Feature Match - Sheldon Spaulding V. Mike Scritch

Sheldon Spaulding is the only duelist to enter every single Tournament during this month, and while he may not have done the best in all of them, his consistency and holding a decent record overall put him into the Championship today. He comes wielding a Chaos Dragon deck today. During the first round Sheldon took on David Shahata’s Gemini HERO deck, and now will be facing Mike Scritch. Mike Scritch started off as the number one seed in the standings for the first couple weeks of the month until his record declined. Yesterday it came down to the final rounds of the tournament where him and his friend, Brandon Shea were separated by a single point in the standings. Mike finished the swiss rounds with a bad record, while Brandon made the top-8 play offs. If Brandon won his top 8 match against Josh Coons, he would have taken the 8^th seed spot in the Championship Tournament instead of Mike, however Brandon lost, and allowed Mike to get in. Today Mike is playing with his Wind-Up deck, which he used in the first round of the Championship today to defeat the overall first seed, Uy Tu’s Wind-Up deck in a Mirror Match! This is the Semi Finals! Winner moves on to the Championship Round!

The two roll a six-sided die to decide who goes first. Sheldon rolled a five, while Mike rolled a three. Sheldon decided to go first.

Sheldon starts the Duel off with Solar Recharge, discarding Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, drawing two cards from his deck. He then sends the top two cards from his deck to the graveyard – Tour Guide from the Underworld and Solar Recharge!

He then sets a card face-down, and ends his turn.

Mike begins his turn with Thunder King – Rai-Oh, sets two card face-down, and has Thunder King Rai-Oh attack Sheldon Directly.

Life Points: Sheldon: 6100/Mike: 8000

Before Mike ends his turn, Sheldon responds with his set card, Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Mike’s set card – Solemn Warning. Sheldon begins his turn with Allure of Darkness, drawing two cards from his deck, and Banishes Night Assailant from his hand.

Sheldon next activates Dark Hole to rid the field of his problem – Thunder King Rai-Oh! He next banishes his Ryko and Tour Guide from his graveyard, to Special Summon Light Pulsar Dragon. He has it attack Mike directly.

Life Points: Sheldon: 6100/Mike: 5500

Mike summons Tour Guide from the Underworld, and Sheldon responds to its effect with Maxx “C.” Mike Special summons Sangan in defense position, and Sheldon draws a card from his deck.

Mike next activates Dark Hole to activate his own Sangan’s effect, and get rid of Light Pulsar Dragon. With Sangan’s effect he adds Wind-Up Shark to his hand. He sets a card face-down and ends his turn.

Sheldon starts off with Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy the set card Mike had from the start – Wind-Up Factory.  Sheldon next sends his Black Luster Solider – Envoy of the Beginning and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon in his hand to the Graveyard in order to Special Summon Light Pulsar Dragon back to the field. Light Pulsar Dragon proceeds to attack Mike directly to end his turn.

Life Points: Mike: 3000/Sheldon: 6100

Mike Normal Summons Wind-Up Rat and then activates the effect of Wind-Up Shark, to special summon it. He reduces Wind-Up Shark’s level to 3, and overlays it with Rat to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines in defense position.

Sheldon sets a monster and passes his turn. Mike Sets a card face-down, and Normal Summons Thunder King Rai-Oh. Thunder King attacks Sheldon’s set monster, which is Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. Sheldon has it destroy Thunder King Rai-Oh, and sends the top 3 cards from his deck to the graveyard – Effect Veiler, Light Pulsar Dragon, and Sangan. Mike ends his turn with this.

Sheldon banishes Sangan and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his graveyard to Special Summon Chaos Sorcerer. Mike responds to this play with Solemn Warning, negating the summon. Sheldon passes his turn, not wanting to deal with Wind-Up Zenmaines.

Life Points: Mike: 1000/Sheldon: 6100

Mike draws and passes his turn. Sheldon Activates Monster Reborn to revive Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. With its effect he revives Light Pulsar Dragon. He banishes Chaos Sorcerer and Effect Veiler to Special Summon Darkflare Dragon.

Darkflare Dragon and the two Light Pulsar Dragon attack and rid the field of Wind-Up Zenmaines, and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon attacks Mike directly to end the game.

Sheldon wins game one against Mike. Mike said he lost because he set his Wind-Up Factory to protect his Solemn Warning in the first turn, if he would have held on to it he felt he could have changed the fate of the game.

Beginning Game 2, Mike opens up, and sets a monster and two cards into the back row and passes his turn.

Sheldon summons Tour Guide From the Underworld, Special Summoning Sangan in attack position. Sheldon has Sangan attack Mike’s set monster.

Mike responds to Sheldon’s attack with Dimensional Prison, banishing it from the game. This does not stop Sheldon from moving on, and has Tour guide From the Underworld attack the set monster – Wind-Up Magician. Sheldon loses 800 life points and ends his turn.

Life Points: Sheldon: 7200/Mike: 8000

Mike summons Wind-Up Rabbit, and has it attack Tour Guide from the Underworld, destroying it, and ends his turn.

Life Points: Sheldon: 6800/Mike: 8000

Sheldon activates Dark Hole. Mike responds to this with Wind-Up Rabbit’s effect, and banishes Wind-Up Magician with its effect. Sheldon sets a monster and ends his turn.

Mike draws, and Wind-Up Magician Returns to the field in defense position from the effect of Wind-Up Rabbit. Mike next Normal Summons Wind-Up Rat from his hand, and in response to Mike’s Normal Summon, Sheldon discard Maxx “C” from his hand. Mike takes a moment to consider what he wants to do next. Does he want to allow Sheldon to draw from his deck, or does he want to secure field presence. He decided to activate Wind-Up Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Rabbit back from the graveyard, allowing Sheldon to draw a card. He sets a card face-down, and ends his turn.

Sheldon summons Card Trooper, and activates its effect, sending Heavy Storm, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, and Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon from his deck to the graveyard to increase Card Trooper’s ATK to 1900.

Card Trooper attacks Wind-Up Rabbit, and Mike activates its effect, banishing it from the field. This triggers Wind-Up Magician’s effect allowing Mike to Special Summon another Wind-Up Rabbit, from his deck in defense position.

Replay now occurs, and allows Sheldon to attack the new Wind-Up Rabbit, this time Mike activates it’s effect to banish Wind-Up Magician, and in the second replay, Sheldon destroys Wind-Up Rabbit.

Sheldon next activates Mind Control to take control of wind-Up Rat, and overlays it with Card Trooper, to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines. Mike negate the Xyz summon with Solemn Judgment, and Sheldon ends his turn.

Life Points: Sheldon: 6800/Mike: 4000

Mike begins his turn, and wind-Up Rabbit and Magician return from the previous turn. Mike activates Wind-Up Rabbit’s effect to banish it, activating Wind-Up Magician’s effect, and Special Summon another Wind-Up Magician. Next Mike activates Monster Reborn, bringing Wind-Up Rat back from the graveyard. He activates Wind-Up Rat’s effect to Special Summon Rabbit in defense position.

Next he overlays Wind-Up Rabbit and Wind-Up Rat to Xyz summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity. He detaches Rabbit to Special Summon Wind-Up Rat from his deck. The effect of Zenmaity triggered Wind-Up Magician’s effect, allowing him to Special Summon Wind-Up Shark from his deck.

Mike Overlays his two Wind-Up Magician’s and Wind-Up Shark to Xyz Summon Number 16: Shock Master. Mike activates Wind-Up Rat’s effect to special Summon Wind-Up Rabbit from his graveyard. He overlays the two to Xyz Summon Number 20: Giga Brilliant. He detaches Wind-Up Rabbit from his Number 20: Giga Brilliant to increase the ATK of his monsters by 300. Before entering the Battle Phase, Mike activates Shock Master’s effect by detaching Wind-Up Shark, and declares Monster effects.

Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity attacks Sheldon’s set monster, which is revealed to be Night Assailant. Since Shock Master prevented it’s effect from activating, Mike continues to attack without losing any of his monsters. Next Number 20: Giga Brilliant attacks Sheldon directly for 2100, and Number 17: Shock Master attacks directly as well for 2600.

Life Points: Sheldon: 2100/Mike: 4000 

Sheldon sets a monster from his hand and activates Monster Reborn, to revive Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon from his graveyard only to meet Mike’s Bottomless Trap Hole. With this, Sheldon accepts his defeat and concedes the game to Mike.

Mike regains advantage in Game two against Sheldon by controlling the playing field while Sheldon was unable to keep up with Mike’s plays. Mike successfully did not take any damage from Sheldon during the game, and only took damage to the cost of Solemn Judgment. Now it is time to move on to the final game to see who moves on to the Final Round of the Championship!

Sheldon starts off Game Three with Charge of The Light Brigade, sending Lyla Lightsworn Sorceress, Light Pulsar Dragon, and Eclipse Wyvern to the Graveyard. With its effect he adds Lyla, Lightsworn Sorcerer to his hand, and activates the effect of Eclipse Wyvren. With its effect he banishes Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. He normal summons Lyla, Lightsworn Sorcerer and ends his turn, sending Solar Recharge, Royal Decree, and Heavy Storm to the graveyard, for the effect of Lyla.

Mike begins his first turn by summoning Tour Guide from the Underworld. Sheldon responds with Effect Veiler to negate the effect of Tour Guide. Mike ends his turn after this. Sheldon has his Lyla attack Tour guide, and sets a monster and then passes his turn, sending Tour Guide from the Underworld, Card Trooper, and Solar Recharge to the graveyard for the effect of Lyla.

Life Points: Sheldon: 8000/Mike: 7300

Mike summons Thunder King Rai-Oh, sets a card face-down, and attacks Lyla, Lightsworn Sorcerer before ending his turn.

Life Points: Sheldon: 7800/Mike: 7300

Sheldon flip summons Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, targeting Thunder King Rai-Oh. He sends Light Pulsar Dragon, Monster Reborn, and Lyla Lightsworn Sorceress from his deck to the graveyard for Ryko’s effect.

Next Sheldon banishes Tour Guide from the Underworld and Eclipse Wyvren to Special Summon Darkflare Dragon. Since he banished Eclipse Wyvren, he gets to add Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon to his hand. Mike responds to the Summon of Darkflare Dragon with Bottomless Trap Hole.

Sheldon ends his turn with a direct attack on Mike’s life points with Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.

Life Points: Sheldon: 7800/Mike: 7100

Mike sets a monster and passes his turn. Sheldon switches Ryko to defense mode and passes his turn. Mike flip summons his Sangan, then Summons Tour Bus from the Underworld from his hand and overlays it and Sangan to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity.

He next activates Wind-Up Factory from his hand, and detaches Sangan from Zenmaity to special summon Wind-Up Magician from his deck. He reveals Wind-Up Shark to Special Summon it, and activate Wind-Up Magician’s effect to special summon another Wind-Up Magician from his deck. He increases Wind-Up Shark’s level by 1, and summons another Shark with Wind-up Magician’s effect. He uses Wind-Up factory’s effect to add a Wind-Up Rat from his deck to his hand.

He overlays the two Wind-Up Magicians to Xyz Summon Maestrke the Symphony Djinn in attack position. He increases the second Wind-Up Shark’s level by 1, and overlays his two Wind-Up Sharks to Xyz Summon Tiras, Keeper of Genesis.

Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity attacks Sheldon’s Ryko, next Tiras attacks Sheldon directly. Sheldon responds to the direct attack by activating Gorz the Emissary of Darkness’ effect, special summoning it in attack position, along with an Emissary of Darkness Token. Mike ends his battle phase, and destroys Gorz with Tiras’ effect, and in the end phase detaches Wind-Up Shark from it.

Life Points: Sheldon: 5200/Mike: 7100

Sheldon banishes Gorz the Emissary of Darkness and Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his graveyard to Special Summon Black Luster Solider – Envoy of the Beginning from his hand.

He enters the Battle Phase and has Black Luster Solider attack Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity, since Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity was destroyed, the last Xyz Material attached to it was Tour Bus from the Underworld, with its effect, Mike returns Wind Up Carrier Zenmaity from his graveyard to his Extra Deck. He then uses Black Luster’s Soldier’s effect to attack twice to also attack Tiras, Keeper of Genesis. Sheldon lastly has his Emissary of Darkness Token attack Mike’s Maestroke the Symphony Djinn, which he detaches a Wind-Up Magician to protect it from destruction.

Life Points: Sheldon: 5200/Mike: 4400

Sheldon sets two face-down cards and ends his turn. Mike draws from his deck, and Sheldon responds with Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Wind-Up Factory. Mike Normal Summons Wind-Up Rat from his hand and uses its effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Magician from his hand. He reveals a Wind-Up Shark in his hand, and Special Summons it. This triggers Wind-Up Magician’s effect, allowing him to Special Summon a Wind-Up Rabbit from his deck.

Mike overlays Wind-Up Rat and Wind-Up Rabbit to Xyz Summon Wind up Carrier Zenmaity. He overlays his Wind-Up Shark and Wind-Up Magician to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaister. He detaches Wind-Up Rat from his Zenmaity to summon a Wind-Up Rat from his deck. Uses its effect to special summon Wind-Up Rat from his graveyard. He overlays his two Wind-Up Rats to Xyz Summon Number 20: Giga Brilliant.

Mike asks Sheldon to activate his set Gozen Match, predicting it is one of the two cards Sheldon has face-down, Sheldon laughs and says maybe. Mike continues his play by dethatching his last Xyz Material monster from Maestroke to flip Black Luster Solider – Envoy of The Beginning face-down. He then detaches Wind-Up Rat from Giga-Brilliant to power up all of his monsters by 300.

Wind-Up Zenmaister is powered up by its own effect to 2500, and Giga-Brilliant’s effect to 2800. It has the strength to get over Black Luster Soldier’s defense of 2500, and his has it declare an attack on the face-down Black Luster Solider. Sheldon responds to the attack with Forbidden Lance, to lower Wind-Up Zenmaister’s ATK to 2000!

Life Points: Sheldon: 5200/Mike: 3900

Being unable to defeat Black Luster Solider, Mike sets a card face-down and passes his turn.

Sheldon switches Black Luster Solider back to attack position, and has it attack Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity, and then has it attack Wind-Up Zenmaister. Emissary of Darkness Token attacks Giga Brilliant, and Sheldon ends his turn.

Life Points: Sheldon: 5200/Mike: 2000

Mike activates Monster Reborn to revive Wind-Up Rat, uses its effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines in defense position. He then sets a monster, and turns Maestroke to defense position and passes his turn.

Sheldon draws and activates Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Mike’s set Bottomless Trap hole, uses Black Luster Solider’s effect to banish Wind-Up Zenmaines. He then tributes Black Luster Solider and the Emissary of Darkness Token to Tribute Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon. He uses it’s effect to Special Summon Light Pulsar Dragon from his graveyard.

Sheldon activates Dark Hole to destroy Red-Eyes Darkness Dragon, Light Pulsar Dragon, Maestroke The Symphony Djinn, and Mike’s set monster. He activates Light Pulsar’s effect to Special Summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon back from the graveyard.

Mike’s field is now completely empty, and his Life Points are low. Sheldon declares an attack with Red-Eyes, and wins the duel!

Sheldon wins the match and moves on to the final round against the winner of the duel between Andre Montalvo and Gage Murray! Sheldon preformed a very crazy play by using Dark Hole to clear the field and trigger the effect of Light Pulsar Dragon and win the duel! Good luck to him in the Final Round!