Welcome to the North America World Championship Qualifier! For Round 1, we’re kicking things off with the most iconic card of all: Dark Magician! Jhas Corbitt is using Yugi’s signature monster with the new Apprentice Illusion Magician. Hailing from Columbus, OH, he got his invitation to the WCQ at an Indianapolis Regional Qualifier. Also, this is his first ever WCQ! His opponent is John Leong, here from Hawaii! He’s using a strategy that mixes Dinosaurs, True Kings, and Zoodiac. He actually qualified for the WCQ just yesterday at one of the Last Chance Qualifiers! Better late than never!

Duel 1

Corbitt won the roll and chose to play first. He had a hand of Dark Hole, Magician Navigation, Dark Magical Circle, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and Allure of Darkness. He played Dark Magical Circle first, and got Illusion Magic to his hand, putting Apprentice Illusion Magician and Maxx “C” back on top of his Deck. He played Allure of Darkness to draw those cards and banish the Apprentice. He Set Navigation and passed his turn.

Leong started with Zoodiac Barrage, and used its effect on itself. Corbitt used his Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from his hand to negate the effect. Leong continued with Dragonic Diagram, and had it destroy his Dogoran, the Mad Flame Kaiju in his hand to add True King Lithosagym, the Disaster to his hand. He played Fossil Dig next, getting Babycerasaurus to his hand. He used Lithosagym’s effect to Special Summon itself by banishing Babycerasaurus, and Corbitt used Maxx “C”. Lithosagym’s effect banished Photon Strike Bounzer, Ebon High Magician, and Ebon Illusion Magician from Corbitt’s Extra Deck (But Corbitt played 2 copies of all his important Xyz Monsters for exactly this reason!). Babycerasaurus’s effect activated and Special Summoned Souleating Oviraptor. Oviraptor’s effect put Miscellaneousaurus in the Graveyard, and Leong used it to Special Summon a new Babycerasaurus. Oviraptor destroyed Babycerasaurus and Special Summoned Dogoran in Defense Position, and Babycerasaurus Special Summoned Jurrac Aeolo. He tuned Aeolo to Oviraptor, and Synchro Summoned Hi-Speedroid Chanbara. Lithosagym and Chanbara attacked directly, leaving Corbitt with a mere 600 Life Points. Leong Set one to his back row to finish.

Though he was low on Life Points, Corbitt’s Maxx “C” had let him draw Allure of Darkness, Dark Magical Circle, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Eternal Soul, Mirror Force, and Magician’s Rod. Now is his chance for a comeback!

Corbitt drew another Dark Hole and activated it immediately. He Normal Summoned Magician’s Rod, then used Illusion Magic to Tribute it and add 2 Dark Magician to his hand. Allure of Darkness let him draw Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit and Solemn Strike, and he banished a Dark Magician. He flipped Magician Navigation next, and Special Summoned Dark Magician from his hand, and Apprentice Illusion Magician from his Deck! Dark Magical Circle then banished Zoodiac Barrage, and Apprentice added his third Dark Magician to his hand. His two Magicians attacked directly, leaving Leong with 3500 Life Points. Corbitt Set all his Trap Cards to end his turn.

Leong drew and played Baobaboon, but it was negated by Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. When Leong used his Diagram, he lost it to Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit! In the End Phase, Corbitt used Eternal Soul to Special Summon Dark Magician from his hand, and Circle banished Baobaboon.

Corbitt drew Magician of Dark Illusion. He sent his Magicians to attack, and wiped out Leong’s remaining Life Points!

A huge comeback victory for Corbitt, dropping to just 600 Life Points! He used Dark Magical Circle, along with Ash Blossom and Ghost Ogre to pick apart his opponent’s gameplan.

Duel 2

Leong chose to play first, using Fossil Dig. He added Souleating Oviraptor to his hand, and Corbitt used Droll & Lock Bird to prevent any further searches. Leong played Oviraptor and used its effect to send Miscellaneousaurus to the Graveyard. He banished it, and Special Summoned Jurrac Aeolo. He then activated another Miscellaneousaurus from his hand. He used Oviraptor’s effect, destroying Aeolo to Special Summon Miscellaneousaurus. He used his dinosaurs to Xyz Summon Evolzar Dolkka, and Set two to his back row.

Corbitt began with Mirror Force, Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit, Magician Navigation, Dark Magical Circle, and drew a second Dark Magical Circle. In the Standby Phase, Leong flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance. That’s gonna hurt for Corbitt – magicians kinda need spells. Corbitt Set a Dark Magical Circle and his Trap Cards.

Leong Normal Summoned Zoodiac Whiptail, used it to play Zoodiac Hammerkong, and that to play Zoodiac Broadbull. He used Broadbull’s effect to add Zoodiac Ramram to his hand. He turned Broadbull into Zoodiac Chakanine, and had it bring Hammerkong back to the field in Defense Position. He turned Chakanine into Zoodiac Tigermortar, and had it attached an Xyz Material to Hammerkong. He then turned Tigermortar into Zoodiac Drident, also in Defense Position. He went to the Battle Phase, and lost Dolkka to Mirror Force. Leong used Miscellaneousaurus to bring Babycerasaurus to the field. He used Drident to destroy Babycerasaurus, and Corbitt used Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy Drident. Babycerasaurus’s effect Summoned Souleating Oviraptor. Oviraptor’s effect put Miscellaneousaurus in Leong’s hand. He used its effect from his hand, putting it in the Graveyard, and Set one card to his back row.

Corbitt drew Eternal Soul. He flipped up Dark Magical Circle, and looked at his top cards: Dark Magician, Droll & Lock Bird, and Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He added Dark Magician to his hand. Next, he flipped Magician Navigation to Special Summon Dark Magician and Apprentice Illusion Magician! His Dark Magical Circle banished Oviraptor, and Apprentice put Dark Magician in his hand. Apprentice destroyed Hammerkong in battle, and Dark Magician attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, he Set Eternal Soul.

Leong flipped up Fossil Dig, and Corbitt banished Magician Navigation from his Graveyard to negate it! Leong Normal Summoned Ramram, and Corbitt flipped Eternal Soul! He Special Summoned Dark Magician from his hand, and banished Ramram with Dark Magical Circle! Leong banished Miscellaneousaurus from his Graveyard to Special Summon Babycerasaurus. He Set one card in his Field Spell Zone – looks like Anti-Spell Fragrance is hurting more than helping him. In the End Phase, Babycerasaurus was destroyed, and Leong Special Summoned Oviraptor in Defense Position. Its effect put Ultimate Conductor Tyranno in his hand.

Corbitt drew Magician Navigation. He Set Dark Magical Circle, and moved to the Battle Phase. Apprentice destroyed Oviraptor in battle, and the two Dark Magicians attacked directly, leaving Leong with just 500 Life Points. Corbitt chose not to use his Apprentice’s effect to power up his Dark Magician and end the Duel here. No, he’s going for style. In Main Phase 2, Corbitt Xyz Summoned Red-Eyes Flare Metal Dragon! Flare Metal’s effect deals 500 damage every time the opponent activates a card or effect, and Leong only had 500 Life Points left! Unable to play any cards, Leong offered the handshake!

Jhas Corbitt is victorious, with Dark Magician!