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Round 7 Feature Match:
Robert Ackerman versus Michel Gruner
Michel Gruner hails from Germany, but is one of several European players that make regular trips to North America to play in the SHONEN JUMP Championships! Robert Ackerman took second place at the World Championship last year, representing the United States, and both of these Duelists are widely respected, so this should be a great match. Both competitors are playing Lightsworn.
Ackerman started with a hand of “Heavy Storm,” “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid,” “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast,” “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” and “Plaguespreader Zombie.” He activated Charge, sending “Gold Sarcophagus,” “Necro Gardna,” and another Lumina to his Graveyard to get “Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior” from his Deck. He Normal Summoned Lumina, discarded Garoth, then ended to send Garoth, “Monster Reborn,” “Foolish Burial”, “Judgment Dragon,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” to his Graveyard – no draw with Garoth.
Gruner was up! He Normal Summoned “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” activated “Foolish Burial” to send “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard and Summoned it. Wulf attacked Lumina, Ackerman removed “Necro Gardna” to block it, and Lyla attacked Lumina instead – that “Necro Gardna” seemed like a bit of a waste. Did Ackerman really think Gruner would waste an “Honest” to press Lyla over Garoth or something? Gruner sent “Solar Recharge,” “Heavy Storm,” and “Charge of the Light Brigade” to his Graveyard in his End Phase.
Ackerman drew “Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.” He sent Garoth after Lyla, and Gruner activated “Honest’s” effect in damage calculation. Ackerman Set Ryko and ended. “Go ahead.” Gruner attacked with Lyla, Ryko destroyed Gruner’s Wulf, and Ackerman Special Summoned a Wulf of his own off of Ryko’s effect. Gruner Normal Summoned Lumina in Main Phase 2, discarded “Necro Gardna,” and brought back his Wulf. He sent six cards to his Graveyard in the End Phase. 
“Summon.” announced Ackerman, Normal Summoning Aurkus. He attacked with Aurkus into Lumina, destroying her. Wulf then attacked Gruner’s Lyla, and he removed “Necro Gardna” to keep her on the field. He Set one Spell or Trap and ended.
Gruner sent Lyla to attack Aurkus, and it was Ackerman’s turn to lose a monster. Gruner then traded his Wulf for Ackerman’s in battle, attacking to destroy both. In Main Phase 2 Gruner activated Lyla’s effect: Ackerman chained the targeted “Beckoning Light,” discarding “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Wulf, and “Heavy Storm” to return “Judgment Dragon,” Lumina, and Celestia to his hand. Gruner carefully noted down the cards, then Set one Spell or Trap – he sent a “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard in the End Phase.
Ackerman drew another Lumina. He Special Summoned it, activated its effect with priority, and Gruner chained “Bottomless Trap Hole” to remove it from the field. The field was cleared. Ackerman Normal Summoned Lumina, discarded his other Lumina to Special Summon Aurkus in Defense, and sent five cards to his Graveyard. He’d forgotten to attack with the Lumina.
Gruner Set a monster. Ackerman Tributed Aurkus for Celestia, sent four cards (including a “Necro Gardna”) to his Graveyard for her effect, and destroyed Gruner’s Ryko. He discarded to Special Summon Wulf and attacked with Celestia. Gruner removed a “Necro Gardna.” He took 2100 damage and 1000 damage from Lumina, and Ackerman sent another “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard in the End Phase. Gruner scooped after seeing his next draw.
“Savage misplays I made there,” commented Ackerman, fully aware he’d forgotten to attack with Lumina turns before. Regardless, Ackerman was the winner, and the pressure was now on Michel Gruner to push this match to a third Duel.
“Good luck,” said Ackerman. Gruner began with a Set card to each Zone and heaved a sigh, leaning back in his chair. He was either out of luck, or bluffing extremely hard. Ackerman activated “Charge of the Light Brigade,” sending “Solar Recharge,” “Honest,” and “Wulf, Lightsworn Beast” to his Graveyard! He searched his Deck for “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk,” then Special Summoned Wulf. Gruner Tributed his face-down “Plaguespreader Zombie” for “Crush Card Virus”!
That cost Ackerman “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk,” Wulf, “Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress,” and “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer”! He only had three cards left: “Brain Control” and two copies of “Threatening Roar.” Gruner drew to five cards in-hand.
He activated “Foolish Burial”, sending Wulf to his Graveyard and Special Summoning it. He Normal Summoned “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer,” Ackerman flipped “Threatening Roar,” and Gruner ended. Ackerman drew and revealed “My Body As A Shield.” He set his second “Threatening Roar” and ended. Play was back to Gruner.
Gruner announced his intent to move into his Battle Phase, and Ackerman flipped Roar again. Gruner ended, Ackerman drew and revealed Charge, and he sent “Heavy Storm,” “Solar Recharge,” and “Honest” to his Graveyard from his Deck to search out “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He Normal Summoned her, discarded “My Body As A Shield” to Special Summon Wulf, and attacked Kycoo. Kycoo went down. In the End Phase Ackerman sent another My Body, another “Honest”, and “Torrential Tribute” to his Graveyard with Lumina’s effect.
Gruner Normal Summoned another Kycoo! He returned a card to the top of his Deck for “Plaguespreader Zombie,” Tuned it to Wulf, and Synchro Summoned “Goyo Guardian.” Goyo attacked Wulf, Ackerman handed it over, and Kycoo attacked Lumina. Gruner stripped Lyla and Kycoo from Ackerman’s Graveyard, then ended.
Ackerman drew “Necro Gardna,” and was still holding “Brain Control.” He didn’t seem to have any outs here – even if he could stall to a “Judgment Dragon” he couldn’t play it, because he only had two Lightsworn monsters in his Graveyard. His only hope was to stall through next turn by setting “Necro Gardna,” then lucking into a Celestia which he could hopefully tribute for via “Brain Control.” After a moment’s thought he made the obvious decision that there were too many unlikely variables and scooped.
Michel Gruner destroys Robert Ackerman with a huge “Crush Card Virus” and grinds the Duel out from there! We are headed to Duel 3!
Ackerman had “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer,” “Charge of the Light Brigade,” two “Necro Gardna,” “Torrential Tribute,” and “Judgment Dragon.” He sent “Charge of the Light Brigade,” “Judgment Dragon,” and “Ehren, Lightsworn Monk” to his Graveyard from his Deck to fetch “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He really needed to put those Gardnas to work. He Set “Torrential Tribute” and ended.
Gruner Normal Summoned his own Lumina, then attacked for 1000 damage. He Set one Spell or Trap to finish out, sending “Solar Recharge,” “Lightning Vortex,” and “Necro Gardna” to his Graveyard. Ackerman drew “My Body As A Shield.” He Normal Summoned his own Lumina, discarded “Necro Gardna” to Special Summon Ehren, and attacked with her. Gruner activated “Honest’s” effect to destroy Ehren. Ackerman set “My Body As A Shield,” then sent “Solar Recharge,” “Honest,” and “Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid” to the Graveyard with Lumina.
Gruner Normal Summoned “Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind”! Somewhat unexpected, but Ackerman responded with “Torrential Tribute.” Gruner set a second Spell or Trap Card and play was to Ackerman.
He Set Lumina, discarded another “Necro Gardna,” and Special Summoned Aurkus in Attack Position. Aurkus struck for 1200 damage, Lumina attacked for 1000 damage, and Gruner was down to 5800 Life Points. Ackerman had 6000 Life Points and the end of the round was closing in. Ackerman sent Lyla, Ryko, “Beckoning Light,” “Solar Recharge,” and “Mystical Space Typhoon” to his Graveyard.
Ackerman activated “Necro Gardna” in Gruner’s Standby Phase, looking to outplay a possible “Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer.” Time was called, and Ackerman would take the last turn three turns after this one. Gruner summoned “Necro Gardna,” then activated “Beckoning Light” to trade his Gale and “Plaguespreader Zombie” for Lumina and “Honest”. He sent one back to the top of his Deck to Special Summon Plaguespreader, then Synchro Summoned “Magical Android,” threatening to win the match by gaining Life Points. He entered his End Phase, gained 600 Life Points, and went to 6400. Ackerman had only 6000 Life Points. He had two turns in which to rectify that.
He ripped “Brain Control”! Ackerman was holding Kycoo and “Judgment Dragon,” and moved to Main Phase 1. Gruner did not activate a “Necro Gardna.” Ackerman threw down “Judgment Dragon”! He activated its effect with priority, but Gruner chained “Threatening Roar.” The Duel now stood at 6400 Life Points to 5000 with Gruner in the lead. Ackerman Normal Summoned Kycoo – Gruner would need one of a handful of cards to win out of this, because Ackerman still had one turn left. He set “Brain Control” as a bluff to end.
Gruner Normal Summoned “Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner.” He had one card left in hand and he ended his turn to Special Summon Wulf with Lumina’s End Phase effect. Wulf came down in Defense Position. Ackerman drew “Monster Reincarnation,” useless with an otherwise empty hand.
…Or was it? He activated “Brain Control” and took Lumina! He discarded “Monster Reincarnation” for her effect, Special Summoned Lyla, and attacked Wulf with Lumina! Gruner played “Honest” just for the heck of it, but it didn’t matter since he’d put Wulf in Defense Position. He took direct attacks from Lyla, “Judgment Dragon,” and Kycoo struck for game!
Robert Ackerman defeats Germany’s Michel Gruner, and moves on with a 6-1 record!
reported by
Jason Grabher-Meyer
