Nicolas Reardon is from Washington, DC, and is the last remaining Fire Fist Duelist in the tournament! He’s played in Dragon Duels before, but now that he’s 13 he’s playing for his first time in the Main Event! He’s up against Josiah Ebanks, who we saw yesterday winning his Feature Match with Mermails. It’s single elimination from this point on: Only one Duelist can continue!

Duel 1

Reardon began Top 32 with Mystical Space Typhoon, Fire Formation – Tensu, Solemn Judgment, Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Dragon, and Mirror Force. He Normal Summoned Dragon, then played Tensu. Dragon let him Set Fire Formation – Tensen from his Deck, then Reardon used Tensu’s extra Summon to play Bear. He Set the rest of his hand, safe from Heavy Storm thanks to Solemn Judgment.

Ebanks Normal Summoned Genex Undine and sent Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard. He put Genex Controller and Mermail Abyssmegalo into his hand. He Special Summoned Abyssmegalo next, discarding Atlantean Marksman and Dragoons. Marksman destroyed Mirror Force, and Ebanks put Abyss-sphere and Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord into his hand. He played Heavy Storm next, and Reardon negated it with Solemn Judgment, dropping to 4000 Life Points. Ebanks Tributed Undine for Abyssmegalo’s effect, then Set a back row card. He lost it in the End Phase to Mystical Space Typhoon: it was Abyss-sphere.

Reardon drew Fire Formation – Tenki. He played it to get Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla and Normal Summoned it. He attacked with Gorilla and used Tensen to win the battle against Abyssmegalo. Gorilla’s effect Set Tenki on the field. Bear attacked next, and it Set another Tenki, completely filling Reardon’s Spell and Trap Zone with Fire Formations. Dragon attacked directly as well, dropping Ebanks to 3100 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he stacked Gorilla and Bear for Maestroke the Symphony Djinn in defense position.

Ebanks had five WATER monsters in his Graveyard, but Reardon had no cards in his hand, so he couldn’t use Moulinglacia to its full potential. He Special Summoned it anyway, before it was too late. Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and brought Atlantean Heavy Infantry to the field, then Synchro Summoned Armory Arm. He equipped it to Moulinglacia and attacked Dragon. With the battle damage and Armory Arm’s effect, Reardon had only 200 Life Points left!

He drew Gorilla. He activated a Tenki to get Bear in his hand, and Summoned Bear. He sent Tenki to the Graveyard so Bear could destroy Moulinglacia, then Normal Summoned his Gorilla with Tensu’s extra Summon. Bear, Gorilla, and Maestroke attacked directly to finish Ebanks off!

Nicolas Reardon takes the first win with Fire Fists! Can he do it again, or will Fire Fists be out of the tournament for good? The Duelists Side Decked and moved to the second Duel.

Duel 2

Ebanks led with 2 back row.

Reardon had Mystical Space Typhoon, Pot of Duality, Mind Crush, Vorse Raider, Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla, and Thunder King Rai-Oh. Pot of Duality let him choose Bottomless Trap Hole, returning a Vorse Raider and a Gorilla to his Deck. He Normal Summoned Rai-Oh and attacked into Mirror Force. He Set Bottomless and Mind Crush.

Ebanks Normal Summoned Marksman and attacked directly. It Special Summoned a Dragoons, which also attacked.

Reardon drew Fire Formation – Tensen. He destroyed Fairy Wind with Mystical Space Typhoon, then Normal Summoned Gorilla. Gorilla attacked Marksman and Ebanks played Tragoedia! Gorilla destroyed Marksman and got Tenki from the Deck. In Main Phase 2 Reardon played it to add Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to his hand.

Ebanks drew up to four cards and Tragoedia went up to 2400 ATK and DEF. He Normal Summoned Genex Controller and tuned it to Dragoons for Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole. He turned Tragoedia to attack position and attacked Gorilla, but Reardon used Tensen to win the battle! Gorilla’s effect put Fire Formation – Tensu on the field. Ebanks passed with an open field.

Reardon drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He flipped Tensu and Normal Summoned both Vorse Raider and Bear, then activated Mind Crush, calling Gorz the Emissary of Darkness. Ebanks revealed his hand and he didn’t have it. Reardon lost his Mystical Space Typhoon, but it didn’t matter. Reardon attacked with his three monsters to drop Ebanks to 300 Life Points, then Xyz Summoned Gagaga Cowboy in defense position, using its effect to end the Match!

Nicolas Reardon is taking Fire Fists to the Top 16!