A field of almost a hundred young competitors has been pared down to just two Duelists, and both will be going to Tokyo later the Summer to represent the United States at the Dragon Duel World Championship. No matter who won this Match, both of these competitors were winners already. With their trips to Japan now locked in, this Match was for fun, honor, and the title of North American Dragon Duel Champion!

Twelve year-old Tyler Nilsson is from North Port, Florida, while thirteen year-old Zachary Leverett traveled here this weekend from Atlanta, Georgia. Both competitors made it to the Finals table with Dino Rabbit, though their Side Decks for the mirror match vary wildly, so we could see some craziness after the first Duel!

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Duel One

Nilsson opened the Match by Summoning Rescue Rabbit. Leverett hit him with Effect Veiler; and Nilsson Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Leverett activated Heavy Storm, destroying Nilsson’s Forbidden Lance and Macro Cosmos, then Summoned Kabazauls to attack over Rabbit! It was a devastating first turn. Nilsson would have to work hard to recover from that. Leverett Set three cards to his back row.

Nilsson drew Compulsory Evacuation Device and activated Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Leverett’s Set Solemn Judgment. He Summoned Sabersaurus, but attacked into Dimensional Prison. He Set Compulsory Evacuation Device and lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Leverett Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, Special Summoning Sangan to Xyz Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon. He detached Sangan to Special Summon Nilsson’s Sabersaurus, then Xyz Summoned Evolzar Dolkka using his Kabazauls and Sabersaurus, to outplay a possible Gorz the Emissary of Darkness. Both Xyz Monsters attacked, dropping Nilsson to 2500 Life Points.

Nilsson drew to two cards in hand, holding Tour Guide from the Underworld and a freshly-drawn Sabersaurus. He Summoned it, attacking Leviair to destroy it.

Leverett attacked Sabersaurus with Dolkka next turn, and Set one card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Nilsson conceded a turn later, when he drew Solemn Judgment – no help in the face of Leverett’s onslaught.

Zachary Leverett scores a key first-turn Effect Veiler, and then unleashes a back-breaking Heavy Storm to start his domination over the first Duel! One more like that and Leverett would be our 2012 Dragon Duel Champion. Could Nilsson win two Duels straight? We were about to find out.

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Duel Two

Nilsson started Duel 2 with a hand of two Penguin Soldiers; two Sabersauri; Forbidden Lance; and Solemn Judgment. It was a pretty difficult hand, and Nilsson was clearly not thrilled with it. He Summoned Sabersaurus, and Set Lance and Judgment.

Leverett Set a monster, and Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Nilsson drew Rescue Rabbit! He Summoned a second Sabersaurus, then attacked into Dimensional Prison. The second Sabersaurus attacked into Snowman Eater, and was promptly destroyed.

Leverett Summoned his own Sabersaurus, and attacked directly for 1900 Battle Damage. In Main Phase 2 he Set a second card to his back row.

Nilsson drew Sangan. He Summoned Rescue Rabbit, and banished it to Special Summon two Kabazauls from his Deck. Leverett tried to turn one of them face-down with Book of Moon, but Nilsson chained Forbidden Lance, trying to Xyz Summon Evolzar Laggia. Leverett responded with Solemn Warning, but Nilsson Chained Solemn Judgment! Laggia was Summoned, and it attacked over Leverett’s Sabersaurus!

Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Mystical Space Typhoon and attacked Snowman Eater, destroying it with Laggia. He Set Typhoon and Penguin Soldier.

Leverett Summoned Sabersaurus, and attacked into Penguin Soldier, losing both of his monsters back to his hand. “I did not see that coming! Your go.”

Nilsson drew another Mystical Space Typhoon, and Set another Soldier.

Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Dark Hole, and Flip Summoned the second Penguin to bump away Leverett’s Set monster, and returning his own Penguin to his hand! Laggia made a direct attack, and Nilsson Set Penguin Soldier again! Leverett couldn’t escape the Penguin, and another Penguin Soldier effect sealed the deal a turn later!

Tyler Nilsson plays three consecutive Penguin Soldier effects to fight back from a seemingly doomed double-Sabersaurus hand. The winner of this last Duel would take the Match, the tournament, and the title of Champion!

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Duel Three

Leverett Summoned Rescue Rabbit, Special Summoning two Sabersaurus to Xyz Summon Evolzar Laggia. He Set one card to his back row.

Nilsson activated Forbidden Chalice, targeting Laggia, and Leverett responded by Chaining Forbidden Lance. Nilsson Set Penguin Soldier and Torrential Tribute.

Leverett Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, Special Summoning another Tour Guide to Bring out Leviair the Sea Dragon. Nilsson tried for Torrential Tribute, but Leverett negated it with Laggia’s ability. Leviair brought back Rescue Rabbit; Rabbit Special Summoned two Kabazauls; and Leverett Xyz Summoned Evolzar Dolkka. Dolkka attacked to negate Penguin’s effect, and Laggia and Leviair made direct attacks.

Nilsson drew another Chalice, and activated it to negate Dolkka’s effect! He Summoned Rescue Rabbit, banishing it for two Kabazauls and Xyz Summoning Evolzar Laggia. Nilsson sent it to attack over Dolkka, pressing the attack through with Forbidden Lance! He Set his last card to his back row.

Leverett Special Summoned Rescue Rabbit with Leviair, but didn’t use its effect. He tried to attack with Laggia, but lost it to Compulsory Evacuation Device. Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson topdecked Rescue Rabbit! The assembled audience roared! Nilsson Summoned it, and banished it for a pair of Sabersauri! He Xyz Summoned Evolzar Dolkka, and attacked over Rescue Rabbit with Laggia, then wiped out Leviair with Dolkka! Suddenly the tables had turned!

Leverett Set another monster.

Nilsson drew and Set Penguin Soldier, and when he tried to move to his Battle Phase, Leverett targeted Dolkka with Effect Veiler’s ability. Nilsson wisely passed.

Leverett Set a third monster. He now had three Set monsters with one Set Spell or Trap.

Nilsson drew Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer. The Duel stood at 5000 Life Points for Leverett to Nilsson’s 3800. Nilsson thought a moment before committing: he Flip Summoned Penguin Soldier, sending back his Penguin to his hand, and kicking one of Leverett’s Set monsters off the field. Nilsson Summoned Kycoo, attacked into Dimensional Prison, and negated it with Laggia to force the attack through. But the attacked monster flipped, and it was Spirit Reaper! It remained on the field, leaving Nilsson to send Dolkka to attack Sangan, negating its effet.

Leverett attacked with Sabersaurus, destroying Kycoo, and Set a card to his back row.

Nilsson turned Laggia to Defense Position, and attacked Sabersaurus with Dolkka, but Leverett had Compulsory Evacuation Device! Dolkka was sent back to the Extra Deck!

Leverett turned Sabersaurus to Defense Position.

Nilsson drew Compulsory Evacuation Device, and attacked Sabersaurus with Laggia. He Set Penguin Soldier.

Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Forbidden Lance. He paused a moment, and Flip Summoned Penguin Soldier, but Leverett had Effect Veiler! The Penguin’s effect was negated. Laggia attacked to destroy Leverett’s Set Thunder King Rai-Oh.

Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He attacked into Snowman Eater with Laggia, which was destroyed. Nilsson activated Lance to destroy Reaper, and made a direct attack with Penguin Soldier.

Leverett Set Compulsory Evacuation Device, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase. Nilsson was keeping the pressure on.

Nilsson drew another Kycoo, and Summoned it to attack and banish his opponent’s Spirit Reaper and Thunder King Rai-Oh. Penguin Soldier made another direct attack.

Leverett drew Soul Taker and destroyed Kycoo.

Nilsson drew Heavy Storm, and attacked with Pengun Soldier, knocking Leverett down to 900 Life Points.

Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Torrential Tribute, and turned Penguin Soldier to Defense Position. He Set Torrential.

Leverett Flip Summoned Kabazauls! Nilsson responded with Torrential Tribute, and Leverett Set a monster.

Nilsson drew Dark Hole. His hand was chock full of power cards: Heavy Storm, Dark Hole, and Gorz, but none of them were useful quite yet.

Leverett passed.

Nilsson drew Tour Guide from the Underworld! He activated Dark Hole, then Summoned Tour Guide to attack for 1000 Battle Damage, winning the tournament! Both of these Duelists are headed to the World Championship. Now that this Match is over, they’re officially teammates representing the United States later this Summer!

Congratulations to Zachary Leverett and Tyler Nilsson, our 2012 Dragon Duel World Championship representatives!