Bryan Rockenbach took second at the US Championship in 2007, and now he was back, competing on the bubble with a shot at another Top 64.  His opponent Michael Albanese is no stranger to success either, his list of accomplishments including a Top 32 finish at YCS Providence last year.  One of these Duelists was likely headed to the Top 64 today.  The other was likely headed home.

Albanese started things off with Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets, discarding Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls to Special Summon another copy from his Deck.  He banished both Dragons from his Graveyard to Special Summon Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders, then overlaid both Dragon Rulers for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Attack Position.  When Albanese tried to Summon his Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, Rockenbach negated the effect with Effect Veiler.  Albanese drew two with Super Rejuvenation.

Rockenbach had Enemy Controller; Dragunity Corsesca; Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets; Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; and Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos.  He Discarded Stream for Tidal’s effect, sending Redox to his Graveyard.  He banished Redox and Stream to Special Summon Blaster, and Albanese responded with Maxx “C”, drawing a card.  Rockenbach fetched his Reactan with Redox’s effect.  He Summoned Corsesca to Synchro Summon Crimson Blader, giving Albanse another draw in an attempt to use Blader’s effect, but Albanese had Effect Veiler to negate it!  Rockenbach had to settle for just destroying the Dracossack in battle, without locking down Albanese next turn.  Rockenbach Set Enemy Controller.

Albanese drew to six cards in hand and blew away Controller with Heavy Storm.  He pitched Redox for Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets, and Special Summoned Tidal.  He revived another Tidal by banishing Redox and Stream, using Redox’s effect to search out Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles.  He banished Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos with Gold Sarcophagus to get another Blaster, then discarded Blaster for Reactan to bring out Redox in Defense Position.  He overlaid the two Dragon Rulers Special Summoned by baby Dragons for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, then Summoned two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens. He Tributed one to destroy Crimson Blader, then made a direct shot with Dracossack.

Rockenbach drew Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders, adding it to his hand of Reactan and nothing else.  He had Crimson Blader, Blaster, Corsesca, and Tidal in his Graveyard.  After much deliberation, he discarded Redox and Reactan to Special Summon back Crimson Blader!  He revived Blaster by banishing Tidal and Corsesca, using Tidal to search out Stream.  He tried to enter his Battle Phase, but Albanese had another Effect Veiler to stop the Blader first!  Rockenbach had to settle yet again, destroying Albanese’s Dracossack and its Token.  Albanese took back his Tidal with its effect.

Albanese banished Reactan and Redox to revive his Blaster, then searched out Reactan with Redox.  He banished Reactan from his hand and Redox from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tidal from his Graveyard, then overlaid them both for Number 11: Big Eye.  He detached to take control of Crimson Blader, then banished Tidal with Sacred Sword of Seven Stars to draw two cards.  He banished two Dracossacks to Summon Tempest from his hand, then traded Blader for Blaster in battle, making a direct attack with Tempest.

Rockenbach Special Summoned Blaster from his Graveyard by banishing Blader and Redox, getting another Redox from his Deck.  He discarded that Redox for Stream, Special Summoning Tidal.

He had one card left in hand – Effect Veiler.  Rockenbach overlaid his Dragon Rulers for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, detached to Summon its Tokens, then banished Reactan and Stream to Summon back Tidal.  He Tuned it with Effect Veiler for another Crimson Blader, then attacked to take out Tempest and Big Eye, successfully triggering Blader’s effect!

Albanese drew to four cards in hand, but was now locked down under Crimson Blader’s effect!  He passed.

Rockenbach drew Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos, and Special Summoned Redox by banishing Tidal and Blaster – he used Blaster to search Burner, then got Stream with Tidal.  The fact that Albanese wasn’t conceding telegraphed a Swift Scarecrow.  Rockenbach Tributed his Tokens for Tidal, attacked, and sure enough Albanese had Scarecrow!  In Main Phase 2 Rockenbach Summoned another Dracossack, and two more Tokens!

“You’re at 3000?” asked Albanese.  Rockenbach confirmed.  Albanese dropped Dark Hole, then followed up with Lightning Vortex!  Rockenbach immediately conceded, not wanting to waste any more time before moving to Duel 2!

Bryan Rockenbach plays hard into a Maxx “C” and pays for it, trying to force through Crimson Blader but running into the first of two timely Effect Veilers!  A second Crimson Blader gives him a glimmer of hope, but Dark Hole followed by Lightning Vortex hammers him again to win Game 1 for Michael Albanese, who’s now within inches of the Top 64!

Rockenbach had Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks; Enemy Controller; Maxx “C”; Vanity’s Emptiness; Dragunity Corsesca; and Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms.  He pitched Burner and Tempest to Special Summon Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos, then Set Emptiness.

Albanese discarded Burner and Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders to Special Summon a Blaster of his own, then banished the two Dragons he discarded for Tempest.  Rockenbach Chained Maxx “C” and drew a card.  Albanese ended.  Rockenbach took back his Blaster.

Rockenbach drew Monster Reborn, discarding Blaster and Burner for another Blaster.  He banished two Burners to Special Summon Blaster, but Albanese had a Maxx “C” of his own.  Rockenbach Summoned Corsesca, Tuned it to a Blaster for Crimson Blader, and brought back his Blaster with Monster Reborn.  Albanese had Veiler for the Crimson Blader again.  Rockenbach attacked Tempest with Blader to destroy it, then Tributed it with Enemy Controller to take Albanese’s Blaster, then attacked with three copies of Blaster to win the Duel then and there!

Bryan Rockenbach steals Game 2 with a surprise Enemy Controller play, getting back in the match and pressing us to a third Duel!  Could the Champ make a comeback here? We were about to find out.

Albanese started the third and final Duel discarding Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls for Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles, Summoning Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders.  He played two copies of Super Rejuvenation in the End Phase to draw four cards total.

Rockenbach had Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks; Vanity’s Emptiness; Electric Virus; Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders; and Forbidden Chalice.  He discarded Tidal for Burner, bringing out Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos, then banished from his Graveyard to bring out Redox from his hand.  That got him Tidal’s search, which got him another Tidal from his Deck.  He took Albanese’s Redox with Electric Virus, then overlaid both Redox for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack.  He tried to Summon Tokens, but lost out to another Effect Veiler.  Rockenbach attacked with Dracossack and Set Emptiness.

Albanese drew to six in hand and banished Tempest for Sacred Sword of Seven Stars.  He searched his Deck for another Tempest.  He took Dracossack with Electric Virus, tried to Summon two Tokens, and Rockenbach let him, not flipping Emptiness.  Albanese Tributed Dracossack to destroy the Set Emptiness, then discarded for Stream to Special Summon Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls.  He banished Stream and Reactan to revive Redox, time was called, and Albanese Xyz Summoned Number 11: Big Eye.  He detached to take control of Rockenbach’s Blaster, then banished Tidal and Tempest to bring back Tidal.  He Tributed his Tokens for Tidal, then attacked with everything for game!

Michael Albanese defeats 2007 runner-up Bryan Rockenbach in a 2-1 confrontation that took both Duelists to their limit, locking his place in the Top 64!