summoning “Elemental Hero Stratos” and searched his Deck for “Destiny Hero – Malicious” with its effect. He attacked directly with Diamond Dude and Walker dropped to 5200 Life Points. Stratos attacked next, dropping Walker to 3400 Life Points. Grisham ended his turn with a Diamond Dude and Stratos on the field, with no Spell or Trap Cards face-down.

Walker Set 2 cards next turn and passed right back to Grisham. He just couldn’t draw the monsters he needed.

Grisham activated the “Destiny Draw” he revealed on the previous turn to draw 2 cards. Then he Summoned “Deep Sea Diva” and Special Summoned another “Deep Sea Diva” from his Deck. He activated the effect of “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” next, and sent “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast” from the top of his Deck to the bottom. Grisham tried to Synchro Summon “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier” by Tuning “Elemental Hero Stratos” with “Deep Sea Diva,” but Walker shut it down with “Royal Oppression” by paying 800 Life Points. Grisham attacked with “Deep Sea Diva” and “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude,” dropping Walker to 1000 Life Points.

Walker Set another card to his back row on his next turn and then ended his turn. Grisham activated “Call of the Haunted” and Walker conceded, unable to deal with all of Grisham’s monsters.

Walker will be going first in the final Duel of the Match! He started things off by setting a monster and ending his turn.

Grisham opened up with “Destiny Draw,” “Destiny Hero – Malicious,” “Mystical Space Typhoon,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Dark Armed Dragon” and “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast.”

Grisham activated “Destiny Draw” by discarding Malicious and drew “Deep Sea Diva” and “Dimensional Alchemist” with its effect. He Summoned “Deep Sea Diva” and Special Summoned “Spined Gillman” from his Deck. Then he removed “Destiny Hero – Malicious” from his Graveyard to Special Summon another copy from his Deck. He Tuned “Deep Sea Diva” with “Destiny Hero – Malicious” to Synchro Summon “Stardust Dragon.” He Set “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” in his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Then he attacked Walker’s face-down “Pyramid Turtle” with “Spined Gillman.” “Pyramid Turtle” was destroyed and Walker Special Summoned “Goblin Zombie” from his Deck in Defense Position. Grisham destroyed it by attacking with “Stardust Dragon” and Walker searched his Deck for “Zombie Master” to add to his hand. Grisham Set “Bottomless Trap Hole” before ending his turn.

Walker drew for turn before activating “Allure of Darkness” to draw 2 more cards and remove a “Zombie Master” in his hand from the game. Then he activated “Brain Control,” paying 800 Life Points to take control of Grisham’s “Stardust Dragon.” Walker activated “Heavy Storm” next, destroying Grisham’s Set “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon.” Then Walker activated “Foolish Burial” in order to send “Mezuki” from his Deck to his Graveyard. He Normal Summoned “Deep Sea Diva” after that, in order to Special Summon a second copy from his Deck. He removed “Mezuki” from his Graveyard to Special Summon “Goblin Zombie” and Tuned it to “Deep Sea Diva” to Synchro Summon “Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.” Walker searched his Deck for “Goblin Zombie” and added it to his hand with the effect of his “Goblin Zombie.” Then he discarded “Mezuki” to return “Spined Gillman” to Grisham’s hand. Walker Set 1 card in his back row and then discarded “Goblin Zombie” to return the card he Set back to his hand so that he could remove “Mezuki” from his Graveyard to Special Summon the “Goblin Zombie” back to the field. Then he Tuned “Goblin Zombie” and “Deep Sea Diva” together to Synchro Summon “Goyo Guardian.” He searched his Deck for “Plaguespreader Zombie” with the effect of “Goblin Zombie” and added it to his hand. Then he Set another card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone and discarded “Plaguespreader Zombie” to return his Set card back to his hand. With exactly 3 DARK monsters in his Graveyard, at last he could Special Summon “Dark Armed Dragon” from his hand! With “Dark Armed Dragon,” “Goyo Guardian,” Brionac, and Stardust Dragon on the field, Grisham knew he wouldn’t last the turn. Grisham scooped up his cards.

In a close 2-1 Match, Jeremy Walker triumphs over Joseph Grisham thanks to explosive combos that allow him to do 8000 damage in a single turn!

See what our panel of experts had to say after the Duel.

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
Grisham may have been a bit too cautious when he switched his “Destiny Hero – Diamond Dude” to Defense Position in Duel 1 instead of attacking with it. Walker had a noticeably weak start and Grisham could have taken advantage of that by applying pressure to Walker. That way, Walker wouldn’t have had as much time as he did to draw the combo pieces that allowed him to deal 8000 damage in a single turn.

Michael McTavish (Top 8 Finalist – 2009 Canadian National Championship)
Walker played a very slow-paced, disciplined game 1, Waiting until the perfect opportunity to strike with a massive combo for over 8000 life points in a single turn. The same thing took place in game 3, as Walker refused to commit to the field until a couple turns in when he was ready to make the same kind of push. Great work.

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