Saturday’s Dragon Duels are underway! Take a look at how some of our young Duelists fared in their first round!

At our first Featured Table, 12-year-old Devan Cross used his Wind-Up Deck to defeat Joseph Hong’s Gravekeeper’s Deck 2-1!

In Duel 1, Hong used Necrovalley to prevent Cross from using the effects of his Wind-Up Rats or using Monster Reborn. Meanwhile, he accumulated a field full of Gravekeeper’s, including Gravekeeper’s Spy, Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Gravekeeper’s Descendant. With his swarm of tombkeepers, Hong made quick work of Devan Cross.

In Duel 2, Cross made several attacks with Thunder King Rai-Oh to defeat Hong. Hong’s only back row in that Duel was Solemn Warning, and once Cross destroyed it with Mystical Space Typhoon, he was free to beat Hong with repeated attacks from Thunder King Rai-Oh.

In Duel 3, Cross swarmed the field with Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon, Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity, and Photon Papilloperative. Hong eventually used Rivalry of Warlords to force Cross to keep only one type of monster on the field, but by the time he activated it, it was too late; but Adreus was strong enough to finish Hong off on its own.

At our second Featured Table, 12-year-old Rishi Lalwani used his Gravekeeper’s Deck to defeat 10-year-old Nicholas Tamayo’s Frog Monarch Deck 2-0.

In Duel 1, Lalwani used Royal Tribute to wipe out 4 cards from Tamayo’s hand, taking the instant lead. But Tamayo fought back, eventually getting Lalwani down to just 500 Life Points. “I could’ve attacked for game,” Tamayo told me. “[Lalwani] was at 500 Life Points and I Summoned Raiza while he had Dark Armed Dragon, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and Necrovalley on the field. If I sent Necrovalley back to his Deck instead of Dark Armed Dragon, I would’ve won.” It’s impressive that Tamayo was able to think back to what he could have done differently to win; that’s how most Duelists improve. Nicholas’s ability to do that is likely to make him a great Duelist.

In Duel 2, Royal Tribute wiped out Tamayo’s hand once again, Lalwani used D.D. Warrior Lady and Macrocosmos to banish Tamayo’s Treeborn Frogs. Tamayo never recovered.

12-year-old Joshua Dal Porto used his Macro Dino Rabbit Deck to defeat 12-year-old Chase Fulmer’s Wind-Up Deck 2-0!

In Duel 1, Dal Porto had Kabazauls on the field and scored 2 direct attacks with it before forcing Fulmer to use Mirror Force to destroy it. Later, he used Tour Guide From the Underworld to recruit Sangan and Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines. When Zenmaines attacked, Fulmer used Fiendish Chain to stop the attack. A subsequent Thunder King Rai-Oh finished Fulmer off.

In Duel 2, Dal Porto beat his opponent down with Thunder King Rai-Oh and Sabersaurus, and Fulmer drew, as he said, “nothing that can stop anything.”

Devan Cross, Rishi Lalwani, and Joshua Dal Porto are advancing with 1-0 records!