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Round 8 Feature Match:
Chris Bowling Versus Lazaro Bellido
Chris Bowling was the 2008 US National Champion, while Lazaro Bellido was the 2008 Canadian National Champion! These two Duelists have gone head-to-head in countless SHONEN JUMP Championships before, and today theyw ere both 7-1. A win here, plus a win next round would lock them in for a seat in Day 2. Lazaro is playing Synchro Cat, while Bowling is playing Gladiator Beasts.
Bowling opened with Gladiator Beast Samnite, Test Tiger, Gladiator Proving Ground, Gorz the Emissary of Darkness, Solemn Judgment, and Gladiator Beast Equeste, He passed his opening turn. Lazaro Set nothing but a monster. ‘Go ahead.’ Bowling drew “Waboku,” Normal Summoned Equeste, and attacked into “Gravekeeper's Guard” – Equeste was bounced back to his hand and Bowling took 300 damage. He Set a Spell or Trap Card to finish.
Lazaro activated “Heavy Storm,” a surprisingly early commitment, but lost out as Bowling chained “Waboku.” He Set one card to his back row and ended. Bowling drew “Gladiator Beast's Respite,” and activated it sending back Samnite and Equeste to draw three cards! It’s not often you see Respite in action in a SHONEN JUMP Championship. It got Bowling his Equeste and Samnite back somehow, but it also got him “Gladiator Beast War Chariot” – not a total loss. He Normal Summoned Samnite, attacked into “Gravekeeper's Guard,” took some damage, and tagged Samnite out for “Gladiator Beast Equeste” – that got him back his Respite. He activated Proving Ground, searched his Deck for “Gladiator Beast Hoplomus,” and activated Respite to ship back Hoplomus and Equeste.
‘Wait, the two cards you sent back, you drew again?’ laughed Lazaro.
‘Yeah, both’ laughed Bowling, shaking his head. This time he drew “Test Tiger,” “Rescue Cat,” and another Chariot – much better than that last attempt! He set Solemn, Set War Chariot, and ended. ‘Go.’
Lazaro activated “Cold Wave” – Bowling chained “Solemn Judgment,” dropping to 3700 Life Points. Lazaro Normal Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, Tuned it to Guard, and Synchro Summoned “Arcanite Magician” in Defense Position. Lazaro tried to blow away Equeste with Arcanite’s effect, Bowling chained War Chariot to destroy Arcanite, and Lazaro ended.
“Mystical Space Typhoon” hit the table, but Lazaro chained the target: “Scapegoat”! He Special Summoned his four Sheep Tokens. Bowling Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat,” brought out Samnite and “Test Tiger,” and tributed “Test Tiger” to send Equeste back to his Deck. He tagged in “Gladiator Beast Secutor,” attacked two Tokens, and traded Samnite for Equeste – its effect sent War Chariot back to his deck. Secutor then Special Summoned two Laquari from Bowling’s Deck, and Bowling sent everything but one Laquari back to his Deck to Special Summon “Gladiator Beast Heraklinos”! He set two cards to end, still holding three more cards to feed Heraklinos’ effect. ‘Go.’
Lazaro drew to four in hand and passed. Bowling Special Summoned “Test Tiger,” tributed it, and tagged out Laquari for Secutor, again wrecking two Tokens and Special Summoning two more Gladiator Beasts! He unleashed a second Heraklinos in Main Phase 2! ‘Go.’
Lazaro did nothing but Set a card to each Zone. He lost his Set Summoner Monk to one Heraklinos next turn, and took a direct shot from the other. He dropped to 5000 Life Points. He Set another card to each Zone and ended. Bowling had Respite, Bestiari, “Test Tiger,” “Giant Trunade,” and Gorz in hand. He activated Trunade, Normal Summoned Bestiari to threaten “Gladiator Beast Gyzarus,” and Lazaro immediately conceded!
After an early back-and-forth exchange Chris Bowling powers through Lazaro Bellido to Special Summon not one, but two copies of “Gladiator Beast Heraklinos”! That was rough.
Lazaro opened Game 2 with a Set card to each Zone. Bowling had “Gladiator Beast Laquari, ““Bottomless Trap Hole,” “Dust Tornado,” “Solemn Judgment,” “Torrential Tribute,” and “Gladiator Beast’s Respite.” Respite wasn’t looking so hot in this particular hand. He set everything that didn’t have ‘Gladiator Beast’ in the name and ended. Lazaro Normal Summoned “Sangan,” Bowling flipped “Torrential Tribute,” and Lazaro lost “Sangan” and Guard. He searched out Summoner Monk with “Sangan’s” effect and Set one more Spell or Trap to finish – he lost it in his End Phase to “Dust Tornado”: “Bottomless Trap Hole.”
Bowling ripped “Gladiator Beast Darius”! He immediately sent that and Laquari back to his deck with Respite, then drew Bestiari, “Waboku,” and My Body As A Shield. He summoned Bestiari, Lazaro flipped another “Bottomless Trap Hole,” and Bowling activated My Body As A Shield to keep Bestiari on the table! He attacked for 1500 damage and it was 6500 all. Bowling tagged out for “Gladiator Beast Equeste,” took back his Respite, and ended with two cards in hand (five cards total).
Lazaro drew to five. He Normal Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, activated “Mind Control,” and Bowling chained “Solemn Judgment” to keep his Equeste. But Lazaro had “Brain Control”! He activated it, took control of Equeste, and Synchro Summoned “Black Rose Dragon”! He activated the effect and Bowling chained “Bottomless Trap Hole” and “Waboku.” Lazaro Set a Spell or Trap, ended, and Bowling passed next turn with two cards in hand.
Lazaro Norrmal Summoned Summoner Monk, ditched a Spell for “Rescue Cat,” and that was it – he Synchro Summoned “Dark Strike Fighter,” attacked with Airbellum and Dark Strike, and then took the Duel with Dark Strike’s effect. We were going to Game 3!
Bowling opened with a Set Spell or Trap. Lazaro Set three himself, then Set a monster. Bowling drew for his turn, then activated “Heavy Storm”! Lazaro had no choice but to burn a “Solemn Judgment.” Bowling Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat,” sent it to the Graveyard, and Special Summoned “Gladiator Beast Samnite” and “Test Tiger.” Lazaro responded with “Bottomless Trap Hole” to remove the Samnite, leaving the Tiger alone on the field. Bowling Set a second Spell or Trap and ended. ‘Your go.’
Lazaro Normal Summoned X-Saber Airbellum, but Bowling activated “Torrential Tribute”! Lazaro lost Airbellum and his Set “Gravekeeper's Guard.” Bowling Set a card to Each Zone, Lazaro summoned another Airbellum, and lost it to “Bottomless Trap Hole.” He Set another Spell or Trap, ended, and play was back to Bowling.
Bowling set another Spell or Trap too, ended, and Lazaro passed. Bowling was now holding War Chariot, “Giant Trunade,” and “Rescue Cat,” with “Solemn Judgment” and Wind Blast Set – plus a monster. He activated Trunade, Flip Summoned “Gladiator Beast Secutor,” and Normal Summoned “Rescue Cat.” That got him “Gladiator Beast Samnite” and “Test Tiger,” and the Tiger tagged his Secutor in and out of his Deck. He attacked with both, Lazaro dropped to 2000 Life Points, and Bowling activated Secutor’s effect to summon two “Gladiator Beast Laquari.” He tagged everything save one Laquari out, and Special Summoned “Gladiator Beast Heraklinos.” He had Solemn Chariot, and Wind Blast, and he Set the Chariot on its own. ‘Go.’
Lazaro had five cards in which to save this situation. He activated “Mystical Space Typhoon” and Bowling discarded “Phoenix Wing Wind Blast” for Heraklinos’ effect, negating the Typhoon. Lazaro activated “Mind Control” next, targeting Laquari, and Bowling handed it over. Lazaro Normal Summoned Airbellum, Tuned it to Laquari, and Synchro Summoned “Black Rose Dragon” – Bowling revealed War Chariot and Lazaro immediately conceded, offering the handshake!
Chris Bowling moves on with a 7-1 record, now just one Match away from Day 2!
Double Heraklinos!
reported by
Jason Grabher-Meyer
