This match features Michael Knowles, from Oley, PA, against Manav Dawar from Seattle, WA. Knowles is packing Madolche for today’s event, which have seen a huge surge in popularity thanks to Madolche Anjelly. Dawar’s using a strategy that’s seen a decline in popularity, rather: Spellbooks. Will the new take out the old, or can Dawar show that Spellbooks still are worth reading?

Duel 1

Dawar began with Pot of Duality. He revealed Spellbook of the Master, Spellbook of Power, and Bottomless Trap Hole. He took Power, then Normal Summoned Justice of Prophecy. He played Power and Set a back row card. He banished Justice to add High Priestess of Prophecy and Spellbook of Secrets to his hand.

Knowles started with a hand of Mind Control, Madolche Magileine, Madolche Anjelly, Black Horn of Heaven, Solemn Warning, and Trap Stun. Anjelly came first, and Dawar used Book of Moon to keep it from using its effect. Knowles Set all of his spells and traps.

Dawar used Spellbook of Secrets to get Spellbook Magician of Prophecy. He Normal Summoned it, adding Spellbook of Fate to his hand. Spellbook of the Master came next, copying Secrets to get The Grand Spellbook Tower. He revealed Fate, Tower, and Spellbook of Eternity to Special Summon High Priestess, and Knowles negated the Summon with Solemn Warning – but Dawar had a second High Priestess! He banished Spellbook of Secrets to destroy Anjelly, which returned to the Deck. Spellbook Magician and High Priestess attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Dawar activated Tower and Set two back row cards.

Knowles drew Madolchepalooza, and Normal Summoned Madolche Magileine to add Anjelly to his hand. Magileine attacked Spellbook Magician, and Dawar used Spellbook of Fate to turn the Spellbook Magician face-down, so when the attack connected, he searched out Secrets. Knowles Set Madolchepalooza to finish.

Dawar activated Tower, returning Fate to draw a new card. Next came Spellbook Library of the Crescent, giving him a random card from Spellbook of Life, Fate, and Master. Secrets got a new Spellbook Magician. Next, High Priestess banished Crescent to destroy Magileine, sending her back to the Deck. He played Spellbook Magician to add Fate back to his hand, then used Master to copy Secrets. That gave him Life, and he activated it. At that, Knowles decided to concede!

Dawar takes the first Duel with a neverending stream of search effects! Knowles’s first Anjelly attempt was countered, and he never got a chance to try again!

Duel 2

Knowles’s hand was D.D. Crow, Madolche Messengelato, Upstart Goblin, Trap Stun, and 2 Madolche Anjelly. He played Anjelly, and Tributed her to bring out Madolche Hootcake. Hootcake banished Anjelly from the Graveyard to Special Summon Messengelato from the Deck. That added Madolchepalooza to Knowles’s hand. He activated Upstart Goblin to draw his third Anjelly! He Set Madolchepalooza and Trap Stun.

Dawar Set two back row cards.

Knowles drew Madolche Magileine and Summoned it, adding Madolche Mewfeuille to his hand. He activated Trap Stun, then Chained Madolchepalooza! He Special Summoned Messengelato and Anjelly, and Messengelato’s effect gave him Madolche Chateau. He played it to power up his monsters, and attacked directly to swiftly end the Duel!

Knowles quickly evens the score! This final Duel will be the decider in this Match!

Duel 3

Dawar began with Pot of Duality, taking Spellbook of Secrets instead of Effect Veiler or Torrential Tribute. He played Spellbook Magician of Prophecy, adding Spellbook of the Master to his hand. Secrets gave him The Grand Spellbook Tower, and Master gave him Spellbook of Eternity. He activated Tower, then Set three back row cards.

Knowles had Mystical Space Typhoon, 2 Upstart Goblin, Madolche Magileine, and 2 Madolche Anjelly. He played Magileine, Dawar used Fiendish Chain, and Knowles destroyed that with Mystical Space Typhoon. Magileine searched out Madolche Mewfeuille. He played Upstart Goblin to get another copy, then played that for Soul Release, and his third one gave him D.D. Crow. Magileine attacked, and Dawar used Spellbook of Fate, turning his Spellbook Magician of Prophecy face-down. When it was flipped by the attack, he got another Spellbook of Secrets. Knowles read The Grand Spellbook Tower, then banished Spellbook Magician of Prophecy with D.D. Crow to remove the only Spellcaster in the Graveyard.

Dawar used Secrets next turn, getting a new Spellbook Magician of Prophecy. He played that to get Spellbook of Power. Spellbook of Eternity gave him Spellbook of the Master, then he used Spellbook of Power on Spellbook Magician of Prophecy. Master let him copy Power, and Spellbook Magician of Prophecy attacked Magileine! Dawar added Secrets and Master from his Deck to his hand, thanks to his two Power effects.

Knowles drew Anjelly and played it. He Tributed Anjelly, and Dawar Chained Maxx “C”. Knowles brought Hootcake to the field, and lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole. Knowles used Soul Release to banish every Spellbook in Dawar’s Graveyard! In the Draw Phase, Dawar played Spellbook of Wisdom from his hand. That let him use Tower, returning Wisdom to the Deck for a new card. He played Spellbook Library of the Crescent for Eternity, Wisdom, and Life, getting one of them at random. Dawar played another Spellbook Magician of Prophecy, adding Life to his hand. Eternity was next, getting Master. He played Master to copy Eternity, getting Power back to his hand. He stacked his Spellbook Magicians for Daigusto Phoenix! Next, he revealed 3 Spellbooks to Special Summon High Priestess of Prophecy, and used Spellbook of Power on her! With Priestess boosted and Phoenix’s effect, Dawar ended the Duel right there!

Manav Dawar is the winner, with Spellbooks!