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The Finals –
Charles Easton versus Matt Peddle
This weekend 200 of Canada’s best Duelists were narrowed down to two final competitors, both from right here in Toronto. Easton is playing Synchro Cat, the newest entry in this format’s pantheon of top strategies. Peddle however, is playing an aggressive Blackwing build. Both of these Decks are fast, deadly, and capable of sweeping a Duel in a single turn.
Easton opened the match with a Set monster, briefly forgetting to draw for his turn. The mistake was brought to his attention: “I am so nervous!” He ended with just his single play.
Peddle had “Book of Moon,” “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow,” “Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North,” “Blackwing - Bora the Spear,” “Monster Reborn,” and “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He Normal Summoned Bora, Set “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and Set “Book of Moon,” just in case the Set monster he was about to attack was “Morphing Jar.” It wasn’t: it was “Mystic Tomato,” and after taking 600 piercing damage Easton Special Summoned “Summoner Monk.” With that, play was back to Easton.
He remembered to draw for his turn this time and shook his head, seemingly unhappy with his hand. He activated “Giant Trunade” and Peddle chained “Book of Moon” to turn his Bora face-down: doing so would mitigate the chance of a troublesome “Brain Control” pushing a big turn into a one-turn KO. 
Easton then Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat,” sending it to the Graveyard to Special Summon two copies of “X-Saber Airbellum.” He discarded “Cold Wave” for his Monk’s effect, Summoned “Rose, Warrior of Revenge,” and began running numbers. Finally, he activated “Mind Control” – Peddle scooped his cards and conceded Duel 1.
Peddle opened Duel 2 with “Icarus Attack,” “Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn,” “Allure of Darkness,” “Threatening Roar,” “Skill Drain,” and “Monster Reborn.” His hand was pretty awkward, offering no superior opening plays. He activated Allure, drawing “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow” and “Mirror Force.” He removed Kalut, keeping his Sirocco for next turn, and seemed to consider Setting “Mirror Force.” He Set it after a moment’s hesitation along with “Threatening Roar” and passed.
Easton quickly Set two Spell or Trap Cards to match Peddle’s field, then passed his turn. Peddle drew a second copy of “Icarus Attack,” Set “Skill Drain,” and ended. Easton passed. Peddle drew another Kalut, a blessing given the fact that he was stuck with two “Icarus Attack” in-hand. He Summoned Kalut, attacked for 1400 damage, and Set one copy of “Icarus Attack.”
As soon as Easton drew for his Draw Phase Peddle Tributed Kalut for “Icarus Attack,” targeting Easton’s two face-down cards in his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Easton chained one, “Dust Tornado,” to destroy Peddle’s “Skill Drain” and Peddle reeled. Easton lost “Bottomless Trap Hole” as “Icarus Attack” resolved. He Normal Summoned “X-Saber Airbellum,” attacked, and Peddle flipped “Mirror Force” to destroy it. Easton Set one Spell or Trap Card and ended with four cards in hand.
Peddle drew to four himself, finally nabbing a playable monster with some Attack Points: “Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame.” He Normal Summoned it, attacked, and pressed through another 1800 damage. He Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.
Easton still didn’t seem to have much going on. He passed, and Peddle drew another “Threatening Roar.” He attacked with Shura again, and this time he forced Easton to activate “Book of Moon” to flip Shura face-down and stop the damage! Easton passed again – how bad was Easton’s hand? He had just 4800 Life Points remaining.
Peddle smelled the obvious weakness, but couldn’t get another monster to finish the game in conjunction with his Reborn. He activated Reborn anyways, taking “X-Saber Airbellum” from his opponent’s Graveyard, and then Flip Summoned Shura. Airbellum attacked, Easton Special Summoned “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness,” and Peddle forced him to discard “Mind Control.” Shura attacked the “Emissary of Darkness Token,” destroyed it, and Peddle moved to his End Phase with no further plays. Easton drew to five cards and still controlled Gorz.
He activated “Giant Trunade” and Peddle chained “Threatening Roar.” He returned his face-down “Icarus Attack” to his hand, and Easton had the look of a Duelist who’d just wasted his best chance for victory. He Set one Spell or Trap Card and ended.
Gale was Peddle’s next card, and he Special Summoned it in Defense Position. Its effect halved Gorz’s ATK and DEF, and Peddle went on the offensive with Shura. Easton took 450 damage, lost Gorz, and Shura’s effect Summoned another copy of Kalut from his Deck! Easton had only 2750 Life Points remaining. Airbellum attacked for 1600 damage and Easton conceded.
Matt Peddle fought back to push the deciding match to one more Duel! This next Duel would decide who would win their first National Title, who would go to Tokyo, and who would emerge from this event wielding their very own copy of “Dark End Dragon.” Both players were just one Duel away from the biggest win of their Dueling career. The pressure was on and Easton would have the advantage of going first.
He opened with a Set card to each zone. Peddle had two copies of “Bottomless Trap Hole,” “Blackwing - Bora the Spear,” “Skill Drain,” “Mirror Force,” and “Threatening Roar.” He Normal Summoned Bora, lost it to “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and was left with a hand of five Trap Cards. He Set two of them: “Threatening Roar” and Bottomless.
Easton hit him with “Heavy Storm” and Peddle chained “Threatening Roar.” While Peddle’s options were sinking in numbers, Easton’s were growing, as he Flip Summoned “Gravekeeper's Spy” to Summon “Gravekeeper's Guard” in Defense Position. He Normal Summoned Gale, tuned it to Spy, and Synchro Summoned “Blackwing Armor Master.” He Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone to back it up, and ended with one card in hand.
Peddle drew another Trap and Set all four of his remaining cards – there was no way this was going to go well. Easton attacked with Armor Master, Peddle flipped “Mirror Force” to get rid of it, and next turn he drew another card that was Set to his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Easton turned his Guard to Attack Position, attacked for 1000 damage, and Peddle drew Shura!
He Normal Summoned it, hoping it would stay on the field, but his hopes were cut short when he attacked and Easton flipped “Crush Card Virus”! Easton Tributed his Guard, Peddle lost Shura, and play was back to Easton. He drew to four in hand, Summoned “Sangan,” and scratched at Peddle for 1000 damage. The Duel stood at 8000 Life Points to 6000. Next turn Peddle drew Sirocco, lost it to “Crush Card Virus,” and passed.
Easton Normal Summoned “Thunder King Rai-Oh,” prompting Peddle to flip “Torrential Tribute.” “Sangan” fetched “Rescue Cat” from Easton’s Deck, and Peddle was up. He revealed his last draw under “Crush Card Virus”: “Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind.” He Summoned it and Easton flipped “Torrential Tribute.”
Easton drew a fifth card and contemplated his hand: Peddle had only three cards left, all of which were in his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Easton Summoned “Rescue Cat” and activated its effect to Special Summon Dark Panther and “X-Saber Airbellum.” Peddle activated “Bottomless Trap Hole” to remove Airbellum, then took 1000 damage from Dark Panther. Easton Set a single Spell or Trap and lost his Dark Panther to the Cat’s effect.
Peddle drew “Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow,” Summoned it, and attacked to bring Easton down to 6600 Life Points. Easton Summoned Airbellum, attacked Kalut, and Peddle responded with “Icarus Attack.” He Tributed Kalut, targeted Airbellum and his opponent’s face-down card, and watched as it was chained: “Dust Tornado,” yet again. It destroyed Peddle’s Set “Skill Drain” and he was now reduced to top-decking while Easton had three cards remaining in hand, an unenviable position for any Duelist.
Peddle drew for his turn and shook his head, clearly faced with a tough decision: he’d drawn “Monster Reborn,” and had to activate it. “Man… this is a decision that could cost me.” Everything rode on this choice: the trip to Tokyo, the prizes, and a Championship title. He chose Airbellum from Easton’s Graveyard, attacked, and Easton lost “Dark Armed Dragon” to Airbellum’s discard effect.
Easton drew and started running numbers. Each Duelist had 5000 Life Points. Easton Summoned “Summoner Monk,” turned it to Defense Position, and Peddle shook his head. He knew instantly that if he’d discarded anything other than Easton’s “Dark Armed Dragon” last turn this wouldn’t have been happening. Easton discarded “Brain Control” for the Monk’s effect, Special Summoned “Rescue Cat” from his Deck, activated the Cat’s effect, and brought out “Sea Koala” and Airbellum. “Sea Koala’s” effect dropped the pilfered Airbellum’s ATK, Koala ran it over, and Easton’s Airbellum struck for 1600 damage. Easton then tuned Airbellum to “Summoner Monk,” Synchro Summoned “Dark Strike Fighter,” and ended. “Blizzard would be sick,” remarked Peddle.
He drew Gale, and Summoned it to halve “Dark Strike Fighter’s” ATK. He didn’t attack, despite the fact that he could have traded his Gale for “Dark Strike Fighter” in battle. Easton drew “Mystic Tomato” next turn, Summoned it, and activated his last card - “Pot of Avarice.” It was over – Peddle quickly did the math, realized he’d lose to “Dark Strike Fighter’s” effect, and offered Easton the handshake.
Matt Peddle just barely fell short of his bid to capture the Canadian National Championship, and Charles Easton defied all predictions to capture one of the most prestigious titles in Dueling! Synchro Cat reigned supreme in this tournament, and Charles Easton is headed to the World Championship in Tokyo!
reported by
Jason Grabher-Meyer
