Maryland’s Naveen Shankar took first place in a Dragon Duel Championship back in 2009 when he was only 12 years old. He won a trip to Japan and an experience that he’d remember for a lifetime. Now, he’s back as a 17-year-old Duelist, competing in the Top 32 of YCS Philadelphia! Shankar finished the Swiss Rounds with a 10-1 record this weekend using his Geargia Deck. His opponent this round, New York’s Christopher Woolheater, ended the Swiss Rounds with a 9-2 record using his Mermail Deck. This Top 32 Feature Match will determine which one of these Duelists will advance to the Battle Pack 2: War of the Giants Draft portion of the tournament. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Woolheater discarded Atlantean Dragoons and Dragon Ice from his hand to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He added Abyss-sphere to his hand with the effect of Mermail Abyssmegalo and added Atlantean Marksman to his hand with the effect of Dragoons. He Set 3 cards to his back row before passing his turn.

Shankar opened up with Geargiarsenal, Call of the Haunted, Wiretap, Maxx “C”, Geargiagear, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He Summoned Geargiarsenal and Tributed it to Special Summon Geargiarmor from his Deck; but Woolheater discarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Special Summon Dragon Ice from his Graveyard and then destroyed Geargiarmor with the effect of Atlantean Heavy Infantry. Shankar Set 3 cards to his back row and then Woolheater flipped Abyss-sphere. Shankar Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy it, and Woolheater flipped another Abyss-sphere! Shankar Chained Maxx “C”. Woolheater Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck, allowing Shankar to draw a card, and then Abyss-sphere and Mermail Abysslinde went to the Graveyard in the End Phase and Woolheater Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike. Shankar drew another card, and Woolheater used Abysspike’s effect to discard Atlantean Marksman and add Genex Undine from his Deck to his hand with Abysspike’s effect. He destroyed Shankar’s face-down Wiretap with the effect of his Atlantean Marksman.

Woolheater Summoned Genex Undine next turn and activated its effect. He sent Atlantean Marksman from his Deck to his Graveyard to add Genex Controller to his hand. He tried to destroy Call of the Haunted with Atlantean Marksman, and Shankar Chained Call of the Haunted to Special Summon Geargiarsenal. Woolheater Chained Phoenix Wing Wind Blast to discard Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls and send Shankar’s face-down Geargiagear to the top of his Deck. Next, Woolheater banished Marksman and Atlantean Heavy Infantry from his Graveyard to Special Summon Tidal to the field. Shankar conceded, overwhelmed by Shankar’s 5 WATER monsters!

An incredible start for Christopher Woolheater allows him to quickly defeat Naveen Shankar in Duel 1! Shankar will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Shankar opened up Duel 2 with Macro Cosmos, Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare, Geargiano Mk-II, Rivalry of Warlords, Geargiaccelerator, and Dust Tornado. He Set all 4 of his Trap Cards and then ended his turn.

Woolheater Summoned Genex Undine and activated its effect by sending Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck to his Graveyard. He added Genex Controller to his hand with its effect, and then added Atlantean Marksman to his hand with the effect of Atlantean Dragoons. Woolheater attacked directly with Genex Undine and then Set 3 cards to his back row.

Shankar drew Dimensional Fissure next turn and passed.

Woolheater Summoned Genex Controller, and Shankar flipped Rivalry of Warlords. Shankar banished his Genex Undine to keep his Genex Controller on the field. He attacked directly wit his Controller and then ended his turn.

Shankar drew Mystical Space Typhoon and passed.

Woolheater attacked directly with Genex Controller and then Set a fourth card to his back row.

Shankar drew Needle Ceiling and then Set Geargiano Mk-II.

Woolheater discarded Mermail Abysslinde to activate Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and send Rivalry of Warlords to the top of Shankar’s Deck. Next, he flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Macro Cosmos. He discarded 2 copies of Atlantean Marksman to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo next, and targeted Shankar’s face-down monster and face-down Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare with the effects of his Marksmen. Shankar Chained his Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare to negate the effect of Mermail Abyssmegalo and destroy it. Woolheater activated Salvage to return his 2 Marksmen to his hand, and then discarded both of them to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand. He used the effect of Atlantean Marksman to try to destroy Shankar’s face-down Dust Tornado, and Shankar Chained it to try to destroy Woolheater’s face-down Abyss-sphere; but Woolheater Chained Abyss-sphere and Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck! Abyss-sphere was destroyed, and Mermail Abysslinde went down with it. Woolheater Special Summoned Mermail Abyssteus from his Deck with the effect of his Mermail Abysslinde, and then direct attacks from Genex Controller, Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Mermail Abyssteus wiped out Shankar’s 4000 Life Points!

Christopher Woolheater is moving on to the Top 16!