Toronto’s Bo Tang was the only Canadian competitor in the 2011 Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME World Championship this year, and now he’s back to compete in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series here in his hometown of Toronto!  Tang has a 3-0 record so far, but his opponent this round is Tristan Gonzalez, another well-recognized Torontonian Duelist with multiple WCQ and YCS top finishes!  Tang is playing Tech Genus Agents, while Gonzalez is packing Plant Synchro.  This could become an important matchup over the coming months, so let’s see how it plays out!

Gonzalez Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh to start.

Tang had Tragoedia; The Agent of Mystery – Earth; Master Hyperion; Mystical Space Typhoon; The Agent of Creation – Venus; and Herald of Orange Light.  Tang summoned Venus, and when he paid 500 Life Points Gonzalez Chained Maxx “C”!  Tang Special Summoned a Mystical Shine Ball, and Gonzalez drew a card with Maxx “C”.  Tang refused to go any further.

Gonzalez Summoned Reborn Tengu, and attacked with Tengu to destroy Venus.  Thunder King attacked the Shine Ball, and Gonzalez Set a Spell or Trap.

Tang drew Honest and Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Gonzalez attacked with Tengu, and Tang Special Summoned Tragoedia from his hand, with 2400 ATK and DEF.  That stopped Thunder King from attacking, and Gonzalez activated Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand in the Battle Phase.  Tang Chained the target – his own Typhoon – and Gonzalez lost his Solemn Warning.  Gonzalez moved to Main Phase 2, sending Glow-Up Bulb to his Graveyard with Foolish Burial, and Gonzalez Special Summoned the Bulb.  Gonzalez tuned everything for Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and when he activated its effect Tang discarded Honest for Herald of Orange Light, destroying Trishula and negating its effect!  Gonzalez Special Summoned a Tengu, then activated Pot of Avarice to shuffle back all the monsters in his Graveyard back into his Deck.  He drew 2 cards, then Normal Summoned Spore, Tuning it to Tengu to Synchro Summon Ally of Justice Catastor.  He Special Summoned another Tengu.

Tang drew Master Hyperion and Special Summoned it by banishing Venus from his Graveyard.  He banished a Shine Ball to destroy Catastor with Hyperion’s ability, then got another Venus with The Agent of Mystery – Earth.  Tang changed Tragoedia to a Level 2 with its effect, then stacked it with Earth to Xyz Summon Gachi Gachi Gantetsu.  The boosted Hyperion then attacked over Tengu, and Gonzalez couldn’t Special Summon another!  “It’s in my hand,” he laughed.  The Duel stood at 6600 Life Points to 5700, with Gonzalez narrowly leading.

Gonzalez Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh and attacked Master Hyperion, getting a LIGHT into the Graveyard so he could banish it and Ally of Justice Catastor to Special Summon Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning.  The Soldier’s effect banished Master Hyperion.

Tang Summoned Venus, and paid 500 Life Points twice to Summon two copies of Mystical Shine Ball.  Tang Xyz Summoned a second Gachi Gachi, then Banished Venus for his second Hyperion!  Tang destroyed Black Luster Soldier with Hyperion’s effect, then attacked with it for 3500 Battle Damage.  He Set a Spell or Trap to finish out.  Gonzalez had 1900 Life Points left.  “You got this,” conceded Gonzalez, scooping up his cards after seeing his next draw.

A weak early game secured by Tristan Gonzalez’s opening turn Thunder King Rai-Oh leads to a big comeback with two Master Hyperions and two Gachi Gachi Gantetsus, as Bo Tang captures the first Duel!  Play quickly proceeded to Duel 2.

This time around, Gonzalez opened with Tour Guide from the Underworld, Special Summoning Sangan in Defense Position.  He Set a Spell or Trap to finish.

Tang’s hand was Honest; The Agent of Creation – Venus; The Agent of Mystery – Earth; Master Hyperion; T.G. Striker; and D.D. Crow.  He Special Summoned Striker, then Normal Summoned Venus and used its effect to Special Summon two copies of Mystical Shine Ball.  He Tuned everything together to Synchro Summon Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, but Gonzalez had Effect Veiler to negate its effect!  Tang sent Trishula to attack and destroy Tour Guide.

Gonzalez Set a monster.

Tang drew Mind Control and Summoned The Agent of Mystery to get another Venus from his Deck.  Trishul attacked into Gonzalez’s Set Reborn Tengu, destroying it and letting him Special Summon another.  Tang had no other moves for the turn.

Gonzalez turned Sangan to Attack Position.  He Normal Summoned Glow-Up Bulb, then Tuned it to Reborn Tengu to Summon Ally of Justice Catastor: sure enough, Gonzalez was stuck with his third Tengu in hand again: he couldn’t Special Summon it.  He sent his Sangan to attack into The Agent of Mystery, destroying both monsters and getting Effect Veiler from his Deck.  Catastor then destroyed Trishula with its effect.

Tang drew Dark Hole and activated it, destroying Catastor.  He Summoned Venus, and paid 500 Life Points to Special Summon the last Shine Ball from his Deck.  Tang then attacked with Shine Ball and Venus for a total of 2100 Battle Damage.

Gonzalez Summoned his last Tengu, and attacked Venus: Tang blocked with Honest, destroying Tengu.  Gonzalez Set a second Spell or Trap with 2600 Life Points left.

Tang drew Maxx “C” and attacked with Venus, then the Shine Ball.  Gonzalez had 500 Life Points left.

Gonzalez Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh next turn!  “Wowww!”  Tang reeled, as Thunder King attacked his Venus.

Tang ripped Creature Swap!  He activated it, and Gonzalez immediately conceded the Match!

Creature Swap draws the second Duel to a quick close, despite Tristan Gonzalez’s strong Thunder King Rai-Oh play!  Tristan Gonzalez draws double Reborn Tengu not once, but twice, and Bo Tang moves on with a 4-0 record!