Norberto Leon made his breakout showing last November at YCS Seattle, where he took second place with Mermails and set the competitive tone for months to come.  Since then we’ve seen him put in strong showings at big events like YCS San Diego, and this weekend he’s made the Top 32 again with Prophecy!

But his opponent made his rep in Seattle as well, and he’s the only competitor left in the tournament who’s not playing Dragon Rulers or Prophecy!  Alexander Thomas has taken two top 8 finishes at Seattle Regional Qualifiers in the past year, both times with his sweet deck of choice.  Now he’s looking to raise the bar, vying to become US Champion with – wait for it – Madolches!  Would Thomas make it to the Top 16, or would Leon shut him out of the tournament and claim that spot for himself?  Let’s find out!

Leon opened the Top 32 with Spellbook Library of the Crescent, revealing Spellbook of Judgment, Spellbook of Secrets, and Spellbook of the Master.  He Summoned Spellbook Magician of Prophecy to get Spellbook of Secrets, then played it to get Judgment.  He activated it, then followed up with Master to copy Secrets, grabbing Spellbook Star Hall.  He activated it, then activated Spellbook of Fate, Setting Magician and putting a Spell Counter on Star Hall.  He Set two cards to his back row.  Judgment got him Spellbook of Secrets, Spellbook of the Master, and Spellbook of Eternity, Special Summoning Justice of Prophecy.  He banished it to add High Priestess of Prophecy and Spellbook of Judgment to his hand, setting up for a crushing next turn.

Thomas had a hand of Madolche Nights; Vanity’s Emptiness; Madolche Mewfeuille; Ultimate Offering; Mirror Force; and Madolche Puddingcess – he immediately conceded.

“That’s how almost all my Game 1’s against Prophecy have gone,” remarked Thomas, immediately going for his Side Deck.

Norberto Leon scores a strong opening with Spellbook of Judgment, and Alexander Thomas sees no reason to waste time on Game 1!  This isn’t a good matchup for Madolches at the best of times, so Thomas’ only hope now was his Side Deck.  If he couldn’t win two straight he was out of this tournament.

Thomas opened Duel 2 with Imperial Iron Wall; Madolche Ticket; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Forbidden Lance; Book of Moon; and Dark Bribe.  He Summoned Thunder King and Set everything but Ticket.  Not a bad start!

Leon Set a monster, then Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Thomas topdecked and Summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, attacking with it to destroy Leon’s face-down Effect Veiler.  Thunder King made a direct attack to drop Leon to 6100 Life Points.

Leon shook his head a moment, before deciding to Summon a Kycoo of his own.  He sent it to attack Thomas’ Kycoo.

Thomas flipped Book of Moon, targeting Leon’s Kycoo.  Leon Chained Spellbook of Wisdom, calling Spells to force his attack through: both monsters were destroyed.

Thomas drew Madolche Hootcake!  He activated Madolche Ticket and Summoned Hootcake, activating its effect to banish Kycoo from his Graveyard and Special Summon Madolche Puddingcess from his Deck.  Thomas attacked with Hootcake, Thunder King, then Puddingcess, lowering Leon to 900 Life Points!

Leon activated Spellbook of Judgment, then Normal Summoned Justice of Prophecy and activated Spellbook of Life: he banished Veiler, revealed Spellbook of Fate, and targeted Kycoo for revival.  Thomas took a moment to think, then allowed Leon to Summon Kycoo.  Leon sent Justice to attack Thunder King, then activated Book of Moon to target Thunder King: Thomas had Dark Bribe, Iron Wall, and Lance, and Leon only had the Book and Fate.  But Thomas let it go; Thunder King was destroyed.  Kycoo attacked Hootcake, play moved to the Damage Step, and Thomas took Kycoo down with Lance.  Leon was left at 400 Life Points.  Leon activated Spellbook of Fate to banish three cards, ad Thomas negated it with Dark Bribe.  Leon drew one more card and Set it.  Thomas flipped Imperial Iron Wall in Main Phase 2.  Leon moved to his End Phase to search his Deck for Secrets, Master, and Spellbook of Eternity.  He Special Summoned Jowgen the Spiritualist in Defense Position and tried to banish Justice, but was reminded about Iron Wall.

Thomas drew Effect Veiler.  He moved to the Battle Phase and attacked Jowgen with Puddingcess, suffering 300 points of Battle Damage.  He used her effect to destroy Justice, then ran over Jowgen with Hootcake.  “Go ahead.”

Leon activated Spellbook of Secrets for Spellbook Magician of Prophecy, and Thomas hit it with Effect Veiler!  That stopped Leon in his tracks and made him reconsider his plan for the turn.  He activated Master, revealing The Grand Spellbook Tower to copy Secrets, and got Spellbook of Power.  He activated it to boost Magician to 1500 ATK, then attacked Madolche Puddingcess, dealing 500 Battle Damage.  Thomas used Puddingcess’ ability to destroy Leon’s one Set card, which turned out to be a dead Spellbook Library of the Crescent.  Puddingcess hit the Graveyard, Ticket’s effect triggered, and Thomas got Madolche Magileine from his Deck!  Thomas was confident that was it: “We both know all of your cards.  That’s game.  You can’t play Fate because of Iron Wall, or Life.  Tower won’t matter, Judgment won’t matter…” Leon scooped up his cards as Thomas ran down the list.  “Why did you show me Tower instead of Eternity?” asked Thomas.  “I knew you had Eternity, but when you showed me Tower it was the last thing I would’ve had to worry about.”  Leon, realizing he’d inadvertently tipped his hand, gave a shrug and went for his Side Deck.  Thomas appeared to gain a little momentum while Leon hunkered down for a fight.

Alexander Thomas narrowly controls the second Duel, locking Leon down with Thunder King Rai-Oh and then manipulating the field with Madolche Puddingcess!  Play moved to one more Duel!

Leon had Spellbook of Secrets, and he played it to get Spellbook Magician of Prophecy.  Thomas blasted it with Effect Veiler.  Leon Set a Spell or Trap and activated The Grand Spellbook Tower.

Thomas had Anti-Spell Fragrance; Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer; Droll & Lock Bird; Effect Veiler; and Madolche Mewfeuille.  He Summoned Kycoo and attacked Magician, drawing out Leon’s Phoenix Wing Wind Blast!  He discarded Spellbook of Wisdom to spin Kycoo to the top of Thomas’ deck.  Thomas Set Anti-Spell.

Leon drew for his turn and Thomas flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance.  Leon sent Spellbook of Secrets back to his Deck to draw with Tower, then Normal Summoned Kycoo.  He had three cards left in hand, and attacked with Kycoo and Magician for 2300 Battle Damage.  Thomas was down to 5700 Life Points.  Leon Set two cards to his backrow.

Thomas drew the Kycoo again.  He Summoned it and ran it at Magician again, but Leon had another Wind Blast! He discarded Heavy Storm.

Leon drew another card with Tower, Set his two remaining cards to his back row, and attacked for another 1800.  He turned Magician to Defense Positon.

Thomas drew and Summoned the Kycoo again, and attacked Magician again, this time finally destroying it.

Leon flipped one Spellbook Star Hall, then another!  He flipped Spellbook of Secrets, searching Spellbook Magician of Prophecy.  He Summoned it, and Thomas played the second Veiler to stop its effect.  He Set his last card to his back row, took out Thomas’ Kycoo with his own thanks to Star Hall, then did 800 damage with Magician.

Thomas was down to 2800 Life Points.  He drew Madolche Nights and Set Droll & Lock Bird, then Nights.

Leon drew another card with Tower, Set it, and ran over Lock Bird with Kycoo.  Magician made another direct attack.

Now Thomas had 2000 Life Points.  He drew another useless Droll & Lock Bird and immediately offered the handshake!

Double Phoenix Wing Wind Blast is just too much for Alexander Thomas to handle, as Norberto Leon valiantly fights through two Effect Veilers, Droll & Lock Birds, and Anti-Spell Fragrance to make it to the Top 16!