Joseph Giorlando is undefeated with a draw, and Kenneth McCarthy is paired up with a 6-1 record.  McCarthy is playing T.G. Plants, a groundbreaking Deck the likes of which we’ve never seen before.  Giorlando is running X-Sabers, which have performed extremely well here today.  Giorlando’s knowledge of the T.G. Deck and the cards it plays may prove to be a deciding a factor in this Match.  A win here would place either Duelist in great position to make the Top 32 tomorrow.

Giorlando opened the Match with 2 Set cards to his back row, and a Set monster.

McCarthy had a hand of 2 TGX1-HL; T.G. Warwolf; Effect Veiler; Glow-Up Bulb; and Lonefire Blossom.  He Summoned Lonefire; Tributed it to Special Summon another from his Deck; and then Special Summoned Warwolf with Warwolf’s effect.  He activated TGX1-HL, halving Warwolf’s ATK and DEF to destroy Giorlando’s Mystical Space Typhoon.  His second TGX1 destroyed Giorlando’s Trap Stun, and McCarthy Tributed Lonefire to Special Summon Spore from his Deck.  He Tuned it to Warwolf to Synchro Summon Armory Arm, then removed Lonefire Blossom to Special Summon Spore at Level 4.  He Tuned that to Armory Arm to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon, then attacked to destroy Giorlando’s XX-Saber Darksoul.  Giorlando used its effect to search his Deck for XX-Saber Boggart Knight.

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

McCarthy drew Mind Control. He activated it, taking control of Giorlando’s face-down Darksoul and Flip Summoning it.  He attacked with Stardust and then handed back the Darksoul.

Giorlando Normal Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, and Tuned it to Darksoul for Brionac.  He discarded Fulhelmknight to try and bounce Stardust, but McCarthy activated Effect Veiler’s ability to negate Brionac’s!  Giorlando was stuck with an underpowered Brionac on the field.  He got XX-Saber Emmersblade with Darksoul’s effect in his End Phase.

McCarthy drew another Warwolf, and attacked over Brionac with Stardust.

Giorlando Set a monster.

McCarthy drew Dimensional Prison, and attacked Giorlando’s Emmersblade with Stardust.  Giorlando Special Summoned Darksoul, and when he did, McCarthy Special Summoned T.G. Warwolf in Attack Position.  He Set Dimensional Prison.

Giorlando drew for his turn, and mused audibly: “Looks like the ‘T.G. switch card’…”  Giorlando was reading McCarthy’s Set Dimensional Prison as TG1-EM1.  “T.G. switch card, huh…”  He Summoned XX-Saber Emmersblade and attacked Warwolf, straight into Prison, and lost his Emmersblade.  He Set a second Spell or Trap.  He’d made precisely the wrong move.

McCarthy drew T.G. Rush Rhino and Normal Summoned it.  Warwolf attacked to destroy Darksoul, and Rush Rhino and Stardust attacked for a combined 4500 Battle Damage.  Giorlando was down to 800 Life Points, while McCarthy had a full 8000.  McCarthy had Glow-Up Bulb in hand, with Rhino, Stardust, and Warwolf on the field.  Giorlando had 2 cards in hand; 2 cards Set in his back row; and got another Emmersblade from his Deck with Darksoul.

Giorlando Set a monster, then Set a third Spell or Trap.

McCarthy drew Foolish Burial.  He Normal Summoned Glow-Up Bulb and Tuned it to Rush Rhino, bringing out T.G. Wonder Magician to destroy Giorlando’s Mirror Force he’d just Set last turn.  He then Tuned Wonder Magician to Warwolf for Scrap Dragon, and sent Dandylion to his Graveyard with Foolish Burial.  That Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens to fuel Scrap Dragon’s effect, and Giorlando immediately conceded.

Kenneth McCarthy makes some big commitments early on, trumping Joseph Giorlando’s moves with Effect Veiler and Dimensional Prison to win with a perfect 8000 Life Points.  McCarthy’s aggression certainly looked risky, but he emerged from the first Duel completely unscathed.

Giorlando Set 2 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, and Normal Summoned XX-Saber Emmersblade.

McCarthy had Glow-Up Bulb; Caius the Shadow Monarch; Mystical Space Typhoon; Lonefire Blossom; Debris Dragon; and T.G. Striker.  He destroyed McCarthy’s Set Solemn Warning with Typhoon, then Special Summoned Striker in Defense Position.  He Tributed it for Caius, and removed Emmersblade from the game!  Caius attacked for 2400 Battle Damage.

Giorlando passed.

McCarthy drew Effect Veiler and Set Lonefire Blossom. Caius attacked for another 2400.

Giorlando cleared the field with Dark Hole, and seemed to wonder why McCarthy had Set Lonefire.  “What, do you have Dandylion and Spore in hand?”  He Summoned XX-Saber Boggart Knight, didn’t use its effect, and attacked direclty.

McCarthy drew and Summoned T.G. Rush Rhino, swinging over Boggart Knight.

Giorlando Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacking over Rush Rhino and keeping McCarthy from getting another T.G. from his Deck with Rhino’s effect.

McCarthy drew D.D. Crow, and Summoned Debris Dragon to Special Summon Lonefire Blossom!  He Synchro Summoned Black Rose Dragon, forcing Giorlando to negate the Summon with Thunder King’s effect.

Giorlando Summoned Emmersblade and made a direct attack to knock McCarthy down to 4400 Life Points.

McCarthy drew Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Set it.

Giorlando Summoned XX-Saber Fulhelmknight, and attacked to bounce off of Fossil Dyna.  In Main Phase 2 he activated Pot of Duality, revealing Seven Tools of the Bandit, Book of Moon, and Royal Oppression from the top of his Deck.  He added Book to his hand, then Set a Spell or Trap.

McCarthy drew Bottomless Trap Hole and Set it, losing it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Giorlando attacked Fossil Dyna with Fulhelmknight again next turn, and shifted it to Attack Position with Enemy Controller: Fossil Dyna was destroyed, and Giorlando made a direct attack with Emmersblade.

McCarthy drew and Summoned Reborn Tengu next turn, and attacked Fulhelmknight to force Giorlando to negate the attack with Fulhelmknight’s ability.

Giorlando activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon his opponent’s Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, and McCarthy blasted it with Effect Veiler.  Giorlando Synchro Summoned Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, activated its effect, and Chained Book of Moon to turn Tengu face-down!  Tengu’s effect doesn’t activate if it’s removed from the field face-down, so when it was bounced back to McCarthy’s hand, Giorlando was free to make 2 direct attacks and take the win!

Joseph Giorlando makes an early Dark Hole play that pays off, and McCarthy just never recovers.  Some clever footwork lets him Dance around Reborn Tengu, and suddenly we’re headed to a third Duel!

McCarthy opened with a hand of 2 T.G. Warwolf; Lonefire Blossom; T.G. Striker; Foolish Burial; and Pot of Avarice.  He Summoned Lonefire, Tributed it to Special Summon another, and then Special Summoned a Warwolf.  He Tributed the second Lonefire for Spore, and Special Summoned his second Warwolf.  Foolish Burial let him send Dandylion from his Deck to his Graveyard, Special Summoning 2 Fluff Tokens.  He Tuned Spore to a Fluff Token for Formula Synchron, and drew Mind Control with its effect.  He Tuned everything together for Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, removing McCarthy’s XX-Saber Darksoul from his hand.  He followed up, sending 2 Warwolfs, Lonefire, Dandylion, and Formula Synchron back to his Deck for Pot of Avarice, drawing Bottomless Trap Hole and Mystical Space Typhoon.  He Set both.

Giorlando passed.

McCarthy drew Nobleman of Crossout and made a direct attack with Trishula, and Giorlando Special Summoned Gorz the Emissary of Darkness with a 2700 ATK Emissary of Darkness Token!  He Set T.G. Striker.

Giorlando activated Giant Trunade, bouncing away McCarthy’s back row.  He Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, and attacked to trade his Gorz for Trishula in battle.  Thunder King attacked to destroy Striker, and made a direct attack with the Token.  He Set 3 cards to his back row.

McCarthy drew another T.G. Striker.  He activated Mystical Space Typhoon and destroyed Giorlando’s Solemn Judgment.  He Special Summoned Striker, then activated Mind Control to take Thunder King.  He Tuned it to Striker for Brionac, and Giorlando stopped the Summon with Solemn Warning.  McCarthy Set Bottomless again.

Giorlando attacked again with his Emissary of Darkness Token, knocking McCarthy down to 2600 Life Points.

McCarthy removed Lonefire Blossom to Special Summon Spore in Defense Position, then Set his remaining cards to his back row.  Giorlando had 3300 Life Points.

Giorlando moved to the third turn of the end of time procedures, leading in Life Points.  He weighed his options carefully… “It’s tough.  Do I play defensive or try to go for game?”  Giorlando pondered.   “This iiiis tough…  I know this Deck has a piercer…”  Giorlando Normal Summoned XX-Saber Darksoul, then activated Mind Control, targeting Spore.  McCarthy handed it over, and Giorlando Tuned it to Darksoul bringing out X-Saber Urbellum in Defense Positon: McCarthy removed it with Bottomless.  Giorlando attacked for game with his Emissary of Darkness Token!

Joseph Giorlando battles back from a brutal first Duel, taking the second and third Duels back to back!  He’ll move into Day 2 with 7 wins and a draw, in strong position to make the Top 32.