Bo Tang is one of Toronto’s biggest stars, after having topped the North American WCQ in 2011 and representing Canada in the World Championships that year!  Well respected for his incredible consistency making top cuts in the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, as well as his perpetually upbeat attitude, Tang’s playing Shaddolls with Black Dragon Collapserpent, White Dragon Wyverburster, and triple Trap Stun this weekend.

 

His opponent this Round is another lauded Torontonian competitor, Marc Carisse, who was integral to the development of the Pure Geargia strategy in Regional Qualifiers earlier this year!  Carisse is running Shaddolls as well, but he’s playing Super Polymerizations with triple Thunder Dragon instead of the mini Chaos Dragons.  The Dragon’s been a big pick this weekend, but we haven’t seen it in a Feature Match until now.  Since one in-hand Thunder Dragon becomes two via its effect, it’s a great Light to pitch for Shaddoll Fusion, and makes excellent discard fodder for Super Polymerization.

 

“Does anyone want gum?” asked Tang, cheerily offering around a pack to the judges present, the Feature Match reporter, and his opponent.

 

“I would love some, Bo Tang,” replied Carisse, laughing and loudly announcing, “What great sportsmanship!”  Carisse and Tang are good friends in the Toronto community and this was clearly not Carisse’s first Bo Tang rodeo.

 

Carisse won the roll and chose to open the first Duel.  He drew his cards, spent a moment considering his moves with a quick shake of his head, and then activated Reinforcement of the Army to search out Armageddon Knight.  He Summoned it, activated its effect, and sent Shaddoll Squamata to the Graveyard from his Deck.  That triggered Squamata’s ability, sending Shaddoll Beast to the Graveyard for a draw.

 

Tang’s hand was White Dragon Wyverburster; two Mathematician; Eclipse Wyern; Shaddol Beast; and Armageddon Knight.  He Summoned Mathematician in a flash, kicking a Squamata of his own to the Graveyard and using its ability to send Shaddoll Beast, drawing Trap Stun with its effect.  He banished Squamata to Special Summon Wyverburster, attacked with it to destroy Armageddon Knight, then made a direct attack with Mathematician.  Tang Set Trap Stun to finish out.

 

Carisse Summoned another Armageddon Knight, this time sending Shaddoll Dragon to his Graveyard, destroying Tang’s Trap Stun.  “Chain Trap Stun?”

 

“Sure!”  Carisse and Tang both laughed; there were obviously no Trap Cards on the field, but flipping Trap Stun probably just felt more fulfilling in a Feature Match.  Carisse pressed on, activating Soul Charge and targeting Armageddon Knight, Dragon, and Squamata; he Special Summoned them all at the price of 3000 Life Points, activating Armageddon Knight’s effect to send Shaddoll Falco to the Graveyard to Special Summon it.  Carisse then overlaid one Armageddon Knight and Dragon for Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer and blasted Tang’s Knight back to his Deck.  He made Abyss Dweller and Set two cards to his backrow.

 

 

Tang drew Foolish Burial and after some lengthy consideration, moved to his Battle Phase: he sent Mathematician to attack Falco, allowing Carisse to Special Summon Shaddoll Beast.  He Set Eclipse Wyvern and Set Foolish Burial – things weren’t looking great, and when Tang moved to his End Phase Carisse flipped Vanity’s Emptiness to make things even tougher for his opponent.

 

Carisse Flip Summoned Shaddoll Beast for its effect, drawing two cards and discarding Shaddoll Dragon; its effect destroyed Tang’s bluffed Foolish Burial.  Carisse activated Abyss Dweller’s ability, ran over the Eclipse Wyvern (Dweller kept Wyvern’s effect from working), and then ran down Mathematician with Beast.  Castel made a direct attack to knock Tang down to 3200 Life Points.

 

Tang drew Shadoll Fusion!  Not much help with that Vanity’s Emptiness on the field.  He Summoned Mathematician and Carisse Chained the effect of Abyss Dweller, cutting Tang off from seeking potential outs to the Emptiness via Shaddoll Graveyard Trigger Effects.  Tang sent Squamata to his Graveyard instead and Set the Shaddoll Fusion.

 

Carisse discarded Thunder Dragon for its effect, searching his Deck for two more.  He Normal Summoned Shaddoll Squamata, ran over Mathematician (Tang drew Black Dragon Collapserpent), and then finished the Duel with two direct attacks!

 

 

A big opening followed by a clutch Soul Charge gives control of the first Duel to Marc Carisse, as Bo Tang struggles to play catch-up all the way!

 

Tang chose to open Duel 2, doing so with a hand of Soul Charge; Mathematician;  Shaddoll Hedgehog; Shaddoll Dragon; and Eclipse Wyvern.  He Summoned Mathematician to send Shaddoll Squamata to his Deck, again loading up Shaddoll Beast and drawing a card with its effect – Foolish Burial.  He activated it to send Shaddoll Falco to his Graveyard, Special Summoning it in face-down Defense Position and Setting Soul Charge.  “End my turn.”

 

Carisse pitched a Thunder Dragon to search two more from his Deck, then Set a monster and Set three, then four cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone!  “Go ahead.”

 

Tang drew another Mathematician and Summoned Eclipse Wyvern.  He quickly moved to his Battle Phase and attacked with Mathematician; Carisse thought a moment, tapping his game mat as he did, and then examined his hand and his face-downs.  He flipped Sinister Shadow Games: that let him send Shaddoll Beast to the Graveyard, and he flipped Shadoll Falco to Special Summon it.

 

Carisse Flip Summoned the Beast to draw two more, discarding one of his extra Thunder Dragons.  Carisse banished Thunder Dragon and Falco to Special Summon Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning!  He activated its effect to banish Tang’s  Eclipse Wyvern, then attacked Mathematician with Shaddoll Beast; Tang drew Shaddoll Dragon.  Carisse ended his turn.

 

Tang drew Black Dragon Collapserpent and Flip Summoned his Shaddoll Falco, targeting his Shaddoll Beast – Carisse had Vanity’s Emptiness yet again!  Tang couldn’t Special Summon; he Set Shaddoll Hedgehog and ended.

 

Carisse banished the face-down Hedgehog and attacked Falco with Shaddoll Beast, destroying it.  “Go ahead.”

 

Tang drew Sinister Shadow Games, Set it, and Set Dragon.

 

Carisse drew for his turn and Tang flipped Shadow Games in Carisse’s Standby Phase.  Carisse Chained Compulsory Evacuation Device to bounce Tang’s Set Dragon back to his hand, fearing a possible Flip Effect off Shadow Games, and left Tang to send Shaddoll Squamata to his Graveyard.  Tang used Squamata’s effect to yard Shaddoll Falco; Vanity’s Emptiness was destroyed since Carisse had placed his Compulsory in his Graveyard; and Tang Summoned Falco in face-down Defense Position.  Carisse attacked with Beast to drop Tang to 3500 Life Points and Set a third backrow.

 

Tang drew Trap Stun, likely a turn too late.  He Set Stun and Set Dragon again.

 

Carisse banished the Dragon with Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning’s effect, and made another direct attack with Shaddoll Beast. He then discarded Thunder Dragon for the cost of Super Polymerization!  That let him Fusion Summon El Shaddoll Construct, sending Shaddoll Hedgehog to his Graveyard with Construct and drawing a card with Shaddoll Beast.  He certainly didn’t need that Beast though, as one final attack from Construct finished the Duel!

 

 

The stars just refuse to align for Bo Tang, and Marc Carisse makes short work of the first Match of the day, moving on with a 7-2 record.  He’d need to win one more Round of Swiss competition to clinch his seat in the Top 32, and for now it seems as if Bo Tang is out of the tournament!