Dragon Duel Finals Feature Match: AJ D. Versus Connor R.
No, it’s not déjà vu! We already saw AJ and Connor go head-to-head in our Round 4 Feature Match earlier this afternoon. After losing Game 1 to Connor’s Mekk-Knights, 11 year-old AJ from New Jersey succeeded in taking two games back-to-back with his Tenyi Swordsoul Deck, keeping himself alive in the Swiss Rounds with an X-1 record. Now they’d face off again, this time for the ultimate prize: the title of North America Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel Champion!
AJ opened with Tenyi Spirit – Shthana, Special Summoning it and using it to Link Summon Monk of theTenyi. He banished 10 cards for Pot of Desires, drew two, and activated Swordsoul Emergence to search Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan. Connor made a point of bluffing a possible response after every effect, feigning an Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to keep AJ on his toes, but it did nothing to slow him down.
AJ Summoned Swordsoul of Mo Ye, revealed Longyuan, Summoned his Token, and Synchro Summoned Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao, drawing a card and searching his Deck for… a Swordsoul Blackoutthat appeared to be missing, due to Pot of Desires! He took a Mo Ye instead, pitched it for Longyuan, Special Summoned Longyuan and the Token, and Synchro Summoned Swordsoul Sinister Sovereign – Qixing Longyuan. He Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone and ended.
Connor opened with a hand of Dark Ruler No More, Harpie’s Feather Duster, two copies of Pot of Prosperity, and Gameciel, the Sea Turtle Kaiju. Then he drew another Gameciel. Brutal. He’d be hard pressed to do anything with that, especially if AJ could keep him off the Prosperity. Connor pressed on: he activated Dark Ruler, blew away AJ’s Set Forbidden Chalice and Heavenly Dragon Circle with Feather Duster, and tried to use his first Prosperity: he banished six cards from his Extra Deck to reveal… nothing, because sure enough, AJ hit him with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Connor Tributed away his opponent’s Qixing Longyuan with Gameciel, and that left him with nothing in hand but the second Gameciel and second Prosperity. Not a good time.
Play was to AJ, who quickly started counting Life Points. “You’re at 6800?” Connor confirmed. He banished Heavenly Dragon Circle to search a Tenyi, and that was enough for Connor, who was eager to get to Game 2.
A rough hand packed with duplicate cards, as well as a well-timed Ash Blossom lead to an un-winnable Game 1 for Connor. All AJ had to do was lean on Connor to take that first win. One more Duel, and he could be the new Dragon Duel Champion.
“This is so scary…” AJ remarked. Connor, focused on pile shuffling and taking the next two games, didn’t seem to hear him. Cordial in the table talk before Game 1, Connor was all business now, and he’d need to be if he wanted to mount a comeback. Connor chose to go second again.
“Yes sir,” replied AJ. “Standby, Main”. He Special Summoned Tenyi Spirit – Ashuna, Link Summoned Monk, banished Ashuna to get Tenyi Spirit – Shthana and Special Summoned it to Link Summon another Monk. He Set a card to his backrow and passed. He flipped Anti-Spell Fragrance in Connor’s Main Phase next turn, Connor tried to Chain World Legacy’s Memory, and he ate another Ash Blossom. Connor Set four cards to his backrow and was left holding nothing but Gameciel, again.
AJ Summoned Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous and used her to Special Summon Swordsoul of Mo Ye. He revealed Ashuna to Special Summon a Token, then Tuned the Token and Mo Ye to Synchro Summon Grandmaster – Chixiao. AJ drew a card, searched a copy of Longyuan, and activated its effect by pitching another Ashuna. He Synchro Summoned Baronne de Fleur, burned Connor for 1200 Life Points, and used its effect to destroy one of Connor’s face-downs: Pot of Prosperity. Ashuna’s effect bounced another backrow card, leaving Connor with only two cards Set. When AJ moved to the Battle Phase and started attacking, Connor offered the handshake.
It’s over! Eleven year-old AJ D. has done it, capturing the title of 2022 North America Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Dragon Duel Champion. Tenyi Swordsoul rules the day, as AJ wins the rematch and takes the first Championship of the weekend here in Rosemont!
