Eric Hodge is from Silver Spring Maryland, and Ambrose Jones is from Independence Missouri.  Jones is 6-1 with Constellars, while Hodge is 6-1 with Dragon Rulers.  Jones plays a lot of tech for this matchup, but one slip or an awkward opening hand could instantly cost him a game.  It was late, and both Duelists really needed to bring their best to this, the last match of Day 1.

Jones started with Monster Reborn; Dark Hole; Honest; Fiendish Chain; Constellar Kaus; and Constellar Algiedi.  He Summoned Algiedi to Special Summon Constellar Kaus, and Hodge responded with Maxx “C” to draw a card.  Jones Xyz Summoned Constellar Pleiades and Set Fiendish, giving Hodge another free draw before ending his turn.

Hodge activated Gold Sarcophagus to banish Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders, adding Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles to his hand.  He turned Pleiades face-down with Book of Moon, then discarded Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos for Reactan to Special Summon a Redox from his Deck.  He pitched Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls for Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets, Special Summoning another Tidal and Xyz Summoning Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack.  He activated its effect, and Jones let it go, not negating it with Fiendish Chain.  When Hodge Tributed a Token for Dracossack’s effect, Jones Chained it down.  Hodges pressed on, banishing Reactan and Blaster from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tidal and get another Blaster from his Deck.  He Summoned Dragunity Corsesca, Tuned it to Tidal, and Synchro Summoned Thought Ruler Archfiend.  It attacked to destroy Pleiades, gaining Hodge 2500 Life Points.

Jones drew Imperial Iron Wall and wiped the field clean with Dark Hole, destroying everything.  He brought back Pleiades with Monster Reborn, then overlaid it with Constellar Ptolemy M7 and attacked for 2700.  He Set Iron Wall!

But Hodge had Blaster, and he pitched it along with Burner to destroy Iron Wall!  He Special Summoned back Tidal and Redox from his Graveyard, then overlaid them to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye.  He used it to take Ptolemy M7, then attacked for 2700 Battle Damage.  Jones conceded after seeing his next draw.

Ambrose Jones opens up fairly strong, but a clutch Book of Moon ruins everything and starts a snowball of momentum that not even Imperial Iron Wall could stop!  Hodge just needed to win one more Duel to finish Day 1 with an X-1 record.

Jones started Game 2 with Thunder King Rai-Oh; Zombie World; Constellar Algiedi; and a whopping three Compulsory Evacuation Devices!  He Summoned Thunder King and Set two Compulsories.

Hodge passed.

Jones drew Constellar Sombre and Normal Summoned Algiedi, using its effect to Summon Sombre.  He attacked with all three monsters to reduce Hodge to 2950 Life Points.  In Main Phase 2 he overlaid the two Constellars for Constellar Omega; used its effect to detach Sombre; then Summoned Constellar Ptolemy M7.

Hodge activated Dark Hole, and Jones saved his Thunder King Rai-Oh with a Compulsory Evacuation Device.  Hodge Special Summoned Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls with Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets, then banished to Special Summon Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos.  He attacked with Blaster for 2800 Battle Damage, then Xyz summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Main Phase 2 – Jones bounced it away with Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Jones drew Maxx “C” and Summoned Thunder King, attacking for 1900.  He Set his last Compulsory, then activated Zombie World.

Hodge Set a monster.

Jones drew another Maxx “C”, then attacked to destroy Hodge’s Set Effect Veiler.

Hodge Set another monster.

Jones drew and Summoned another Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacked to destroy another Set Effect Veiler, then Xyz Summoned Gagaga Cowboy for game in Main Phase 2!

Triple Compulsory Evacuation Device combined with Zombie World and an aggressive string of beatstick Summons allows Jones to capture the second Duel in short order!  One more game would decide the winner of this match, and with three Rounds in Swiss competition left tomorrow, this win was hugely important.

Hodge opened with Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, banishing Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders to draw two cards and search out Reactan, Dragon Ruler of Pebbles.  He discarded Reactan and Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos to Special Summon another Redox, then Set one Spell or Trap.

Jones had Monster Reborn; Compulsory Evacuation Device; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Solemn Judgment; and two Constellar Kaus.  He Summoned Thunder King and Set Compulsory and Judgment.  Hodge flipped Royal Decree in the End Phase!

Hodge activated Lightning Vortex, discarding Burner, Dragon Ruler of Sparks to destroy Thunder King.  He used Stream, Dragon Ruler of Droplets by discarding Redox, Special Summoning Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls.  He banished to Special Summon Blaster, then Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack and Summoned its Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens.  He Summoned Tidal, Tributed his Tokens for Redox, and attacked with everything to drop Jones to 1200 Life Points.  He Set another Spell or Trap, and made another Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack for two more Tokens.

Jones drew Honest.  He brought back Thunder King with Monster Reborn, then Summoned Constellar Kaus to attack the two Tokens.

Hodge Summoned two more Tokens next turn, cleared the field with Dracossacks, and Jones conceded the Match!

Eric Hodge closes out his Day 1 with a win, moving on with a 7-1 record!