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Top 16 Playoff Feature Match:
Jerry Wang versus Michael Kohanim
Two SHONEN JUMP Champions and two of New York’s greatest Duelists were about to go head-to-head! Jerry Wang was certainly quiet yesterday, as he made a 7-2 finish in Day 1. He won in Round 10 this morning, slipping into Top 64 at 41st place. But at 40th place one spot above Jerry was Michael Kohanim! We’ve already seen Kohanim playing Gladiator Beasts in a feature match earlier this morning, where he lost to Synchro Cat. Now he was back with a shot at redemption – Jerry is running a similar Deck, but with his own personal flare.
Kohanim opened the match with “Mirror Force,” “Torrential Tribute,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” “Monster Reborn,” “Gladiator Beast Bestiari,” and “Gladiator Beast War Chariot.” He Summoned Bestiari, Set Chariot, and Set “Bottomless Trap Hole.”
Wang had “Book of Moon,” “Cyber Valley,” “Brain Control,” “Monster Reborn,” “Gravekeeper's Guard,” and “Crush Card Virus.” He Set Guard, then Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone. Kohanim drew “Test Tiger” and entered his Battle Phase, but Wang tributed his Guard for “Crush Card Virus”! He lost his Bestiari, revealed his “Mirror Force,” “Torrential Tribute,” “Test Tiger,” and “Monster Reborn,” and ended.
Play was back to Wang, who Summoned “Mystic Tomato” and attacked for 1400 damage. Kohanim top-decked and lost “Gladiator Beast Laquari,” activated “Monster Reborn,” and brought back Laquari. He attacked “Mystic Tomato,” destroyed it, and activated “Gladiator Beast War Chariot” to negate Tomato’s effect. He tagged Laquari out to Special Summon “Gladiator Beast Equeste,” returned his Chariot to his hand, and Set two cards to his back row.
Wang Normal Summoned “Cyber Valley,” activated “Brain Control,” and took Equeste. He removed Equeste and “Cyber Valley” from the game to draw two cards, then Set a second Spell or Trap. “End my turn,” he said. “Last turn on Crush.”
Kohanim drew “Gladiator Proving Ground,” dodging Crush Card’s effect! He used it to get “Gladiator Beast Retiari,” Summoned it, and when Retiari attacked, Wang turned it face-down with “Book of Moon.” Kohanim ended.
Wang had four cards in hand and one card Set. Kohanim had two cards in hand, three Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone, and Retiari face-down. Wang Set a monster, Kohanim Flip Summoned Retiari, and attacked into another “Book of Moon”! A fourth Spell or Trap Card was Set, and play was back to Wang.
He Flip Summoned “Gravekeeper's Spy,” Special Summoned another in Defense Position, and attacked Retiari with his first copy to destroy it. Wang Set another Spell or Trap and play was back to Kohanim. He Special Summoned “Cyber Dragon” and Normal Summoned Laquari!
Laquari attacked the Attack Position Spy, and “Cyber Dragon” attacked the Defense Position Spy; both were destroyed. Kohanim tagged Laquari out to Special Summon “Gladiator Beast Darius” from his Deck, and he used its effect to Special Summon Bestiari! He Contact Fused them for “Gladiator Beast Gyzarus,” destroyed Wang’s face-down “Machine Duplication” and ended!
Desperate, Wang Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat” and sent it to the Graveyard. Its effect was negated by “Gladiator Beast War Chariot,” as Wang no doubt knew it would be. He activated “Monster Reborn” to bring it back, sent it to the Graveyard again, and this time Cat’s effect resolved. That got Wang one “X-Saber Airbellum” and one “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther,” but Kohanim responded with “Bottomless Trap Hole”! Airbellum was removed from the game.
“Neo-Spacian Dark Panther” was Wang’s only on-field card, and he had just two cards left in hand. He scooped immediately, eyeing Kohanim’s massive field. “That Laquari hurt so bad,” remarked Wang.
Michael Kohanim takes the first Duel! Jerry Wang would have the advantage of going first, but this was definitely anybody’s game. Side Decking was quick and the tone was friendly, as these two former SHONEN JUMP Champions got ready for their last game.
Wang opened the Duel with two Set Spell or Trap Cards and a Set monster. Kohanim had “Solemn Judgment,” “Mirror Force,” “Trap Stun,” “Dimensional Fissure,” “Book of Moon,” and “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He activated “Dimensional Fissure” and Wang had no response. He Set “Bottomless Trap Hole,” Set “Solemn Judgment,” then Set “Trap Stun.” He needed to draw a Gladiator Beast fast.
“Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” was Flip Summoned, destroying “Dimensional Fissure” and sending “X-Saber Airbellum,” “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and “Solemn Judgment” to Wang’s Graveyard. He Normal Summoned “X-Saber Airbellum,” Kohanim removed it with “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and Wang Set a third Spell or Trap Card.
Kohanim Set a top-decked Spell or Trap Card, Wang Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat,” and sent it to the Graveyard to Special Summon “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther” and “Rescue Cat”: Kohanim responded with “Mirror of Oaths”! Wang Chained “Solemn Judgment,” Kohanim Chained his own Solemn, and Wang didn’t have a second copy to Chain! He lost his monsters and Kohanim drew… another “Book of Moon.” Still no monsters. Wang turned Ryko to Defense Position and ended.
Kohanim finally drew a Gladiator Beast! He Normal Summoned “Gladiator Beast Equeste,” attacked into “Mirror Force,” and Kohanim Chained “Trap Stun”! Wang Chained “Book of Moon” to turn his “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” face-down, destroyed Equeste, and sent “Cyber Valley,” Monster Reborn, and “Solemn Judgment” to his Graveyard. Kohanim Set two more cards to his back row.
He lost them next turn to a top-decked “Heavy Storm”! Kohanim lost “Mirror of Oaths” and “Book of Moon,” and Wang shuffled back “Neo-Spacian Dark Panther,” “Cyber Valley,” Ryko, and two Airbellum for “Pot of Avarice”! Kohanim had just one card left in hand, but Wang was about to draw to three. Wang Set a Spell or Trap and ended.
Kohanim drew and Set both of his cards to his back row. Wang Set another, Kohanim Set War Chariot, and lost it to “Mystical Space Typhoon.” Wang Set a Spell or Trap and Kohanim Summoned “Gladiator Beast Samnite” – Wang responded with “Bottomless Trap Hole.” Kohanim counted Wang’s Graveyard: “All three Solemns are gone… I’m gonna save him.” He Chained “Book of Moon,” targeting his Samnite and turning it face-down. Kohanim ended with one card Set in each zone.
Wang drew to three cards in hand, with one card Set. He Set a monster, Kohanim top-decked Laquari, and he Flip Summoned Samnite. He Normal Summoned “Gladiator Beast Laquari,” attacked with Laquari, and hit “Legendary Jujitsu Master”! Laquari got punted back to the top of Kohanim’s Deck and the tone of the Duel visibly shifted. Kohanim was not liking his chances at this point.
Wang couldn’t capitalize though, and just passed his next turn. Kohanim drew Laquari and gave a good-natured laugh: “Go!” Wang drew, Set a card to each zone, and Kohanim drew “Waboku.” He couldn’t risk hitting another Jujitsu Master with Laquari again. He passed without doing anything.
Wang passed, Kohanim drew “Gladiator Beast Secutor,” and passed back. Wang passed again and Kohanim drew “Test Tiger,” exactly what he needed to get his Secutor back into his Deck in exchange for something more useful. “I can’t believe that cat is staying on the field still!” remarked an exasperated Wang, pointing to Samnite. Kohanim Special Summoned “Test Tiger,” Tributed it with priority to try and shuffle back Samnite, and Wang chained “Book of Moon” to stop Samnite from returning to the Deck. Kohanim Flip Summoned it and ended. Wang pssed.
Kohanim drew “Torrential Tribute” and Set it, then Set a monster. Wang Summoned “Cyber Valley” and Kohanim flipped “Torrential Tribute,” losing his Secutor and Samnite to Wang’s “Cyber Valley,” Dark Panther, and Jujitsu. Wang Set another Spell or Trap, Kohanim summoned Laquari, and it was Wang’s turn to flip “Torrential Tribute”! Another Spell or Trap Set ended Kohanim’s turn. He had three cards to Wang’s six once Wang drew next turn, but he just kept holding on.
“Allure of Darkness” got Wang two more cards in return for his “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness.” He Set a card to each zone, ended, and Kohanim ripped “Gladiator Beast Darius.” He Summoned it, attacked, and lost out to “Crush Card Virus” as Wang Tributed “Summoner Monk”! Little by little, Wang was winning.
He Normal Summoned Airbellum next turn, attacked, and Kohanim flipped “Waboku.” He lost his top-decked Samnite to “Crush Card Virus’” effect next turn, Set “Waboku,” then took 1600 damage from “X-Saber Airbellum.” He lost “Cyber Dragon” next turn and had only 2400 Life Points left.
Another shot from “X-Saber Airbellum” dropped Kohanim to 800 Life Points. “Pass.” Kohanim ripped “Monster Reborn”! He activated it, Special Summoned Darius, and attacked over “X-Saber Airbellum.” He tagged Darius out, Special Summoned “Gladiator Beast Equeste,” lost his monster to “Mirror of Oaths,” but got to bring back his Laquari. Wang drew a card for Mirror’s effect and Kohanim ended.
Wang Summoned “Cyber Valley,” passed, and Kohanim drew Darius again. He Summoned it, attacked Wang’s face-down, and it was “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” Kohanim chained War Chariot to negate Ryko’s effect! He tagged Darius out again, tagged in “Gladiator Beast Murmillo,” and destroyed “Cyber Valley.”
Wang had another “Pot of Avarice.” He activated it, sending “Summoner Monk,” Dark Panther, “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter,” “X-Saber Airbellum,” and “Legendary Jujitsu Master” back to his Deck to draw two cards. That left him with no cards on field and seven cards in hand. Kohanim had Murmillo, a Set “Waboku,” and Laquari in hand. Wang Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat,” sent it to his Graveyard to Special Summon “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” and “X-Saber Airbellum,” and then activated “Mind Control”! He took “Gladiator Beast Murmillo,” Tuned everything to Synchro Summon “Stardust Dragon,” and attacked into “Waboku.”
Kohanim top-decked “Rescue Cat”! He Summoned it, sacked it off to get Airbellum and “Test Tiger,” then Tuned them to Synchro Summon “Goyo Guardian”! When he did, Wang Special Summoned “Phantom Dragon” from his hand! “Goyo Guardian” attacked “Stardust Dragon” and Kohanim Special Summoned it!
But it was over! Wang activated “Mind Control,” took “Goyo Guardian,” summoned “X-Saber Airbellum” and that was it! One more Duel remained and we had just two minutes remaining in the match. Time was called as each Duelist was shuffling his Deck. This last Duel would be only four turns long and would then be called on Life Points. Kohanim elected to go first.
He opened with “Test Tiger,” “Mystical Space Typhoon,” Mirror of Oaths, “Waboku,” “Torrential Tribute,” and “Jowls of Dark Demise”! He Set Jowels, Set “Waboku,” and Set Mirror of Oaths. Turn 1 was over.
Turn 2 saw Wang activate “Allure of Darkness,” drawing two cards and then removing “Gravekeeper's Guard.” He Set a Spell or Trap Card, then Set a second, and finally Summoned “Cyber Valley.” He activated “Mind Control” and took Kohanim’s face-down Jowls!
He eyed it for a moment and grimaced. “I don’t have a Side Deck for time!” laughed Kohanim. Wang removed both monsters to draw two cards and ended his turn. Turn 2 was completed.
Kohanim drew for Turn 3, activating “Mystical Space Typhoon.” The target was Chained: “Dust Tornado,” destroying Kohanim’s “Waboku”! This might be trouble – Kohanim didn’t have another copy. He Summoned “Test Tiger” anyways, attacked for 600 damage, and Set his entire hand to his back row. He just needed to survive this next turn to move on in the tournament.
Wang Normal Summoned “Legendary Jujitsu Master” and Kohanim flipped “Torrential Tribute”! Wang had no way to Summon another monster and was forced to end his turn – that was it for the Duel, and Kohanim’s 600 damage from “Test Tiger” had been enough to win it.
Jerry Wang is out, and Mike Kohanim is still in, now just one match away from Tokyo!
reported by
Jerome McHale
