Fourteen year-old Yuki Zaninovich won his Round 1 Feature Match, and is here today playing a creative Plant Deck centered on Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis. His opponent is Stockton, California’s Adam Belohradsky, a first-year student of San Joaquin Delta College. Belohradsky is playing a Chaos Deck heavy with control cards like Seven Tools of the Bandit.

Belohradsky opened the Match with Cyber Valley, and Set 2 cards to his back row.

Zaninovich opened with a hand of Mystic Tomato, Book of Moon, Black Garden, Solemn Warning, Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, and Botanical Girl. He Summoned Tomato, activated Black Garden, and attacked Cyber Valley. Belohradsky flipped a Book of his own to stop the attack. Zaninovich activated Black Garden in Main Phase 2, then Set Solemn Warning.

Belohradsky Flip Summoned Cyber Valley, Set another Spell or Trap, and ended.

Zaninovich drew Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, and Set Botanical Girl.

Belohradsky passed.

Zaninovich drew Torrential Tribute. He Flip Summoned Botanical Girl, attacked Cyber Valley, and Belohradsky activated its effect to stop the attack and draw a card. Zaninovich Flip Summoned Tomato in Main Phase 2, Belohradsky responded with Torrential Tribute, and Zaninovich got Cherry Inmato from his Deck. He Set Cherry Inmato.

Belohradsky activated Allure of Darkness, drew 2 cards, and removed Plaguespreader Zombie from his hand to complete Allure’s effect. He activated Pot of Duality, revealing Sangan, Book of Moon, and Machine Duplication from the top of his Deck. He chose to add Sangan to his hand, shuffling the other 2 back into his Deck. He activated Nobleman of Crossout and removed Cherry Inmato from the game, then Set a monster.

Zaninovich drew another Cherry Inmato! He Set it.

Belohradsky activated Dark Hole, destroying Cherry Inmato and his own Sangan. He searched Super-Nimble Mega Hamster from his Deck, and Set a monster.

Zaninovich drew a third Cherry Inmato, and Set it.

Belohradsky destroyed Black Garden with Mystical Space Typhoon, Flip Summoned Hamster, and Special Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his Deck in face-down Defense Position. He then Normal Summoned Cyber Valley, removing Valley and the Hamster to draw 2 cards with Valley’s effect. He Set a second Spell or Trap to finish out.

Zaninovich drew Call of the Haunted. He Flip Summoned Cherry Inmato, attacked into Ryko, and Belohradsky destroyed his opponent’s Solemn Warning with Ryko’s effect, sending his own Solemn Warning, Solemn Judgment, and Book of Moon to the Graveyard from the top of his Deck. Zaninovich Set another Spell or Trap.

Belohradsky removed Sangan and Ryko from his Graveyard to Special Summon Chaos Sorcerer, activated its effect, and removed Cherry Inmato from the game. He Normal Summoned Effect Veiler and Zaninovich activated Torrential Tribute. Belohradsky negated it with Seven Tools of the Bandit! He then Tuned Veiler to Chaos Sorcerer, Synchro Summoned Arcanite Magician, and used its effect to target Zaninovich’s Set Call of the Haunted. Zaninovich Chained it, targeting Botanical Girl to try and search his Deck, but Belohradsky removed it from the Graveyard with D.D. Crow! Belohradsky Set another card to his back row. He had 2 cards Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone, Arcanite Magician face-up, and 1 card in hand.

Zaninovich drew, and now had Monster Reborn, Tytannial, and Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis in hand. He passed.

Belohradsky attacked with Arcanite Magician for 1400 Battle Damage.

Zaninovich drew Pot of Duality! He activated it and revealed Inmato and 2 copies of Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis! He groaned: “This is killing me.” He added Inmato to his hand. He Summoned it, then attacked Arcanite Magician, but Belohradsky blew it away with Mirror Force.

Arcanite Magician attacked for another 1400 damage. Zaninovich had 4200 Life Points left, to his opponent’s 8000.

Zaninovich drew Bottomless Trap Hole. He Set it, Special Summoned Mystic Tomato with Monster Reborn, and crashed it into Arcanite Magician! Both monsters were destroyed. Zaninovich Special Summoned Sangan from his Deck, attacked for 1000 damage, and ended his turn.

Belohradsky had another Chaos Sorcerer! He Special Summoned it, activated its effect, and Zaninovich Chained Bottomless Trap Hole to remove it. Sangan was removed. Belohradsky then activated Return from the Different Dimension! He Special Summoned Effect Veiler, Chaos Sorcerer, Plaguespreader Zombie, Sangan, and Cyber Valley. He Tuned Veiler and Sorcerer for Ancient Sacred Wyvern, then Synchro Summoned Ally of Justice Catastor. Catastor attacked, Sacred Wyvern’s effect boosted its ATK to 3600, and Wyvern attacked for the win.

“I’ve won every game with Wyvern so far,” remarked Belohradsky, kind of surprised at his track record.

Yuki Zaninovich hits rough draw after rough draw, while Adam Belohradsky seemingly gets everything he needs to counter Zaninovich’s every move! Both competitors switched a few cards in and out of their Side Decks before starting the second Duel.

Zaninovich opened with Monster Reborn, Dandylion, Dark Hole, Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, Solemn Warning, and Pot of Duality. He activated Duality, revealing Cherry Inmato, Sangan, and Solemn Warning. He chose Cherry Inmato. Zaninovich Set Cherry and Warning.

Belohradsky Set 3 cards to his back row.

Zaninovich drew Bottomless Trap Hole. He Set Dandylion and Bottomless Trap Hole.

Belohradsky activated Pot of Duality, taking Dark Hole over Book of Moon and Chaos Sorcerer. He activated Dark Hole, destroyed Cherry Inmato and Dandylion, and Zaninovich Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens with Dandylion’s effect. Belohradsky Summoned Doomcaliber Knight, but lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole.

Zaninovich drew Mystic Tomato. He Tributed both Fluff Tokens for Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, but Belohradsky negated the Summon with Solemn Warning. Zaninovich removed Cherry Inmato in his End Phase to Special Summon Amaryllis.

Belohradsky Summoned Dimensional Alchemist, activated its effect to remove his Return from the Different Dimension from the game, and attacked to destroy Amaryllis.

Zaninovich drew Skill Drain. He Summoned Mystic Tomato, attacked Dimensional Alchemist, and destroyed it; its effect returned Doomcaliber Knight to Belohradsky’s hand. Zaninovich removed Dandylion in the End Phase to Special Summon Amaryllis.

Belohradsky took control of Mystic Tomato with Mind Control, then Normal Sumoned Plaguespreader Zombie. He Tuned them together, tried to Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian, and Zaninovich activated Solemn Warning. But Belohradsky Chained Solemn Judgment! Goyo attacked, destroyed Amaryllis, but couldn’t Special Summon it due to Amaryllis’ effect.

Zaninovich drew Cherry Inmato. He had Monster Reborn and Dark Hole in his hand, and activated the Hole to destroy Goyo Guardian. Reborn then let him Special Summon it, and he Summoned Cherry Inmato to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon! It attacked, but was flipped face-down by Book of Moon! He removed Cherry Inmato to Special Summon Amaryllis.

Belohradsky drew to 3 cards, and Normal Summoned Doomcaliber Knight. He placed a card on top of his Deck to Special Summon Plaguespreader Zombie, not realizing his Doomcaliber Knight would negate its effect! Doomcaliber Knight hit the Graveyard, Plaguespreader Zombie went nowhere, and Belohradsky palmed his face for a moment, taken aback at his own mistake. He immediately conceded.

Amaryllis hits the field over and over; Dark Hole and Monster Reborn combo to turn the tables; and a key mistake seals the Duel! Yuki Zaninovich presses this Match to one more Duel.

Belohradsky opened the last Duel with a Set Spell or Trap and a Set monster.

Zaninovich had Call of the Haunted, Dandylion, Trade-In, Solemn Warning, and 2 Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis. He activated Trade-In, discarded Amaryllis, and drew Mirror Force plus another Dandylion. He Set Dandylion and 3 cards to his back row.

Belohradsky Flip Summoned Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, Special Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his Deck, and Normal Summoned Cyber Valley. He removed Valley and Hamster just like the last Duel, and drew 2 cards. And he once again activated Nobleman of Crossout! That removed Zaninovich’s Dandylion, and Belohradsky ended.

Zaninovich drew Monster Reborn and Set a monster.

Belohradsky Flip Summoned Ryko, sent Pot of Duality, Dimensional Alchemist, and Mystical Space Typhoon to the Graveyard, and destroyed Zaninovich’s Solemn Warning. He summoned another Valley, and removed it and Ryko to draw 2 cards. He had 6 cards in hand with 2 cards Set in his back row. Belohradsky activated Pot of Duality, choosing Plaguespreader Zombie over Book of Moon and Mirror Force. A third Set Spell or Trap ended his turn.

Zaninovich drew Allure of Darkness. He Flip Summoned Dandylion and attacked for 300 Battle Damage.

Belohradsky Set a monster.

Zaninovich drew Torrential Tribute, Set it, and turned Dandylion to Defense Position.

Belohradsky Flip Summoned Ryko, activated its effect, sent Banisher of the Radiance, Allure of Darkness, and Book of Moon to his Graveyard, and targeted Zaninovich’s Torrential Tribute. But Zaninovich Chained it! Ryko and Dandylion were destroyed, and Zaninovich Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens. Belohradsky Summoned Shining Angel and attacked, only to be destroyed by Mirror Force.

Zaninovich drew Pot of Duality. He activated it, revealing Black Garden, Skill Drain, and Cherry Inmato. “That’s not bad.” He chose Black Garden. Zaninovich Tributed his Fluff Tokens for Phoenixian Cluster Amaryllis, attacked for 2200 damage, and it destroyed itself to deal 800 more damage. He then activated Black Garden. He couldn’t bring Amaryllis back in the End Phase due to Pot of Duality’s effect. The Duel stood at 4700 Life Points to 8000.

Belohradsky passed.

Zaninovich drew Inmato, and activated Allure of Darkness to get 2 copies of Lonefire Blossom! He removed Inmato. Next he activated Monster Reborn targeting Dandylion, but Belohradsky responded with D.D. Crow. Zaninovich Chained Call of the Haunted, targeted Dandylion to try and save it, but Belohradsky had Seven Tools of the Bandit once again! Zaninovich pressed on, Normal Summoning Lonefire Blossom, and Belohradsky Special Summoned a Rose Token in Attack Position due to Black Garden. Zaninovich Special Summoned Tytannial, Princess of Camellias, and Belohradsky got another Rose Token. Zaninovich attacked with Tytannial, but she was flipped down by Book of Moon, and he removed Lonefire in the End Phase to bring up Phoenixian Cluster and give Belohradsky a third Rose Token.

Belohradsky Special Summoned Chaos Sorcerer by removing D.D. Crow and Dimensional Alchemist, and Zaninovich got a Rose Token. Belohradsky Normal Summoned Plaguespreader Zombie, Zaninovich got another Token, and Belohradsky Synchro Summoned Scrap Dragon in Defense Position. He then used Scrap Dragon’s effect to destroy a Rose Token and Black Garden. He returned a card to the top of his Deck for Plaguespreader Zombie, Synchro Summoned Goyo Guardian with his Rose Tokens, and attacked to take control of Tytannial! A tremendous turn.

Zaninovich drew Trade-In, with nothing in his hand but Lonefire. He still had 3 Rose Tokens. He Summoned Lonefire, Tributed Lonefire, and Special Summoned Botanical Girl in Defense Position. All the Rose Tokens went to Defense Position, and he removed Lonefire in the End Phase to bring up Cluster Amaryllis again.

Belohradsky brought back Chaos Sorcerer with Monster Reborn, and removed Amaryllis. He then attacked the Rose Tokens with his other 3 monsters.

Zaninovich attacked Scrap Dragon with Botanical Girl, destroying her to get his last Amaryllis to his hand. In Main Phase 2 he discarded it for Trade-In, but Belohradsky negated it with Solemn Judgment! He was down to 1850 Life Points. Zaninovich Set his last card – Inmato – then removed Botanical Girl to bring up Amaryllis.

Belohradsky removed Amaryllis with Sorcerer, Set a Spell or Trap, destroyed it and Inmato with Scrap Dragon, and attacked with Tytannial and Goyo Guardian. It was all over a turn later, as Scrap Dragon destroyed Zaninovich’s last card and Tytannial and Goyo attacked for the win!

Adam Belohradsky overcomes Yuki Zaninovich’s Plant Deck, winning the Match 2-1 with Chaos to move on 2-0!

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

Jason Grabher-Meyer (The Old Man of Dueling)
Return from the Different Dimension is a powerful card. In today’s Advanced Format, Duels can take many turns, it’s often easy to fill the ‘removed zone’ with monsters to Special Summon back.  Cards like Cards for Black Feathers, Spore, and Black Rose Dragon can give you the perfect opportunity to play Return, so if you’re not running it, take a look at your Deck and see if you should test it out.

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
Belohdradsky made some cool Synchro Summons with Chaos Sorcerer and Effect Veiler in Duel 1. Since Chaos Sorcerer is a Spellcaster-Type monster and Effect Veiler is a LIGHT Tuner, Belohdradsky was able to Synchro Summon both Arcanite Magician and Ancient Sacred Wyvern with the two of them. Effect Veiler gives Decks like Belohradsky’s added flexibility in Synchro Summons.

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