This was a total blast from the past!

 

“I feel like we’re in a time machine to 2006 right now,” laughed Paul Levitin as he took his seat.  Nareg Torossian grinned in return.  

 

Both of these Duelists are former Champions with YCS wins under their belts.  Torossian won the first-ever Des Volstgalph at YCS Indianapolis in 2005, while Levitin won YCS Anaheim in 2005, and YCS Minneapolis in 2008.  As teenagers these Duelists were living legends.  Now, at twenty-two and twenty-one years of age respectively, Levitin and Torrosian are back to fight for a spot in the Top 16 this weekend!  The names are the same, but the Decks are very different: Levitin is playing Geargia, while Torossian is running a unique Zombie Monarch strategy.  Both Duelists shook hands before getting down to business!

 

 

Torossian started things off with a Set monster and a Set Spell or Trap. 

 

Levitin had Starlight Road; Mystical Space Typhoon; Heavy Storm; Geargiarsenal; and two Geargiaccelerator.  He Normal Summoned Geargiarsenal, which Torossian took a moment to carefully read.  Levitin Tributed it to Special Summon Geargiarmor from his Deck, then flipped it face-down with its effect.  Levitin Set three cards to his back row to end.

 

Torossian activated Dark Hole, destroying Geargiarmor and drawing a card when he destroyed his own Card Trooper!  He then Normal Summoned Spirit Reaper, attacking to knock Geargiaccelerator from Levitin’s hand.  Torossian gave a little grin, pleased, and Set another Spell or Trap.  Levitin blasted it with Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase: Call of the Haunted.

 

Levitin drew Solemn Judgment and Summoned Geargiaccelerator, attacking through Spirit Reaper.  He Set Judgment. 

 

Torossian turned Reaper to Defense Position and Set a monster.

 

 

Levitin drew Geargiarmor and Set it.

 

Torossian passed.

 

Levitin drew Pot of Avarice and Flip Summoned Geargiarmor: Torossian negated its ability with Effect Veiler!  That left Levitin to overlay his Machines for Gear Gigant X; Torossian flipped Solemn Judgment, but Levitin Chained his own to ensure that his Summon went through!  He detached Geargiarmor from Gigant X to search his Deck for Machina Gearframe, then Normal Summoned it to get Machina Fortress from his Deck.  Levitin ended, with Heavy Storm and Starlight Road Set.

 

Torossian Flip Summoned Mystic Tomato, attacking Gearframe to destroy Tomato and Special Summon Sangan.  He Tributed Sangan for Caius the Shadow Monarchin Main Phase 2, banishing Gigant X and searching his Deck for Tour Guide from the Underworld.

 

Levitin drew Machina Cannon and activated Pot of Avarice.  Levitin shuffled back Geargiarsenal, two Geargiarmor, and two Geargiaccelerator – all five of his monsters – to draw Geargiaccelerator and Machina Gearframe.  “Those just might’ve been the two perfect cards for me to draw.”  Levitin flipped Heavy Storm, destroying his own Starlight Road and Torossian’s TWO Torrential Tributes!  He Summoned another Gearframe to get another Fortress, then pitched both Fortresses to Special Summon one.  He ditched Cannon next to bring up the second Fortress, then Xyz Summoned Photon Papilloperative to destroy Spirit Reaper!  One Fortress attacked over Caius, and then the remaining Fortress and Papilloperative made direct attacks to end it!

 

 

Paul Levitin wins the first Duel, now just a single victory away from making the Top 16 for the first time in years!

 

“You didn’t look too happy when you saw it was Geargias,” noted Levitin, smirking just slightly.  Torossian looked up from his Side Deck, but didn’t verbalize a response.  “No?  Not what you wanted to see?”  Levitin grinned.  There was a tremendous amount of respect between these two competitors, but despite the smiles and the healthy sense of sportsmanship, it was clear neither had forgotten their years of rivalry.  This was another chapter in a very long history, and one that Levitin was eager to draw to a close in the next Duel.  Could Torossian win two Duels back to back, against a two-time YCS Champion?

 

Torossian Set a monster and Set a Spell or Trap.

 

Levitin had Geargiaccelerator; Solemn Warning; two Machina Fortress; Mirror Force; and Geargiarmor.  He Set Geargiarmor, Warning, and Mirror Force.  He was smooth and quick in his Sets, possibly trying to telegraph another Set Starlight Road like he’d had in the first Duel.

 

Torossian Flip Summoned Card Trooper, then sent Tour Guide from the Underworld, Cyber Dragon, and Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning to the Graveyard to power it up!  Torossian bounced away the Set Geargiarmor with Compulsory Evacuation Device, then attacked for 1900 Battle Damage with Trooper.  He Set two cards to his back row, then Set a monster.

 

Levitin drew Forbidden Lance.  He Set Geargiarmor and Lance.

 

Torossian flipped his Set Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Mirror Force after determining his target with the roll of a die.  He Flip Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, and Levitin let it through: Torossian targeted Forbidden Lance, and Levitin Chained it to target the un-boosted Card Trooper.  Ryko sent Dust Tornado and double Mystical Space Typhoon to the Graveyard.  Torossian then Tributed Ryko for Caius the Shadow Monarch, but Levitin played his last Set card, Solemn Warning!  Torossian wisely turned his Trooper to Defense Position, but Set Solemn Warning himself.

 

Levitin drew Bottomless Trap Hole, and tried to Flip Summon Geargiarmor next turn, but lost it to Warning.  He Summoned Geargiaccelerator to attack over Trooper.  He Set Bottomless.

 

Torossian Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, and Levitin banished it with Bottomless.  Torossian had two cards in hand with one card Set to his back row.  Leviting had Geargiaccelerator face-up, with a hand of two Fortresses.  Torossian Special Summoned another Cyber Dragon!  He sent Geargiaccelerator and the Cyber Dragon to the Graveyard, to Contact Fuse for Chimeratech Fortress Dragon.  It attacked for 2000 Battle Damage. Torossian Set a monster.

 

Levitin drew Solemn Judgment and pitched both Fortresses to Special Summon one.  He sent Fortress to attack, but Torossian bounced it with Compulsory Evacuation Device. Levitin Set Solemn Judgment.  Levitin had just 2100 Life Points left, and next turn Torossian Flip Summoned Ryko to blow away Judgment, and dealt just enough damage with his Chimeratech and Ryko to win the second Duel!

 

Nareg Torossian struggles back to win the second competition of the Match!  One more Duel would decide who would return to the Top 16; a familiar place for both Duelists, but a place that neither of them has been in years.

 

Levitin started Game 3 with a hand of Geargiarmor; Dark Hole; Machina Cannon; Machina Gearframe; Monster Reborn; and Geargiaccelerator.  He Set Geargiarmor.

 

Torossian looked dour for a moment, then laughed as he looked at his hand.  “I’m not normally this serious in Feature Matches!”  He laughed again, goodnatured.  “But this is Paul!  There’s something personal here!”  Levitin chuckled his agreement  This was two old rivals duking it out on a grand stage for the first time in years, and both of them knew – and loved – the stakes.  Torossian Set a monster and Set a card to his back row.

 

Levitin drew Geargiaccelerator, then Flip Summoned Geargiarmor to fetch another ‘accelerator.  He Special Summoned one copy in Defense Position, then Normal Summoned Gearframe to get Machina Fortress from his Deck.  Levitin attacked with Geargiarmor, slamming into Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Torossian Special Summoned a second copy with the effect of the first. 

 

 

In Main Phase 2 Levitin overlaid Gearframe and Accelerator to Xyz Summon Maestroke the Symphony Djinn in Defense Position, then flipped Geargiarmor face-down.

 

Torossian drew for his turn.  “That big ol’ Caius?” grinned Levitin.  “Comin’ down with the strength!?”  Torossian shook his head, almost seeming to pretend he didn’t know what Levitin was talking about.  He thought a moment, then Tributed Spy for… yeah, a Big Ol’ Caius!  He banished Geargiarmor with Caius’ ability, then kicked Maestroke away with Compulsory Evacuation Device.  He turned his Spy to Attack Position, then swung for 1200 Battle Damage, then 2400.  Levitin was down to 3500 Life Points.  Torossian Set a single card to his back row.

 

Levitin drew Solemn Warning and blew away Caius and Spy with Dark Hole.  Torossian still had 8000 Life Points – Levitin had some lost ground to make up.  He activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Geargiaccelerator, then Special Summoned another from his hand to Xyz Summon Gear Gigant X!  Torossian turned it face-down with Book of Moon.  Levitin had four cards in hand, while Torossian had three.  Levitin Set Solemn Warning.

 

Torossian drew to four cards with a blank field.  He destroyed Levitin’s Solemn Warning with Mystical Space Typhoon, then Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld to Xyz Summon Leviair the Sea Dragon!  He Special Summoned Levitin’s banished Geargiarmor, then attacked over Gear Gigant X with Leviair, then made a direct attack with Geargiarmor.  He flipped Geargiarmor face-down and Set a Spell or Trap.

 

Levitin drew Bottomless Trap Hole and discarded Geargiaccelerator for Machina Fortress, running over Leviair: Torossian’s face-down Spell or Trap couldn’t save it.  Levitin Set Bottomless.

 

Torossian Set a second Spell or Trap, then Set a monster.

 

Levitin drew Solemn Judgment and attacked Geargiarmor to destroy it, getting it back to his Graveyard.  Levitin Set Judgment.

 

Torossian passed.

 

Levitin drew Dust Tornado and Set it.

 

Torossian Flip Summoned Sangan, then responded with his own Torrential Tribute: “ Solemn Judgment, I’m baiting it out!”  Torossian grinned, knowing he’d made the right read.  “Do it!” 

 

“I guess I have to,” replied Levitin, flipping Judgment.  Torossian Set Heavy Storm, but Levitin blasted it with Dust Tornado!

 

Levitin drew another Fortress and attacked over Sangan: Torossian searched his Deck for Card Trooper. 

 

Torossian drew for his turn as time was called.  Five turns would remain in the Round after this one, with the Duel standing at 1200 Life Points to 5800 in Torossian’s favor.  “Now I have to play different,” remarked Torossian.  “Oh well, they say go big or go home, right!?”  He paused.  “I don’t think I’m goin’ big,” he laughed, Setting a monster. 

 

Turn 1: Levitin drew Dimensional Prison.  He pitched Cannon and Fortress to Special Summon another Fortress, then attacked into Spirit Reaper.  In Main Phase 2 Levitin Xyz Summoned Number 11: Big Eye to destroy Spirit Reaper!

 

 

Turn 2: Torossian Summoned Card Trooper, sending Compulsory Evacuation Device, Cyber Dragon, and Solemn Warning to the Graveyard.  That lucky Cyber Dragon was the only LIGHT monster in Torossian’s Graveyard, and it changed the Duel in an instant!  He flipped Dust Tornado, targeting one of Levitin’s two face-downs at random: he destroyed Bottomless Trap Hole.  Torossian then banished Tour Guide and Cyber Dragon for Chaos Sorcerer, banishing Fortress!  He attacked with Trooper, but lost it to Dimensional Prison.  On Turn 3 Levitin drew a useless Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror, and immediately gave Torossian a hearty handshake.

 

Nareg Torossian is headed to the Top 16 with Zombie Monarchs!