Round 4 Feature Match: Bodan Temnyk Versus Shoaib Ikram
International super-star Duelist Bodan Temnyk hails from Sydney Australia, but he’s on the third week of a trip across North America that’s thus far included California, Philadelphia, and now Toronto. He’s playing the Performage Nekroz deck that’s been hugely popular today, but his opponent is Shoaib Ikram, from nearby Waterloo. Ikram is running an Infernoid deck with three copies of the new Infernoid Decatron, plus sided copies of Mistaken Arrest. This could wind up being tough for Temnyk if Ikram can get a foothold in the Match.
Ikram opened the Match with Charge of the Light Brigade, sending Infernoid Devyaty, One for One, and Infernoid Seitsemas to his Graveyard. He searched his Deck for Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, then activated a second Charge! That sent Lumina, Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn, and Infernoid Patrulea to his Graveyard, getting him Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress. He banished Patrulea from his Graveyard and Infernoid Antra from his hand to Special Summon Infernoid Attondel from his hand, then Normal Summoned Lumina, pitching Raiden to revive it.
He activated Raiden’s effect to send two copies of Infernoid Decatron to his Graveyard, then yarded three more Infernoids in his End Phase. That was huge. He ended with seven Infernoids in his Graveyard.
Ikram had a hand of two Senju of the Thousand Hands; Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz; Nekroz of Valkyrus; Nekroz of Unicore; and Performage Hat Tricker. He spent a few moments reading Ikram’s cards, then Summoned Senju to get Nekroz of Clausolas, pitching it for Nekroz Kaleidoscope. He activated it to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard and using its effect to search Nekroz Cycle. He activated it, Tributing Shurit to Ritual Summon Valkyrus, then got Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck with Shurit’s ability. Temnyk attacked Lumina with Senju, then ran over Raiden with Unicore, and Seitsemas with Valkyrus.
He overlaid Senju and Unicore, took another few moments to read Ikram’s cards again, and Xyz Summoned Number 80: Rhapsody in Berserk to banish Attondel and Devyaty from Ikram’s Graveyard. Temnyk then drew Vanity’s Emptiness and Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands with Valkyrus’ effect, clearing his field. He banished Clausolas and Nekroz Kaleidoscope to get Nekroz Mirror, then pitched Brionac to get another Valkyrus. He activated Mirror to banish Shurit, Summon Valkyrus, and Set Emptiness.
Ikram drew, and Temnyk flipped Vanity’s Emptiness. Ikram summoned Lyla to destroy it, turning her to defense mode for her effect, then banished Permais and Decatron to revive Infernoid Seitsemas. He Tributed Lyla to banish Nekroz Mirror from Temnyk’s yard, then banished his second Decatron and one Seitsemas from the Graveyard to Special Summon his last copy. He overlaid his two Level 7’s, but when he went through his Extra Deck he didn’t seem to find what he wanted.
“You know that moment when you find no card in the Extra Deck, when you’re looking for a specific one?” He reluctantly Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, detached to Special Summon two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, and Tributed off Dracossack to destroy Valkyrus. He banished to revive Attondel for a direct attack, then Tributed a Mecha Phantom Beast Token for Attondel’s effect in Main Phase 2, banishing Temnyk’s Nekroz Cycle.
Temnyk drew Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Summoned it to get Nekroz Cycle from his Deck. He activated it, and Ikram Chained another Infernoid effect to banish Temnyk’s Valkyrus from his Graveyard. Temnyk continued, Summoning another Valkyrus by Tributing Senju and Manju. He Special Summoned Hat Tricker and made three direct attacks to drop Ikram to 4300 Life Points. Temnyk had 5200 LP left.
Temnyk overlaid Hat Tricker and Senju for Daigusto Emeral, and detached for its effect: he shuffled a Unicore and two Manjus back into his Deck, then drew Maxx “C”. He Tributed it for Valkyrus’ effect, this time drawing Nekroz Kaleidoscope.
Ikram was down to topdecking. He drew to one card in hand and banished Attondel to Special Summon his topdecked Patrulea.
Temnyk drew Mystical Space Typhoon , and shuffled back two Senju and Hat Tricker next turn, drawing Performage Damage Juggler. He Normal Summoned it, attacked over Patrulea and then made direct attacks to seal the Duel!
Shoaib Ikram scores a spectacular opening turn, loading Infernoid after Infernoid to his Graveyard, but it’s just not enough, as Bodan Temnyk steamrolls him with a stream of classic Nekroz plays – virtually no Performages in sight. Onto Duel 2!
Ikram opened with two Set cards to his backrow.
Temnyk had Preparation of Rites; Senju of the Thousand Hands; Performange Trick Clown; Nekroz of Valkyrus; Nekroz Kaleidoscope; and Performage Damage Juggler. He Summoned Senju, Ikram responded with Mistaken Arrest to stop the search, and Temnyk ended.
Ikram banished Infernoid Antra from his hand to Summon Infernoid Harmadik, then flipped Needlebug Nest, sending Archlord Kristya, Reasoning, Infernoid Decatron, Infernoid Devyaty, and Infernoid Seitsemas to his Graveyard. He activated Soul Charge to revive Archlord Kristya and ended!
Temnyk Summoned Trick Clown and attacked into Harmadik, destroying both monsters. He turned Senju of the Thousand Hands to defense mode. “Your turn.”
Ikram Summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, attacked over Senju with Kristya, then made a direct attack with Lumina. He didn’t manage to send any Infernoids to the Graveyard in the End Phase with Lumina’s effect.
Temnyk Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.
Ikram attacked with Lumina, then Kristya; Temnyk blocked the damage from Kristya with Damage Juggler. Once again, Ikram couldn’t find an Infernoid with his End Phase Lumina effect.
Temnyk Set another card to his backrow, and Set Hat Tricker.
Ikgram attacked it with Kristya next turn, then made another direct attack with Lumina.
Temnyk Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to get Nekroz of Brionac, pitching it to search his Deck for Nekroz of Unicore. He dumped that to get back Brionac.
Ikram attacked Manju with Kristya and Temnyk blocked with Valkyrus. Ikram sent a single Infernoid to the Graveyard.
Temnyk turned Manju to Defense Position and dumped Brionac to get another Unicore. That got him back his Valkyrus. Seven minutes remained in the Round.
Ikram knocked him down to 4000 Life Points. Ikram had nine cards left in Deck.
Temnyk Set a monster.
Ikram attacked it with Kristya, destroying Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz, and dished out another 1000 damage with Lumina. He sent three more cards to his graveyard.
Temnyk passed.
Ikram Summoned Infernoid Decatron and sent Attondel to his Graveyard. He Tributed away Kristya to banish Temnyk’s Brionac from his Graveyard, and Temnyk flipped Vanity’s Emptiness. Ikram destroyed it with Galaxy Cyclone’s effect from his Graveyard. One Star Eater later, Ikram had evened up the Match score to 1-1!
Four minutes remained in the Round as the competitors Side Decked and shuffled. Temny opted to go second. “Good luck.”
Ikram opened up with One for One, discarding Infernoid Seitsemas to Special Summon Infernoid Decatron in Defense Position. He activated its effect, and Temnyk Chained the ability of Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy it. Ikram sent Infernoid Onuncu to his Graveyard, then Normal Summoned Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn to send Attondel and Lumina from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He banished to Special Summon Onuncu, then sent two more Infernoids to his Gravyard in the End Phase thanks to Raiden’s effect!
This was Turn 1 in time. Temnyk had Dance Princess of the Nekroz; Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands; Senju of the Thousand Hands; Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz; and Nekroz Cycle. He Summoned Senju to search Brionac, and pitched that to get Nekroz of Valkyrus. He activated Nekroz Cycle and Ikram Tributed Raiden for Onuncu’s negation effect, shutting the Cycle down.
Turn 2. Ikram had another Infernoid Decatron! He used it to send Attondel to the Graveyard, then Tributed it to banish Nekroz of Brionac from Temnyk’s Graveyard. He ran down Manju with Onuncu.
Turn 3. Temnyk Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to search Brionac, getting Clausolas, to search Nekroz Mirror.
Turn 4. Ikram Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and attacked, drawing out Nekroz of Valkyrus. Ikram Set a spell or trap.
Turn 5. Temnyk activated Reinforcement of the Army, and Ikram flipped Mistake! “Game?”
“Oh no, definitely not.” Temnyk considered his moves, but seemed to grow less and less confident as the moments slipped by. He Summoned Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz. He overlaid, shaking his head, and went for Daigusto Emeral, shuffling back three cards from his Graveyard. He drew Nekroz of Clausolas. Temnyk revealed his hand and conceded, offering the handshake.
Shoaib Ikram scores a huge win, just barely staying half a step ahead Bodan Temnyk! Infernoids with Infernoid Decatron oust Nekroz with Performages, as Ikram moves on to Round 5 undefeated.