William Pedigo came second at this very event last year, and went on to represent the United States at the 2011 World Championship. Now, he’s looking to repeat that feat and compete at Worlds once again. His opponent this round is Philip Kampa, a New Orleans Duelist packing a killer Dino Rabbit Deck. Both Duelists are 7-1, and a win here would place the victor in a great position for Day 2. It’s William Pedigo versus Philip Kampa, and it’s Inzektors versus Dino Rabbit!

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Duel One

Kampa opened up the Round by Summoning Rescue Rabbit, and with it Special Summoned two Kabazauls from his Deck. He Xyz Summoned Evolzar Laggia and Set two cards to his back row.

Pedigo had a hand of Call of the Haunted; Threatening Roar; Allure of Darkness; two Inzektor Hornet; and Inzektor Ladybug. Allure of Darkness got him Solemn Warning and Tour Guide from the Underworld, and he banished the extra Hornet to complete Allure’s effect. He Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, Special Summoned Sangan, and tried to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines in Attack Position. Kampa didn’t negate the Summon, and Pedigo Set Call and Warning. In the End Phase, Kampa kicked Zenmaines back to Pedigo’s Extra Deck with Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Kampa attacked with Evolzar Laggia next turn, then Set a monster.

Pedigo drew Pot of Duality. He Summoned Inzektor Ladybug, then activated its effect to equip Inzektor Hornet. Pedigo tried to destroy Laggia with Hornet’s effect, but Kampa responded by Chaining Forbidden Lance! Laggia survived, leaving Pedigo to activate Pot of Duality. He revealed Mystical Space Typhoon; Soul Taker; and Inzektor Centipede from the top of his Deck, choosing to add Centipede to his hand. He Set Threatening Roar.

Kampa tried to move to his Battle Phase next turn, forcing Pedigo to activate Threatening Roar. Kampa negated it, then attacked over Ladybug. He Set another card to his back row.

Pedigo drew Tour Guide from the Underworld and tried to Summon Centipede, losing out to Solemn Warning. But Call of the Haunted brought Centipede back, letting Pedigo destroy Laggia with Hornet, and getting Inzektor Giga-Mantis from the Deck with Centipede’s effect! He equipped Giga-Mantis to Centipede and ended without attacking.

Kampa activated Dark Hole next turn, destroying his own Sabersaurus. He tried to Summon Tour Guide from the Underworld, but lost out to Solemn Warning. He ended with a blank field.

Pedigo drew Effect Veiler, and Summoned his own Tour Guide to go get another. He stacked them to Xyz Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon, then detached to Special Summon Inzektor Hornet. Hornet equipped Inzektor Giga-Mantis, and Pedigo once again refused to attack, not taking any risks with a possible Gorz the Emissary of Darkness.

Kampa drew to three cards in hand, then Normal Summoned Rescue Rabbit. Pedigo negated its effect with Effect Veiler, and Kampa had to end his turn.

Pedigo drew Inzektor Dragonfly! He Summoned it to equip it with Inzektor Hornet, then activated Hornet’s effect to destroy his Giga-Mantis. Kampa immediately conceded the Duel, going straight for his Side Deck.

William Pedigo fights through a strong early game set-up of Evolzar Laggia, battling his way back into the Duel to mount a big comeback with Leviair and the Inzektor Hornet he’d banished on his first turn! One more win like that, and Pedigo would be 8-1 headed into the remaining Swiss Rounds tomorrow.

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Duel Two

Kampa started the second Duel by Setting two cards to his back row.

Pedigo had Monster Reborn; Tour Guide from the Underworld; Inzektor Dragonfly; Inzektor Giga-Mantis; Pot of Duality; and Torrential Tribute. He Summoned Tour Guide and Special Summoned Sangan, attacking with both monsters for a quick 2000 Battle Damage. In Main Phase 2 Pedigo Xyz Summoned Wind-Up Zenmaines in Defense Position, then Set two cards to his back row. Kampa kicked away Zenmaines with Compulsory Evacuation Device in the End Phase, just as he did in the first Duel.

Kampa Normal Summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer and attacked for 1800 Battle Damage, banishing Sangan and Tour Guide from Pedigo’s Graveyard. He Set a second backrow card.

Pedigo drew Dust Tornado. He flipped his Set Pot of Duality, revealing two more Tour Guides and another Duality. He took a Tour Guide. He Set Dust Tornado.

Kampa attacked for another 1800 with Kycoo.

Pedigo drew Inzektor Hornet. He Summoned Dragonfly, then equipped it with Hornet from his hand. Kampa responded by flipping Macro Cosmos, and Pedigo let it resolve, then destroyed it with Dust Tornado. Kampa activated Effect Veiler on Dragonfly, sending Hornet to the Graveyard before Pedigo could use its effect. Pedigo activated Duality, this time revealing Inzektor Centipede; Inzektor Ladybug; and Mirror of Oaths. He added the Mirror to his hand, and equipped Dragonfly with Giga-Mantis. Dragonfly attacked Kycoo, but Forbidden Lance turned the tables, and Dragonfly went down! Kycoo’ effect banished Inzektor Hornet, and moments later Kama took the win with Heavy Storm and Tour Guide from the Underworld!

Philip Kampa fends off William Pedigo move by move, and a disastrous Forbidden Lance proves to be the beginning of the end for Pedigo. Kampa evens up the Match score, leaving both Duelists one win away from an 8-1 record to close Day 1.

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Duel Three

Pedigo started the last Duel with two Tour Guide from the Underworld; Inzektor Hornet; Inzektor Dragonfly; Dimensional Prison; and Mirror of Oaths. He Summoned Tour Guide and used her effect to Special Summon another copy of her, then Xyz Summoned Wind-Up Zenmaines. “Do you remember what happened the last two times?” grinned Kampa. Pedigo Set Mirror of Oaths.

Kampa Summoned his own Tour Guide, Special Summoning Sangan and then Xyz Summoning Wind-Up Zenmaines. He proceeded to Set four cards to his back row.

Pedigo drew another Dimensional Prison, and Summoned his second Tour Guide from the Underworld. Her effect Special Summoned Sangan, and Pedigo tried to Xyz Summon Temtempo the Percussion Djinn! Kampa flipped Solemn Judgment to negate the Summon, and Pedigo Set a Spell or Trap. “Third time in a row, End Phase!” Kampa called, and flipped Compulsory Evacuation Device, once again removing Pedigo’s Zenmaines from the table! “I’ve been loving this card this weekend.”

Kampa destroyed Pedigo’s Dimensional Prison with Mystical Space Typhoon, and Normal Summoned Sabersaurus. The Dinosaur and Wind-Up Zenmaines both made direct attacks.

Pedigo drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set everything but Inzektor Hornet.

Kampa flipped Macro Cosmos, then flipped Heavy Storm! Kampa lost his second Prison and Mirror of Oaths, and Kampa Summoned Rescue Rabbit to bring out two more copies of Sabersaurus! With no cards left in hand Kampa started talking through his moves: “If I drop Butterfly, and it’s Reaper, I win.” Kampa was referring to Photon Papilloperative. “If I drop Butterfly and it’s Snowman Eater, I’m in trouble.” He opted to Xyz Summon Evolzar Dolkka, and attacked with Sabersaurus, destroying Pedigo’s Set Inzektor Dragonfly. Zenmaines and Dolkka both made direct attacks, and when Pedigo drew Inzektor Giga-Mantis next turn he conceded the match.

Kampa was thrilled with his win, but gracious about it at the same time. He gave Pedigo a sincere handshake: “I know this is a little late, but congratulations on last year, man. Good luck in the rest of the tournament. Take first this time!”

Philip Kampa moves on to Day 2 with an 8-1 finish!