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Top 16 Playoff Match:
Desmond Brown versus Zachary Brasel
Desmond Brown and Zachary Brasel, two Duelists competing in the U.S. Championship for the first time ever, were scheduled to throw down in the Round of 16. Both Duelists had finished 8-2 in the Swiss Rounds, and now they only needed to win two more Matches to earn the right to represent the United States at the World Championship in Tokyo. Needless to say, the pressure on the newcomers was overwhelming. The right to go first belonged to Zachary Brasel, and he started things off with “Solar Recharge” discarding “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk.” He drew two cards and sent two copies of “Beckoning Light” to the Graveyard before Setting a Spell or Trap Card and passing his turn.
Desmond was also playing Lightsworn, and he started off by Setting a Spell or Trap Card and a “Necro Gardna.” Zachary paused to consider his move carefully before Summoning “Honest” and declaring an attack. The Set “Necro Gardna” survived, and Zachary took 200 damage before returning “Honest” to his hand and passing. “Honest” came down on Desmond’s side of the field next turn and made a successful attack. Desmond returned the “Honest” to his hand, and Zachary played another “Solar Recharge” discarding “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress” and sending “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” and “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” to the Graveyard. He Set a monster and Desmond Summoned his “Honest” again next turn to attack it. It was Zachary’s “Honest,” and the attack bounced off harmlessly. Once again, “Honest” was returned to Desmond’s hand, and he passed back to Zachary.
Desmond lost his “Bottomless Trap Hole” to “Mystical Space Typhoon” next turn, and Zachary followed up with “Charge of the Light Brigade”! He searched out “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” and discarded an “Honest” to Special Summon “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” from his Graveyard. Zachary switched his “Honest” to Attack Position and attacked with all his monsters before returning “Honest” to his hand and sending 5 cards to the Graveyard in the End Phase including two “Necro Gardnas.” Garoth’s effect dropped a Lightsworn monster into the Graveyard, so Zachary was able to draw a bonus card. Desmond Summoned a Garoth of his own and attacked Lumina, but Zachary removed one of his two “Necro Gardnas” to negate it. On his turn, Zachary discarded “Heavy Storm” to Summon another Garoth from his Graveyard and then Special Summoned “Judgment Dragon.” “Brain Control” sealed the deal, as while Desmond had a “Necro Gardna,” it would only be enough to stop one of Zachary’s five monsters!
Zachary Brasel started off slow, but once his Deck picked up some steam he was able to deftly defeat his fellow Lightsworn Duelist!
Desmond was up first in the second Duel, starting with “Charge of the Light Brigade” dumping “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner” before searching out “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” from his Deck. Wulf was Special Summoned, and Lumina followed it. He discarded Aurkus to Special Summon the same Aurkus back in Defense Position. He ended his turn, and both “Plaguespreader Zombie” and a “Necro Gardna” were sent to the Graveyard. Zachary had “Solar Recharge,” and he discarded Lyla to draw two cards and send Aurkus and “Beckoning Light” to the Graveyard. “Charge of the Light Brigade” was next, knocking “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel,” “Monster Reincarnation,” and “Monster Reborn” into his Graveyard. Zachary got his own Lumina from the Deck, and he Set a Spell or Trap Card and a monster before passing. Lumina was no good as long as Desmond controlled that Aurkus! Desmond sent his Wulf to attack the Set monster, and “Honest” was destroyed! Lumina attacked directly, and in the End Phase Desmond sent 5 more cards to his Graveyard including a “Judgment Dragon.” 
Zachary had another “Solar Recharge,” discarding his Lumina to draw two cards and send two non-monster cards to the Graveyard. No help there. The “Judgment Dragon” he played next though was extremely helpful, and he paid 1000 Life Points to clear the field with it. Next up was his third “Solar Recharge,” and after resolving it he Summoned Garoth. During the Battle Phase, Garoth attacked directly, but “Judgment Dragon” was blocked by a “Necro Gardna.” In the End Phase, “Judgment Dragon’s” effect sent a Wulf to the Graveyard and allowed Zachary to Special Summon it.
That “Judgment Dragon” didn’t stay for very long though, as Desmond stole it away with “Brain Control” and used its effect to clear the field! He attacked, drawing out a “Necro Gardna” use from Zachary, and then Tributed the pilfered Dragon for “Celestia, Lightsworn Angel”! Zachary was back up, and he studied his Graveyard carefully. Neither player had any “Judgment Dragons” left in the Deck, and Zachary used “Brain Control” to take Celestia. The stolen Angel struck directly, but Desmond had “Gorz the Emissary of Darkness” to put enough monsters with high enough Attack Points to end the Duel next turn! Zachary escaped defeat by Tributing the stolen Celestia for a Celestia of his own, destroying both Gorz and the resulting Token. Desmond drew and flung “Solar Recharge” at the table, discarding “Jain, Lightsworn Paladin” and drawing two before sending a Wulf to the Graveyard! He Summoned the Wulf and Tributed it for another Celestia to clear the way for a direct attack! The score stood at 2050 to 2900 in Zachary’s favor, and he Set a monster.
Desmond brought out Lumina next turn and tried to use her effect to Special Summon Wulf. Zachary Chained with “D.D. Crow” to remove the Wulf from play, and Desmond did some quick math before returning a card in hand to the top of his Deck to Special Summon “Plaguespreader Zombie.” Celestia attacked Zachary’s face-down “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter” and was destroyed. Ryko sent a Wulf to the Graveyard allowing Zachary to block the other two monsters’ attacks! In Main Phase 2, Desmond Synchro Summoned “Magical Android” by Tuning his Plaguespreader to Lumina and ended his turn. Zachary attacked it with Wulf, and Desmond was forced to use a “Necro Gardna” to keep his Android out. Desmond used a “Solar Recharge” to dig for an answer, but all he found was Wulf and Celestia. He passed his turn with no plays and only 4 cards left in his Deck. After drawing, Zachary had 5 cards left in his Deck, but he was threatening a potentially game-ending “Honest.”
Desmond had one “Necro Gardna” left in the Graveyard, and he used it to block the next attack of “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast.” In Main Phase 2, Zachary Set a Spell or Trap Card before passing his turn. Desmond picked up a “Foolish Burial” next turn – no help with his third Wulf in hand. He Set the Burial as a bluff, and Zachary Summoned “Chaos Sorcerer” by removing “D.D. Crow” and a Garoth from the game. Zachary attacked with Wulf and dropped “Honest” during damage calculation to defeat the Android. With no monsters left to defend Desmond, Zachary used his “Chaos Sorcerer” to attack directly and end the Match!
Desmond Brown made a valiant effort, but it wasn’t quite good enough to beat Zachary Brasel. Zachary Brasel, first time National Championship competitor, made the Quarterfinals defeating Desmond Brown, 2-0!
reported by
Jerome McHale
