Canadian competitor Gabriel Bonneau traveled here this weekend from Montreal, and he’s paired up against Simon He, a fan-favorite veteran Duelist from the UK. Both of these competitors are playing Spright variants, but they’re running different secondary themes to support them. Both Duelists are very likely to wind up in the Top 32, but the winner of this Match locks their seat here and now.

So who’s it gonna be? Montreal, or Manchester?

Bonneau opened by Summoning Spright Jet, then Spright Blue, and searched his Deck for another Jet, Summoning it to get Spright Starter. Bonneau used it to search his Deck for Spright Red, overlaid a Jet and Blue to make Gigantic Spright and used its effect; He Chained Nibiru, the Primal Being, and Bonneau sent away his other Jet to negate Nibiru with Spright Red.  Bonneau Special Summoned Swap Frog, used Swap’s effect to load up Ronintoadin, and Linked for Spright Elf. He used it to revive Swap Frog, as one does, and Swapped another Swap Frog to the Graveyard. He banished it to Special Summon the Ronintoadin, overlaid it with Swap and Xyz Summoned Toadally Awesome to finish the turn.

Simon He had a hand of Spright Smashers, Water Enchantress of the Temple, Spright Blue, Ronintoadin, Dark Ruler No More, and that Nibiru that had been negated the turn before. He activated Dark Ruler to get things started, then banished Water Enchantress to search Rite of Aramesir. He activated it, resolved it to Special Summon his Adventurer Token, then searched his Deck for Fateful Adventure. He Normal Summoned Ronintoadin, Special Summoned Spright Blue, and made Blue’s effect Chain Link 1, and Fateful’s effect Chain Link 2, protecting the Blue’s effect from interruptions. Bonneau had no response anyways, and He searched his Deck for Dracoback, the Rideable Dragon and Spright Jet. 

He used Fateful Adventure again, getting Wandering Gryphon Rider, and pitched Dracoback to equip it with its effect. He Special Summoned Gryphon Rider and thanks to Dark Ruler, he was free to use Dracoback to bounce away Bonneau’s Toadally Awesome. He Special Summoned Spright Jet, got Spright Starter, and overlaid Jet and Blue for Gigantic Spright. He activated its effect and Bonneau responded with Nibiru, the Primal Being, He Chained Rider’s effect, and Bonneau Chained Effect Veilertargeting the Rider. He was holding Starter, Nibiru, and Smashers. The Chain resolved, the field wiped, and He got a Nibiru Token with 8300 ATK and 10,200 DEF. 

“You have one card in hand, right?”

“Correct,” Bonneau confirmed.

He Set his last two cards, the Starter and Smashers, and passed.

Play was back to Bonneau, who drew to two cards in hand controlling Nibiru. He took a moment to peruse his opponent’s Graveyard. Bonneau Normal Summoned D.D. Crow, then Linked it to Nibiru to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy. On Summon, Simon He flipped Spright Starter, Special Summoning Spright Jet and taking 1300 damage. He used Jet’s effect to get another Starter. 

Bonneau used Dharc’s effect, He Chained Spright Smashers, and banished his Starter from his Graveyard and his Jet from the field, removing Dharc from the game. Bonneau banished Swap Frog to Special Summon Ronintoadin in defense mode and passed!

He drew Swap Frog! He played Starter, Special Summoned Spright Blue, dropped to 5600 Life Points, and used Blue to Special Summon Spright Jet. That got him another Starter, and he Xyz Summoned Gigantic Spright, using its effect and detaching Jet immediately. That let him Special Summon Nimble Angler! He Normal Summoned Swap Frog to bounce his Angler back to his hand, used Fateful Adventure to search Water Enchantress of the Temple and pitched the Angler for the search. He Special Summoned two Nimble Beavers from his Deck, Link Summoned Spright Elf, Summoned Swap Frog to send another Swap to the Graveyard, and banished it for Ronintoadin. He Xyz Summoned Toadally Awesome, moved to the Battle Phase, attacked to clear Bonneau’s Ronintoadin and swung for game!

Simon He squeaks through a bit of a tough spot to explode forward in the Duel, taking a commanding win in Game 1! Both competitors flew to their Side Decks. Twenty-six minutes remained in the round. 

Bonneau would go first again, opening Game 2 with a handshake and Pot of Prosperity. He banished six cards from his Extra Deck to reveal six more from the top of his Main Deck: Deep Sea Diva, Spright Starters, Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit, Spright Blue, and two Effect Veilers. He took Diva, Summoned it to Special Summon another, Special Summoned Spright Blue to get Spright Jet, used Jet to get Spright Starter, and used that to get Spright Red, dropping to 6800 Life Points. 

Bonneau Linked his Divas to Link Summon Crystron Halqifibrax, tried to use it to Special Summon Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and was reminded he couldn’t due to Spright Starter. He brought out his third Diva instead. He overlaid Diva and Halq for Gigantic Spright, Link Summoned Spright Elf, used Gigantic to Special Summon Swap Frog and sent Ronintoadin to the Graveyard.  He used Spright Elf to bring back Ronintoadin, Xyz Summoned Toadally Awesome, then Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Simon He had Spright Starter, Cosmic Cyclone, Water Enchantress, Nimble Beaver, Rite of Aramesir, and Spright Blue. In the Standby Phase, Bonneau used Toadally Awesome’s effect to Special Summon Swap Frog, sending another Swap to his Graveyard.

Rite was He’s first play, and he resolved it to Special Summon his Adventurer Token and get Fateful Adventure. He Normal Summoned the Beaver, Special Summoned Spright Blue, and once again made a Chain with Blue at Chain Link 1, and Fateful at Chain Link 2. Bonneau blasted Fateful Adventure with Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He took Spright Jet, and blinded his opponent’s one Set card with Cosmic Cyclone. 

“You have three left in hand, one of which is Jet?”

“Yup,” replied He.

Bonneau negated Cosmic Cyclone with Toadally Awesome and took it, Setting the Cosmic to his field. Bonneau got back his Swap Frog, and returned Toadally Awesome to the field with Spright Elf.

He overlaid Beaver and Blue for Sky Cavalry Centaurea. Bonneau flipped the Set card he’d protected, Paleozoic Dinomischus, and targeted Centaurea to turn it face-down! Simon thought for a moment, then conceded to save precious time. Fifteen minutes remained on the clock.

Gabriel Bonneau starts his comeback, making the right call with Toadally Awesome to protect a clutch Paleozoic Dinomischus and keep Simon He locked out of Game 2! We were headed to a third and final Duel: both competitors sided pretty quickly, but He’s hands in particular were moving at the speed of light as he shuffled up his Deck. Bonneau took his time making sure his Deck was pile shuffled and further randomized. Simon hustled him to hurry, and then both players pile shuffled each other’s Decks to finish out.

He opened with a handshake, and a hand of Rite of Aramesir, Dimensional Barrier, Fateful Adventure, Water Enchantress, and Foolish Burial. He activated Fateful, then Rite, Special Summoning his Adventurer Token and then losing Fateful Adventure once again to Bonneau’s Ghost Ogre! 

He tapped out some numbers on his playmat and activated Foolish, sending Nimble Angler to his Graveyard to Special Summon two copies of Nimble Beaver. He Link Summoned Spright Elf, brought back Nimble Angler, and overlaid for Gigantic Spright, using its effect to detach Nimble Beaver and bringing out Spright Blue from his Deck. That got him Spright Jet, he Special Summoned it, and Bonneau negated the Jet’s search with Infinite Impermanence. 

Simon He Linked Blue and Jet to Link Summon I:P Masquerena, for another layer of interruption! He Set Dimensional Barrier and passed.

Bonneau drew to four cards and moved to his Main Phase. Simon did a great job playing the role of a man who didn’t have Dimensional Barrier locked and loaded. Bonneau played Pot of Prosperity, banishing six cards from his Extra Deck to choose from six more revealed off the top of his main: Spright Carrot, Swap Frog, Infinite Impermanence, Effect Veiler, Nibiru, the Primal Being, and Spright Jet. Bonneau took the Impermanence. He took a moment to consider, then gave Bonneau a thumbs-up. 

Bonneau Special Summoned Swap Frog, activated its effect, He considered again before giving a nod, and Bonneau sent Swap Frog. He Special Summoned Spright Jet with Spright Elf upon resolution, got Starter, and then Link Summoned Knightmare Unicorn with I:P Masquerena! He pitched Water Enchantress to send Swap Frog back to Bonneau’s Deck, and without any answer, Bonneau immediately gave the final handshake of the match!

Simon He wins Game 3 and the Match, without even flipping that Dimensional Barrier! He moves on with an 8-1 record, now a lock for the Top 32.