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Top 16 Feature Match:
Steven Silverman versus Alex Vansant
Today's first featured match showcases two of the top Decks of the format: Lightsworn versus Blackwings. Two aggressive Decks, each with the ability to finish off the opponent on any given turn. Steven Silverman went 7-0 in the first seven rounds of Swiss yesterday with his Lightsworn build, before finishing off Day 1 with a 7-2 performance. His early success was enough for 15th place, so he's here looking to repeat what he did in the first few rounds yesterday. Alex Vansant is playing Blackwings with a few choice tech cards. "Cyber Dragon" has been a popular choice for players here today to combat the Decks using "Cyber Valley." With "Cyber Dragon," players can use the opponent's Valley for "Chimeratech Fortress Dragon." “Cyber Dragon” also gives Alex a much greater chance at making level 8 Synchro Monsters. Both players shuffled up and wished each other good luck. Steven won the die roll and took the first turn.
Steven opened with "Solar Recharge", discarding "Celestia, Lightsworn Angel" and sending "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner" and "Honest" to the Graveyard. After a minute of consideration, he decided to Set one Spell or Trap card and a monster. Alex began with three Set Spell or Trap cards and then Summoned "Blackwing - Bora the Spear." Bora took out a face-down "Necro Gardna" in battle and dealt 400 damage with its effect. He Set a fourth Spell or Trap card after battle and passed.
Steven Summoned "Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior" and attacked. Alex responded with "Icarus Attack" – his only Icarus as Steven pointed out. Knowing the opponent's decklist was certainly going to give both players some help. Steven lost his face-down "Torrential Tribute" to the Icarus and passed with an empty field. Alex Summoned "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" on his turn and brought back Bora. One Synchro Summon later and "Goyo Guardian" was attacking directly. Steven took the damage and dropped "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness."
Steven drew and played "Solar Recharge," discarding "Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress." Alex negated it with "Solemn Judgment" and Steven threw down "Judgment Dragon." He used priority to destroy everything on the field and Alex responded with "Book of Moon" to turn the Judgment Dragon face-down. He lost "Mirror Force" as well. Alex simply Set a Spell or Trap card on his turn before passing. Steven flipped his Judgment Dragon next turn and used its effect to destroy "Giant Trunade." He Summoned "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner" and that was game. "You weren't supposed to have "Judgment Dragon," Alex said half-heartedly.” He'd taken a big risk with that Recharge hoping to leave his opponent with some dead cards and it definitely had not panned out.
Going into Duel 2, both players showed me what they were "probably going to side." Alex had some "Light-Imprisoning Mirror" cards and a few other small choices. Steven showed me a few Monarchs and some "Royal Decrees". Both players talked about how the first game went down. "I was looking to win the game with that Solemn," said Alex. Steven understood where he was coming from. "It wasn't a terrible play, but with the "Mirror Force" down I don't think you were in a position to use it that way." After a bit more chatter the players began Duel 2.
Alex began his turn with "Black Whirlwind" and "Blackwing - Bora the Spear" and searched for "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" with his Continuous Spell's effect. He Set a Spell or Trap card as well and passed play. Steven surprised everyone by Summoning "King Tiger Wanghu" on his turn and passing right back to Alex. The Tiger paralyzed Alex for a turn as he had only 1400 or lower attack monsters in hand. But one of those was "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" and he used it with Bora to take out the Tiger in battle. In Main Phase 2, Alex played a second "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" and searched for "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North," then Set a second face-down Spell or Trap Card.
Steven drew for his turn and shook his head. He didn't seem very happy with his position and eventually gave a look that said "well here goes" and Summoned "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner." He passed and sent "Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter" and two Spell Cards to his Graveyard. "Soul Exchange" was one of them, tipping Alex off to what he had sided. Alex drew and started running numbers. In addition to the Blackwings, he also had "Dark Armed Dragon" and "D.D. Crow" in his hand. 'I believe you have Gorz," said Alex, referring to "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness." After playing the "Dark Armed Dragon" and making his Synchro Summons Steven picked up his cards. Even if he had Gorz, Alex would have hit him for 2800 with Dark Armed and stole the Gorz with "Goyo Guardian." That would have given him enough big monsters to launch for game.
Going into Duel 3, Alex flashed me his Side Deck choices. He took out two copies of "Light Imprisoning Mirror" and replaced them with "Book of Moon." An interesting decision considering he was going second. Steven drew his opening hand and breathed a huge sigh of relief. "A playable hand!" He opened with "Charge of the Light Brigade," dumping "Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner," "Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior" and "Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid" and searching for another copy of Lumina. He played Lumina and discarded "Necro Gardna" to special Summon Aurkus. Steven ended his turn and sent five cards including his fourth different Lightsworn monster (if you count Aurkus) to the Graveyard at the end of his turn.
Alex drew and ran numbers once again. It would be hard to pull out considering he has to get by two untargettable monsters and one of his attacks could fail to the Gardna. He began by Special Summoning "Cyber Dragon" and playing "Black Whirlwind." A Normal Summon of "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" brought "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" to his hand. He Special Summoned that Gale and entered his Battle Phase. First he sent Kalut to attack Aurkus and Silverman allowed it. Alex then played "Book of Moon" to turn Lumina face-down and destroyed it with Gale. “Cyber Dragon” hit directly and Alex entered his Main Phase 2. “Cyber Dragon” and Gale Synchro Summoned for "Stardust Dragon" and Alex Set his hand to his back row before passing. "”No "Soul Exchange," no "Soul Exchange," no "Soul Exchange"!" Alex was very aware of how fragile his position was.
Steven played "Heavy Storm" on his turn and Alex negated it with Stardust. Silverman then used "Monster Reborn" to take that Stardust and Alex had to use "Bottomless Trap Hole" to take it out. Steven passed and Alex attacked for 1400 with Kalut next turn. He kept his draw in hand and passed play. Silverman Set a Spell or Trap card and a monster on his turn. Either his hand was not good or he was Setting up something big. Kalut attacked into the face-down "Honest" but couldn't take it down. Still with 2 cards in hand, Alex passed.
Silverman drew for his turn and flipped "Royal Decree." Alex chained "Waboku" and Silverman played "Charge of the Light Brigade" and "Solar Recharge" in rapid succession. He then Summoned "Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress," returned "Honest" to hand and attacked with Lyla. Both players tried to bait each other into playing their in-hand attack pumps but neither took the bait. Lyla destroyed the Whirlwind in Main Phase 2 and Steven passed, sending one "Necro Gardna" to his Graveyard in the End Phase. Both copies of "Judgment Dragon" were in the Graveyard as well.
Alex added to his field with "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" on his turn and Special Summoned "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" with its effect. He performed a Synchro Summon with Gale and Kalut for "Goyo Guardian" and both his attacks were negated by Gardnas. In Main Phase 2 he played "Heavy Storm," brought out "Colossal Fighter" by Synchro Summoning Blizzard and Goyo, and Set his last card, "Solemn Judgment," face-down. He passed to Silverman who drew to four in hand.
Silverman Tribute Summoned "Mobius the Frost Monarch" and Alex played "Solem Judgment." With only a minute left, he was risking drawing a monster for game. He drew another Solemn instead and attacked with Colossal for 3000. Steven Summoned "Honest" on his turn and time was called. Alex burned his second Solemn on the "Honest" and Steven revealed his hand before scooping up his cards. "Soul Exchange," "Honest," and "Solar Recharge." There was nothing he could do.
Alex Vansant is moving on to the top 8!
reported by
Matt Peddle
