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Top 4 Feature Match:
Matt Hoey versus William Gonzalez
Between the four players left in the tournament, two are playing Blackwings, and two are playing Cat Synchro. Each Top 4 match has a Cat Deck facing off against a Blackwing Deck. Some might say that the title of "Best Deck of the Format" is on the line, but more importantly to these players is the title of SHONEN JUMP Champion. Matt Hoey has finally made his way into the limelight here at Indy. He's playing Cat Synchro and is looking to make his first visit to the Day 2 count by scoring a win. William Gonzalez is also in his first Top 16 playoff and is playing Blackwings. He won the roll and went first.
Both players used their first turns to Set two Spell or Trap Cards before passing. Then they both passed their second turns as well. Matt Set a third Spell or Trap Card on his next turn and William did so as well on his. Finally Matt broke the ice with a "Neo-Spacian Dark Panther" and attacked for 1000. He didn't Set any additional Traps, leaving the question of whether or not he had "Crush Card Virus" already face-down. William Summoned "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind" and cut the Panther's Attack and Defense in half before attacking it. Matt did not have the Crush Card and allowed the attack.
Matt Summoned "Summoner Monk" on his next turn and William turned it face-down with "Book of Moon" before it could use its effect. William used his turn to Set a third Spell or Trap again and and passed. Matt flipped the Monk on his turn and played "Mind Control" to take the Gale. He used the two to make a Synchro Summon of "Arcanite Magician." William wanted to use his "Bottomless Trap Hole" but couldn't. Matt used Arcanite to break the other two Spell or Trap Cards then played "Mystical Space Typhoon" on the Bottomless. He followed up with "Monster Reborn" on the Monk and used its effect to get out another Monk. That Monk brought out "Rescue Cat" who brought two copies of "X-Saber Airbellum." The Monks and Sabers combined to make a pair of "Dark Strike Fighters" and Matt dropped "Dark Armed Dragon." That was more than enough to finish Duel 1 against a player who wasn't playing "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness."
With no moves to make, William Gonzalez lets Matt Hoey build up one powerful hand and explode to take Duel 1 in a single turn.
William opened the second game with "Black Whirlwind" and "Blackwing - Shura the Blue Flame" to fetch "Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind." He followed up with two Set Spell or Trap Cards and passed. Matt Set a monster and a Spell or Trap Card on his turn and during his end Phase William used "Icarus Attack" to destroy them both. One was a "Sangan" and Matt searched his Deck for "Gravekeeper's Spy." William Summoned "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" on his turn and revived Shura with its effect. He then special Summoned Gale from his hand along with "Blackwing - Bora the Spear." Gale and Shura made "Dark Strike Fighter" and William went in for game. Matt had "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" though and dropped it on the first attack made by Blizzard. The token came out in Defense Position and the Gorz came out in Attack Position. Dark Strike took down the token and with the help of a "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" Bora took out Gorz. William finished by making "Goyo Guardian" out of his two Blackwing monsters.
Once again Matt Set a Spell or Trap Card and a monster for his turn before passing. William drew another Kalut and Summoned it. Matt used "Book of Moon" to prevent the search, and William destroyed Spy and the subsequent "Gravekeeper's Guard" with his two Synchros. He elected not to take the Spy, probably afraid of a "Mind Control". In fact that's exactly what Matt had, and he took the Kalut with it and Summoned his own Gale to make his own "Goyo Guardian." Goyo went after Dark Strike but was denied by "Book of Moon." Matt had to pass and on his turn William attacked with "Goyo Guardian" to take Matt's Goyo and attacked directly with the Strike Fighter. He then launched all three monsters to win the game.
"What a grievous error," groaned Matt. He'd forgotten to use Gale's effect to halve either Goyo or Dark Strike and had lost because of it. In fact, he was pretty sure he would've won the Duel had he remembered to use the effect. Both players wished each other luck once more before Matt began game three.
He did so with two Spell or Trap Cards. William began by Summoning "Blackwing - Kalut the Moon Shadow" and attacking directly. "I think I win," said Matt, who was holding "Summoner Monk", two Spells and "Dark Armed Dragon." William then Set three Spell or Trap Cards before passing. Matt drew into a Cat and Summoned "Summoner Monk," not using the "Heavy Storm." It was promptly "Book of Mooned" and Matt Set one more Spell or Trap before passing. William used "Delta Crow - Anti Reverse" and "Icarus Attack" in his End Phase but Matt negated both with "Solemn Judgment."
William Summoned "Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North" and made "Magical Android" with Blizzard and the revived Kalut before attacking. The attack was blocked by "Book of Moon" and Matt was up. He flipped the Monk and brought out another by discarding the "Heavy Storm." He brought out "Rescue Cat" with the second Monk and two copies of "X-Saber Airbellum" with the Cat. He made Dark Strike and “Arcanite Magician” with all his monsters and Special Summoned "Dark Armed Dragon" as well. William had no "Gorz the Emissary of Darkness" and that was the match.
Matt Hoey dominates with a flurry of powerful monsters to take the match 2-1 and move onto the finals. "I didn't get to do that all day yesterday," exclaimed Matt. "All the power hands are coming now!"reported by
Matt Peddle
