Home > 2013/02 - Miami, FL, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series > Top 16 Feature Match: Nicolas Reardon vs. Aaron Riker

Top 16 Feature Match: Nicolas Reardon vs. Aaron Riker

February 18th, 2013

Nicholas Reardon is 13-years-old and competing in his first ever YCS Main Event this weekend! Reardon is using the last Fire Fist Deck remaining in the tournament, and he’ll be facing off against Georgia’s Aaron Riker and his Wind-Up Deck in this Top 16 Feature Match. Only the winner will advance to the Top 8!

Duel One

Riker Summoned Wind-Up Rabbit, activated Wind-Up Factory, and Set a back row. He used his Rabbit’s effect to banish it and add a Wind-Up Shark to his hand with Wind-Up Factory.

Reardon opened up with Bottomless Trap Hole, Heavy Storm, Mirror Force, 2 copies of Fire Formation – Tensu, and Solemn Judgment. He activated Heavy Storm to destroy Wind-Up Factory and Solemn Warning, and then Set Bottomless Trap Hole, Mirror Force, and Solemn Judgment.

Riker returned his Rabbit to the field in his Standby Phase and then activated Fire Formation – Tenki to add another Rabbit to his hand. He Summoned it to the field and then attacked Reardon directly with both Rabbits, dropping him down to 5000 Life Points.

Reardon drew Fire Formation – Tensen next turn. He Set it and passed.

Riker attacked directly with both Rabbits to drop Reardon down to 2000 Life Points and then Set a monster.

Reardon drew and Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla! He tried attacking both Rabbits, but Riker banished them. Reardon attacked Riker’s face-down Sangan to destroy it instead, and used his Gorilla’s effect to Set Fire Formation – Tenki from his Deck. Riker added Wind-Up Magician to his hand with Sangan’s effect. Reardon activated Tenki to add Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to his hand in Main Phase 2 and then used his Gorilla’s effect to launch his own Fire Formation – Tenki and destroy Riker’s Tenki.

Riker returned both Rabbits to the field next turn and then combined them to Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity; but Reardon flipped Bottomless Trap Hole to banish it! Riker Summoned Wind-Up Magician next, and then Special Summoned Wind-Up Shark from his hand. He used his Magician’s effect to Special Summon another Magician from his Deck, and then raised his Shark’s Level to activate the new Magician’s effect and Special Summon another Shark from his Deck. Riker combined both Wind-Up Magicians to Summon Maestroke the Symphony Djinn and detached an Xyz Material from it to put Reardon’s monster face-down. Next, Riker combined 2 Level 5 Sharks together to Summon Tiras, Keeper of Genesis, and Reardon flipped Solemn Judgment to negate its Summon. Riker attacked the face-down Gorilla with Wind-Up Rabbit and Reardon flipped Mirror Force. Riker banished his Rabbit to dodge the Mirror Force, and Maestroke lost an Xyz Material. An attack from Maestroke wiped out the Gorilla. Riker Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Reardon drew Compulsory Evacuation Device. He Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear and then activated Fire Formation – Tensu. He sent Tensu to the Graveyard to destroy Maestroke and then attacked; but Riker flipped Mirror Force to destroy Bear! Reardon Set Compulsory Evacuation Device and passed.

Riker returned his Rabbit to the field and tried attacking with it to win the Duel; but Reardon flipped Compulsory Evacuation Device targeting the Rabbit, and Riker banished the Rabbit from the Duel with Rabbit’s effect. In Main Phase 2, Riker Summoned a second Wind-Up Rabbit.

Reardon Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla and tried to attack the Rabbit; but Riker banished the Rabbit it took a direct attack instead, dropping down to 6400 Life Points. Reardon Set a Fire Formation card before passing.

Riker returned his Rabbits to the field and then Normal Summoned Wind-Up Rat. He activated his Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Magician from his Graveyard and then used his Rabbit’s effect to banish his Rat. He activated his Magician’s effect to Special Summon another Magician from his Deck, and then he activated Mind Control to target Reardon’s Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla. Reardon promptly conceded!

Possessed Gorilla

Aaron Riker wins the first Duel with Wind-Ups! Nicholas Reardon will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Reardon opened up Duel 2 with Pot of Duality, Monster Reborn, Mystical Space Typhoon, Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla, Solemn Warning, and Torrential Tribute.

Reardon's Duel 2 Opening Hand

He activated Pot of Duality to reveal Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Deck Devastation Virus from the top of his Deck, and chose to add Bear to his hand. He shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Reardon Set 3 cards to his back row before passing.

Riker Summoned Sangan and attacked directly, dropping Reardon down to 7000 Life Points. He Set 2 cards to his back row before passing.

Reardon Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla and attacked Sangan to destroy it. Reardon Set Tenki from his Deck with Gorilla’s effect, and Riker added Wind-Up Shark from his Deck to his hand with Sangan’s effect. Reardon tried to activate Tenki in Main Phase 2, but lost out to Mystical Space Typhoon. Reardon Set Compulsory Evacuation Device before passing.

Riker activated Wind-Up Factory and Summoned Wind-Up Magician. He Special Summoned Wind-Up Shark from his hand, and Reardon Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Wind-Up Factory. Next, Riker tried to use his Magician’s effect; but Reardon flipped Solemn Warning to negate its effect and destroy Wind-Up Magician by giving up 2000 Life Points. Riker Set 2 cards to his back row before passing.

Reardon drew Effect Veiler. He tried to attack Wind-Up Shark with Gorilla, but lost out to Mirror Force.

Riker attacked directly with Wind-Up Shark, dropping Reardon down to 3500 Life Points. Riker Set a card to his back row before passing.

Reardon tried to Summon Thunder King Rai-Oh; but Riker flipped Solemn Warning and paid 2000 Life Points to negate its Summon. Next, Reardon activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Thunder King Rai-Oh from his Graveyard. Reardon ended his turn without attacking.

Riker Set a card to his back row and switched his Shark into Defense Position.

Reardon attacked and destroyed Shark, and then Set a card to his back row.

Riker Summoned Wind-Up Rabbit.

Reardon attacked with Thunder King Rai-Oh. Riker banished his Rabbit and lost 1900 Life Points from a direct attack.

Riker brought his Rabbit back to the field in his Standby Phase and then activated Dark Hole. He Chained his Rabbit’s effect, and Reardon Chained Compulsory Evacuation Device to return Rai-Oh to his hand. Rabbit was banished, and Rai-Oh safely returned to Reardon’s hand.

Reardon Summoned Rai-Oh back to the field next turn, but Riker flipped Torrential Tribute to destroy it. Next, Reardon activated Fire Formation – Tensu and tried to Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear; but Riker flipped Solemn Warning and gave up 2000 Life Points to negate its Summon. Reardon Set a card to his back row before passing.

Riker activated Heavy Storm next turn! Reardon’s Torrential Tribute, Fire Formation – Tensu, Gozen Match, and Mind Crush were destroyed! Next, Riker activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Sangan from his Graveyard and combined Sangan with Wind-Up Rabbit to Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity. He tried to activate its effect by detaching Wind-Up Rabbit; but Reardon discarded his last in-hand card – Effect Veiler – to negate the effect! Riker attacked directly with Zenmaity and passed.

Reardon had no cards in his hand or on his field, and he drew… Vorse Raider!

Kaiba would be proud.

He Summoned it and attacked Riker’s Zenmaity, wiping it out and leaving Riker with no cards. Suddenly, Reardon was ahead.

Riker drew a card and Set it to his back row.

Reardon attacked with Vorse Raider but lost out to Mirror Force. In Main Phase 2, he Summoned Rescue Rabbit and banished it to Special Summon 2 copies of Vorse Raider from his Deck. He combined them to Summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Tiger King and used its effect to Set Tenki from his Deck. He activated Tenki to add Bear to his hand and then passed.

Tiger King and Tenki

Riker drew a card and then conceded.

Nicolas Reardon wins Duel 2 thanks to a topdecked Vorse Raider! Riker will be going first in Duel 3!

Duel Three

Riker started off Duel 3 by Summoning Wind-Up Rabbit and Setting 2 cards to his back row.

Aaron Riker

Reardon opened up Duel 3 with Rescue Rabbit, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Fire Formation – Tenki, Vorse Raider, Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, and Fire Formation – Tensu. He tried to Summon Thunder King Rai-Oh, but lost out to Riker’s Solemn Warning. Next, he activated Fire Formation – Tenki and searched his Deck for a copy of Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla to add to his hand. He activated Tensu next, and used its effect to Normal Summon Bear. He attacked the Rabbit with Bear, and Riker flipped Mirror Force to destroy it.

Riker Summoned Sangan and then attacked directly with Sangan and Wind-Up Rabbit to drop Reardon down to 5600 Life Points.

Reardon drew Gozen Match. He Normal Summoned Rescue Rabbit and banished it from the field to activate its effect and Special Summon 2 copies of Vorse Raider from his Deck. Next, he combined both copies of Vorse Raider to Summon Abyss Dweller! He detached an Xyz Material from it to activate its effect, and then Normal Summoned Gorilla thanks to Tensu. Gorilla attacked and destroyed Sangan, and Reardon Set Tenki from his Deck with his Gorilla’s effect. Sangan’s effect was stopped by Abyss Dweller. Abyss Dweller attacked Wind-Up Rabbit, and when Riker banished the Rabbit, he took a direct hit instead. Reardon flipped Tenki in Main Phase 2 to search his Deck for Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, and then Set Gozen Match.

Riker returned his Rabbit to the field in his Standby Phase. He Summoned Wind-Up Magician and then entered his Battle Phase. He activated his Rabbit’s effect to have it banish itself and then used his Magician’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Shark from his Deck. Reardon flipped Gozen Match and Chained Abyss Dweller’s effect. Riker sent his Wind-Up Magician to the Graveyard, and Reardon got rid of Abyss Dweller.

Gogogo Gozen Match

Reardon drew Heavy Storm next turn. He Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear and used its effect to send Tenki to the Graveyard and destroy Wind-Up Shark. Direct attacks from Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla and Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear finished Riker off!

Don't mess with Fire.

13-year-old Nicolas Reardon is moving on to the Top 8!

Nicolas Reardon