Ryan Spicer is a former YCS Champion, and no stranger to the top tables at Worlds-Qualifying tournaments. He’s playing X-Sabers, and is currently undefeated (6-0) heading into Round 7. His opponent is Courtney Waller, a Blackwing Duelist who’s also undefeated.

Spicer opened the Match with Gold Sarcophagus, removing Rescue Cat from his Deck so he could add it to his hand 2 turns later. He Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, Set 2 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, and ended.

Waller had a hand of Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind, Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn, Giant Trunade, Torrential Tribute, Blackwing – Bora the Spear, and Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame. He activated Giant Trunade, and Spicer immediately Chained Solemn Judgment, dropping to 4000 Life Points! Waller Normal Summoned Sirocco, Special Summoned Bora, and Special Summoned Gale next! Spicer thought a little bit, and Tributed Thunder King to negate Gale’s Summon. Waller entered the Battle Phase, attacked with Bora, and then attacked with Sirocco, which Spicer turned face-down with Book of Moon. Waller ended his turn with a Set Spell or Trap. Spicer had 2300 Life Points left.

Spicer Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, took Bora with Brain Control, and attacked the face-down Sirocco with Bora. Airbellum attacked next, and Waller was forced to discard Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame. Spicer Synchro Summoned X-Saber Urbellum and ended.

Waller Set a second Spell or Trap.

Spicer sent them back to Waller’s hand next turn with Giant Trunade, Summoned Rescue Cat, and Special Summoned X-Saber Airbellum and XX-Saber Darksoul from his Deck! He Special Summoned Faultroll and Waller politely conceded!

A promising opening for Courtney Waller, but Ryan Spicer battles back with Brain Control and Rescue Cat to secure the first Duel win!

Moments later, Waller started Duel 2 with Blackwing – Bora the Spear, Blackwing – Kalut the Moonshadow, Brain Control, Book of Moon, Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame, and Mirror Force. He Summoned Shura, Special Summoned Bora, and Set Mirror Force and Book.

Spicer Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh. It attacked Bora, and when the battle got to Damage Calculation Waller discarded Kalut to boost Bora’s ATK. Thunder King was destroyed. Spicer destroyed Sirocco with Smashing Ground and Set a single Spell or Trap to end.

Waller attacked with Bora for 1700 Battle Damage, then Set a third Spell or Trap.

Spicer Set Solemn Judgment to his back row.

Waller destroyed the Solemn Judgment in his turn with Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand, then attacked for another 1700 damage with Bora.

The Duel stood at Waller’s 8000 Life Points to Spicer’s 3400. Spicer was up: he activated his Set Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Waller’s Book of Moon, and Summoned Consecrated Light.

Waller passed.

Spicer turned Consecrated Light to Defense Position.

Waller passed again.

Spicer passed back.

Waller drew and activated Allure of Darkness, drawing 2 cards and removing Vayu from the game. He ended.

Spicer passed.

Waller Set a Spell or Trap and ended.

Spicer cleared the field with Giant Trunade! He Summoned XX-Saber Boggart Knight, attacked Bora, and destroyed it. Spicer Set a card to his back row.

Waller drew Black Whirlwind. After the Giant Trunade had sent his cards to his hand last turn, he now had a huge hand with Mirror Force, Torrential Tribute, Bottomless Trap Hole, Gottoms‘ Emergency Call, two Black Whirlwinds, Brain Control, and D.D. Crow. He took control of Boggart Knight with Brain Control, attacked Consecrated Light to destroy it, Set 4 cards to his back row again, and ended.

Spicer attacked with his Boggart Knight, and Waller destroyed it with Mirrror Force. Spicer Set a second Spell or Trap.

Waller Summoned Vayu and attacked with it, dropping Spicer to 2600 Life Points.

Spicer activated Dust Tornado, destroying Waller’s Set Gottoms‘ Emergency Call! He Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, Waller responded with Bottomless Trap Hole, and Spicer ended.

Waller Special Summoned Dark Armed Dragon! He removed Bora from his Graveyard to target Spicer’s Set Book of Moon, Spicer Chained it, and Dark Armed Dragon was turned face-down. Vayu attacked for another 800 Battle Damage, lowering Spicer to 1800 Life Points.

Spicer Set a monster, then Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Waller Flip Summoned Dark Armed Dragon, removing his Kalut to use Dark Armed Dragon’s effect. He destroyed XX-Saber Darksoul. He removed Shura next, hitting another Book, which Spicer Chained to turn the Dragon face-down! Vayu made another attack for 800 damage. Spicer had just 1000 Life Points left, and Waller Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone to finish out. Spicer grabbed XX-Saber Fulhelmknight from his Deck with Darksoul’s effect.

Spicer activated Mind Control, taking Vayu. He Summoned Fulhelmknight, and Waller cleared the field with Torrential Tribute! Spicer had no other plays, and ended with 3 cards still in hand.

Waller passed.

Spicer Normal Summoned Summoner Monk, turning it to Defense Position. He discarded Brain Control, Special Summoned Rescue Cat with the Monk’s ability, and sent Cat to the Graveyard for X-Saber Airbellum and XX-Saber Darksoul. He Special Summoned XX-Saber Faultroll, then Special Summoned another copy – his last card in-hand! He Tuned Darksoul and Airbellum together for XX–Saber Hyunlei, destroyed his opponent’s Icarus Attack, and activated one Faultroll effect targeting Airbellum – Waller removed it with D.D. Crow. The second Faultroll got him Fulhelmknight, and four attacks later Spicer was attacking directly for victory!

Courtney Waller dominates the early game of Duel 2, but Ryan Spicer fights his way to a huge comeback, moving on in this tournament with a 7-0 record! Both competitors shook hand, exchanged some friendly comments and respectful discussion, and we were on our way to Round 8!

Post-Event Analysis!
See what our panel of experts had to say about this Duel after the event was over. 

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
In Duel 2, Waller Special Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear to join his Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame on his first turn. This seems unnecessary. Waller would be able to Special Summon Bora any time he had a Blackwing on the field, and since he couldn’t attack on the first turn of the Duel, there was no need to rush it onto the field. He also had plenty of defenses, with Blackwing – Kalut the Moonshadow in his hand to boost the ATK of Shura, and Mirror Force and Book of Moon face-down to protect Waller from battle. If Waller had only Summoned Shura on his first turn, there’s a good chance that he would have been able to use it to destroy Thunder King Rai-Oh in battle, activating its effect to Special Summon a new Blackwing from his Deck.

P.J. Tierney (Duelist from across The Pond)
At the start of Duel 1, Spicer had Thunder King Rai-Oh on the field. Waller Normal Summoned Blackwing – Sirocco the Dawn, then Special Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear and Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind. Spicer Tributed Thunder King to negate the Summon of Gale, destroying it. Had he not done this, Gale’s effect would have cut Thunder King’s ATK in half, making it an easy target for all 3 of Waller’s monsters. Spicer’s Thunder King was going to be destroyed no matter what happened, so it was a good idea to take down 1 of Waller’s monsters along with it.

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