Round 1 Feature Match: James Neumann VS Imran Shah
James Neumann is here today from Montreal running a new version of Synchro Cat that he likes to call “Synchro Dog”. We’ll see it in action here! His opponent is Imran Shah who came here today from Windsor, Ontario and is using Blackwings.
After some early card sleeve issues, play began with Neumann winning the dice roll and choosing to go first.
Neumann drew his opening hand of Light and Darkness Dragon, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Book of Moon, Flamvell Firedog, and two Pots of Duality.
Neumann started the Duel by activating Pot of Duality and choosing Gravekeeper’s Spy over Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter and Dimensional Prison. He Set Book of Moon and Gravekeeper’s Spy and ended his turn with 4 cards in hand.
Shah drew and activated Mystical Space Typhoon destroying Neumann’s Set Book of Moon. He then Normal Summoned Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame, declared an attack on Neumann’s Face-Down Gravekeeper’s Spy and activated Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow during the Damage Step to destroy it. Neumann Special Summoned another Spy from his Deck and Shah Special Summoned Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor in Attack Position with Shura’s effect. Shah then Set Spell or Trap Cards and ended his turn.
Neumann drew Flamvell Magician at the start of his next turn and pondered his next move for a moment. He eventually activated Pot of Duality and selected Bottomless Trap Hole over Super-Nimble Mega Hamster and Gravekeeper’s Descendant. He turned his Spy into Attack Position and declared an attack on Shah’s Vayu. Shah thought for a moment about his Set cards before allowing the attack through. In Main Phase 2, Neumann summoned Flamvell Magician and Set his Bottomless Trap Hole to end his turn.
Shah drew and Normal Summoned Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind to his side of the field in Attack Position. He used Gale’s effect to halve Spy’s ATK to 600. He Set one more Spell or Trap Card and ended his turn.
Neumann drew and immediately Synchro Summoned Stardust Dragon using his Spy and Magician (4 + 4 = 8). Shah activated Bottomless Trap Hole and Neumann activated Stardust Dragon’s effect negate the Bottomless. He then Set one monster and ended his turn, bringing Stardust back in Attack Position.
Shah drew, activated Giant Trunade and cut Stardust Dragon’s ATK in half using Gale’s effect. He then attacked with Shura to destroy Stardust Dragon and Summoned another Vayu from his Deck in Attack Position. He attacked with Gale into Neumann’s face down Super-Nimble Mega Hamster and took 500 damage. Neumann Special Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter face-down, and Shah ended his turn.
Neumann drew and Shah activated Icarus Attack while still in the Draw Phase to destroy Neumann’s two Hamster and Ryko. Neumann Set one more card to each Zone and ended his turn.
Shah drew to one card in hand and thought for a moment before asking what was in Neumann’s Graveyard, after checking he Summoned another Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame. Neumann removed it from play with Bottomless Trap Hole. Shah attacked with Shura but hit another Hamster, which Summoned another Ryko in face-down Defense Position. Shah halved the Hamster’s ATK and DEF with Gale before ending his turn with no cards in hand and one Set Spell or Trap Card.
Neumann drew and flipped Ryko to destroy Shah’s Set Mirror Force. He Normal Summoned Flamvell Firedog and attacked Shah’s Shura. Neumann activated the Firedog’s effect, Special Summoning Flamvell Magician and attacking Gale, then attacked directly with Hamster and Ryko. Neumann then Synchro Summoned with Magician and Hamster for Stardust Dragon (4+4 = 8) in Main Phase 2 before ending his turn with 3 cards in hand.
Shah drew to one card in hand and Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear.He then attacked Ryko with Bora and dealt 1500 damage.
Neumann drew and attacked Bora with Flamvell Firedog, letting him Special Summon another Magician. He attacked with both it and Stardust Dragon, leaving Shah at 1500 Life Points.
Shah looked at his next draw, thought for a moment, and conceded.
James Neumann’s Synchro Dog Deck takes a huge game 1 victory over Imran Shah’s Blackwings!
After some extensive Side Decking from both players Shah decided to go first in game 2.
Shah started with Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame and three Set Spell or Trap Cards.
Neumann’s opening hand consisted of Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, Book of Moon, Gravekeeper’s Spy, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, and Pot of Duality. He drew another Book of Moon during his Draw Phase and activated Pot of Duality, choosing Trap Stun over Flamvell Magician and Rekindling. He set Ryko and a Book of Moon before ending his turn, however; during his End Phase Shah activated Icarus Attack, destroying both of Neumann’s cards.
Shah drew and Normal Summoned Blackwing – Bora the Spear, attacking for 1700 damage directly before setting another Spell or Trap card and ending.
Neumann Drew Solemn Warning on his turn, setting it, Super-Nimble Mega Hamster , and two other Spell or Trap Cards, but they wouldn’t have a chance to help him because during the End Phase Shah activated Delta Crow – Anti Reverse to destroy all three cards!
Shah drew and activated Monster Reborn targeting Shura. He then Normal Summoned Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwindand attacked with Shura into Neumann’s face down Super-Nimble Mega Hamster. Shah tried to use Royal Oppression on the Hamster but couldn’t because this was occurring during the Damage Step. Neumann Special Summoned Ryko in face down Defense Position, Shah attacked it with Bora, and Ryko’s effect destroyed destroyed Shah’s Gale.
Neumann drew for his turn, Set a Gravekeeper’s Spy and ended.
Shah drew to one card in hand and attacked Neumann’s Spy with Shura, letting Neumann Special Summon another Spy from his Deck.He Set a monster and ended his turn with no cards in hand, two Set Spell or Trap Cards, Bora, Shura, and his face-down monster.
Neumann drew and Set another Hamster.
Shah drew and attacked the Hamster, which got Neumann a fifth monster: another Ryko.
Neumann Drew Cyber Dragon and flipped Ryko, destroying Shah’s Mirror Force with its effect. Next, he Tributed the Ryko for Cyber Dragon, and attacked Shah’s Shura with it.
Shah drew and Set a Spell or Trap Card.
Neumann drew and sent attacked Bora with Cyber Dragon
Shah drew, flipped his face-down Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor into Attack Position and ended his turn, telegraphing what seemed to be an obvious in-hand Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow.
Neumann drew and switched all his monsters into Attack Position before attacking Vayu with Cyber Dragon. Shah had the Kalut, and he discarded it during the Damage Step! This boosted his Vayu to 2200 ATK and allowed it to destroy Neumann’s Cyber Dragon. Neumann summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant during Main Phase 2 and activated its effect, Tributing a Spy to destroy the Royal Oppression Shah had accidentally flipped earlier in the Duel, he then Tributed his other Spy to destroy Shah’s Set Bottomless Trap Hole.
Shah drew, set a second Spell or Trap Card and ended with Vayu in Defense Position.
Neumann drew and Normal Summoned Flamvell Magician; Next, he Synchro Summoned with Magician and Hamster for Stardust Dragon (4+4 = 8) before attacking over Shah’s Vayu. He then attacked directly with his Descendant and Hamster for 2600 total direct damage.
Shah drew and after thinking for a moment, offered the handshake. James Neumann wins 2-0 with his innovative new “Synchro Dog” Deck!
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 1, Shah Summoned Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind and used its effect to halve the ATK and DEF of Neumann’s Gravekeeper’s Spy, but declined to attack either of Neumann’s monsters. This allowed Neumann to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon next turn by Tuning together the 2 monsters on his field. Had Shah risked making the attack against Neumann’s monsters, which was less of a risk as he had seen Neumann pick up a Bottomless Trap Hole with Pot of Duality, he would have prevented Neumann from Summoning Stardust Dragon.
