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Round 1 Feature Match: Thomas Morran Versus Dominic Arana

July 12th, 2014

One of the big questions of the morning here in Day 1 revolves around Lightsworn: after taking that huge second place finish at the European WCQ scant weeks ago, will Lightsworn be a big presence here this weekend?  And more importantly, can it go all the way?

 

Canadian Duelist Thomas Morran is betting that they can, competing here today with a Lightsworn build that packs Black Dragon Collapserpent to banish Eclipse Wyvern more easily – that means better access to Judgment Dragon.  But his opponent is Dominic Arana, from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania – a Mermail Duelist.  This match-up is a replay of the Finals from the European WCQ, in which Mermails defeated Lightsworn in mere moments.

 

Could Morran do better?  We were about to find out.

 

Arana opened up the Match with one Set monster and one Set backrow card.

 

Morran had a hand of Wulf, Lightsworn Beast; two Solar Recharge; Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms; Judgment Dragon; and Black Dragon Collapserpent.   He pitched Wulf for Recharge, drawing Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner and Soul Charge.  He sent Kuribandit and Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn to his Graveyard.  He discarded Lumina for his second Recharge, drawing Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress and Necro Gardna, sending Ehren, Lightsworn Monk and Judgment Dragon to his Graveyard.

 

“Gimme a second, I just need a moment,” requested Morran, who dove to his calculator and started running numbers.  He spent a moment to count through his Graveyard, then Special Summoned Judgment Dragon, paid 1000 Life Points… and Arana negated its effect with Breakthrough Skill!  Morran pressed on, activating Soul Charge to revive Lumina and Raiden.  He activated Raiden’s ability to send Lumina and Charge of the Light Brigade from his Deck to his Graveyard, then discarded Necro Gardna for Lumina’s effect, bringing back his first Lumina!  He discarded Tempest for that Lumina’s effect, this time reviving Ehren.

 

D1FieldOfLS

 

Morran spent a moment considering his moves, then committed: he Tuned Raiden and Ehren for Scrap Dragon, then overlaid both Luminas for Mechquipped Angineer.  He activated its ability, targeted it with Scrap Dragon and targeted Arana’s Set monster to destroy it: Mermail Abysslinde!  Arana brought out Mermail Abysspike, pitching Atlantean Heavy Infantry and searching his Deck for Genex Undine!  He activated Heavy Infantry’s effect to destroy Judgment Dragon: “I think I just lost Game 1,” remarked Morran, briefly stunned at how poorly his promising opening had played out.  “Pass.”

 

Play was to Arana, who drew to five cards in hand.  Morran had two in hand with Angineer stuck in vulnerable Defense Position, and Scrap Dragon face-up in Attack Position.  Not looking good.  Arana Summoned Undine immediately, searching his deck for Genex Controller and kicking Atlantean Dragoons to his Graveyard to seek out Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He activated Allure of Darkness next, drawing two cards and then banishing Genex Controller to complete Allure’s effect.  He revealed Abyssmegalo, discarded Mermail Abyssgunde and Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls from his hand to Special Summon Abyssmegalo, and then made a Chain with the resulting effects: he searched his Deck for Abyss-sphere with Abyssmegalo and Special Summoned back Mermail Abysslinde with Abyssgunde’s ability.

 

“Activate Tidal’s effect,” Arana announced, banishing Atlantean Heavy Infantry and Atlantean Marksman to revive his Dragon Ruler.

 

D1FullMermails

 

Arana Tributed Mermail Abysspike to let Abyssmegalo attack twice this turn, then attacked Scrap Dragon with Tidal: Morra kept it around with Angineer, which was promptly run over by Genex Undine.  Arana moved to Main Phase 2 and overlaid for Number 11: Big Eye, taking control of the Scrap Dragon before Setting two of his remaining three cards in hand to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

 

Morran drew another Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn.  He Normal Summoned it, activated its effect to send Eclipse Wyvern and Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress to his Graveyard, triggering the Wyvern’s effect: he banished Judgment Dragon from his Deck!  Morran banished Wyvern to Special Summon Black Dragon Collapserpent, triggering Wyvern’s ability and adding his Judgment Dragon to his hand.  He overlaid Collapserpent and Raiden for Evilswarm Exciton Knight, activated its effect in a bid to clear the field… and Arana had no negation!

 

He Chained Forbidden Lance to reduce the ATK of Evilswarm Exciton Knight, and Chained Abyss-sphere to Summon Mermail Abysslinde, but still lost everything when Evilswarm Exciton Knight’s effect resolved!  Arana brought up Mermail Abysspike, then pitched Atlantean Marksman to get another Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck.  Morran attacked with the Knight to destroy theAbysspike.  Morran gave a tense sigh, clearly on edge and wanting to see his next turn.  He had that Judgment Dragon locked and loaded.

 

Arana drew to three cards in hand and Set a monster.

 

Morran drew Foolish Burial and activated it, sending Eclipse Wyvern to his Graveyard to banish Lightray Diabolos from his Deck.  He Special Summoned Tempest next, banishing his Eclipse Wyvern and Judgment Dragon.  That got him his Diabolos, and he Summoned Judgment Dragon and Diabolos to draw the concession from Arana!

 

D1Finish

 

A strong opening turns into a stumble for Thomas Morran, but he manages to mount a comeback after a huge Evilswarm Exciton Knight and the perfect Foolish Burial rip!  Lightsworn claim the first win of the day!

R1-FMatchArana

Play swiftly moved to Game 2.  Arana Set a monster, and this time Set three cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

 

Morran had D.D. Crow; Necro Gardna; Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Soul Charge; Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner; and Judgment Dragon.  He Summoned Lumina, ended, and when he tried to send three cards to his Graveyard Arana flipped Skill Drain!

 

Arana Flip Summoned Genex Controller and Normal Summoned Mermail Abysspike, attacking Lumina with Controller – Lumina went down.  Arana then launched a direct attack for 1600 Battle Damage with Abysspike.  He Set a third Spell or Trap Card, then Synchro Summoned Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.

 

Morran drew Debunk!  He Set it, then Set Necro Gardna.  No action on his side of the table yet.

 

Arana attacked to destroy the Necro Gardna next turn.

 

Morran drew Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn, giving him lots of possible plays off that Soul Charge, but few good moves with Skill Drain in play.  “I really wish I could Heavy Storm!”  He passed.

 

Arana Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and made direct attacks with both of his monsters.  Morran dropped to 2000 Life Points.  He activated Abyss-sphere next, Special Summoning Mermail Abyssmegalo and attacking to force Morran to banish his Necro Gardna, keeping himself in the game.  In Main Phase 2 he overlaid Mermail Abyssmegalo and Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier for Mermail Abyssgaios.

 

D2AbyssgaiosAbysslinde

 

Morran drew Dark Hole!  He activated it, destroying Abyssgaiois and triggering Abysslinde’s effect: he shut it down with Debunk, banishing Abysslinde and negating its effect.  He Normal Summoned Raiden and attacked to dish out 1700 Battle Damage.  He paused to consider his options a moment before deciding he didn’t have any, ending his turn.

 

Arana passed.

 

Morran drew Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress.  He shuffled his hand a moment, then Normal Summoned the Lyla.  He attacked with it, dropping Arana to 3600 Life Points and following up with Raiden to lower Arana to 1900.  The Duel stood at Arana’s 1900 Life Points to Morran’s 2000.

 

Arana played his own Dark Hole!  He Normal Summoned Mermail Abyssgunde, banished to Special Summon Aqua Spirit, and attacked with both monsters for game!

 

D2Finish

 

“Wow, that was a crazy brick,” grumbled Morran, who immediately went into a whistled rendition of the song from famed Canadian children’s Public Service Announcement, Don’t Put It In Your Mouth (famous for instructing Canadian children to not eat things that aren’t food).  This blossomed into a full-on a capella performance as Morran regained his cheer, one verse at a time, Side Decking for the last Match of the Duel.

 

Arana opted not to whistle or sing.  Would that be a strategic misstep?  Could the lack of song cost him his momentum?  Probably not, but we were about to find out.

 

Morran opened the third Duel with a hand of Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner; Eclipse Wyvern; Dark Hole; Black Dragon Collapserpent; and two copies of Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn.  He Summoned a Raiden to send Minerva, Lightsworn Maiden and Eclispe Wyvern to the Graveyard, straight off the top of his Deck!  “That was uhh, pretty good!” quipped a surprised Morran.

 

“It was!” agreed Arana.  Morran banished Judgment Dragon from his Deck, then sent Lightray Diabolos to his Graveyard with Minerva.  Raiden sent Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress and Debunk to his Graveyard in the End Phase.  Morran had two differently-named Lightsworn in his Graveyard.

 

Arana considered his next move carefully.  Six and a half minutes remained in the Match.  He pitched Atlantean Dragoons to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus, searching his Deck for Mermail Abysspike and Atlantean Heavy Infantry.  He Normal Summoned Mermail Abysspike to discard Atlantean Heavy Infantry, searched his Deck for Genex Undine and blew away Raiden with Heavy Infantry’s effect.  He then made two direct attacks for a total of 3300 Battle Damage.  He Set a Spell or Trap Card to end.

 

Morran drew Debunk and counted his Graveyard: with Raiden destroyed he now had three Lightsworn locked in, with access to Judgment Dragon through Eclipse Wyvern and his in-hand Black Dragon Collapserpent.  He tried to Summon Lumina, but Arana negated the attempt with Solemn Warning.  That dropped him to 6000 Life Points and brought that Judgment Dragon play online with a fourth Lightsworn!  He banished Wyvern for Collapserpent to add Judgment Dragon to his hand, then Special Summoned Judgment Dragon to attack over Abyssteus.  Collapserpent attacked to destroy Mermail Abysspike.  Arana was down to 4500 Life Points.  Morran Set Debunk, and in the End Phase, Judgment Dragon sent Ehren, Lightsworn Monk; Mystical Space Typhoon; Royal Decree;  and Necro Gardna to his Graveyard!

 

Arana drew to five cards in hand with a blank field.  He cleared the field with Dark Hole as time was called: this was Turn 0, and five more turns would be played after this one.

 

Arana Summoned Genex Undine to search for Genex Controller, sending Mermail Abyssgunde to his Graveyard.  He took back his Abyssgunde and Heavy Infantry with Salvage, then discarded Abyssgunde and Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls for Tidal’s ability!  He used Tidal’s effect to kick Mermail Abysslinde to his Graveyard, then tried to revive it with Abyssgunde – Morran flipped Debunk!  Arana had three cards left in hand and did nothing but poke with Genex Undine, lowering Morran to 3500 Life Points.

 

Morran drew another Necro Gardna.  He Summoned Raiden, to send Royal Decree and Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms to his Graveyard!  Arana had 4500 Life Points Left.  Morran banished Diabolos and Judgment Dragon to revive Tempest; attacked over Undine with Raiden; then made a direct shot with Tempest to drop Arana to 1600 Life Points.  Morran sent Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos and Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior to his Graveyard in the End Phase, courtesy of Raiden.

 

Arana Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap Card.

 

Morran drew Foolish Burial, then used Raiden to send Judgment Dragon and another Necro Gardna to the Graveyard!  This was Turn 3 in time, and now Morran had Life Point advantage and two Gardnas in his Graveyard!  He Summoned his last copy, Tuned it to Raiden, and unleashed Black Rose Dragon!  But Arana had Abyss-sphere for Mermail Abysslinde!  That got him his Mermail Abyssleed in Defense Position; Moran blew it out with Dark Hole; and Burial got him Eclipse Wyvern for Judgment Dragon!  He banished Wyvern and Black Rose to revive Tempest, got his Judgment Dragon with Wyvern’s effect, and then slammed it down for game!  Arana gave him the handshake!

 

D3Fin

 

A replay of the European WCQ Finals match-up swings the other way, as Thomas Morran takes a hard-fought 2-1 victory with Lightsworn!  Clearly the singing worked.