Round 4 Feature Match: Rodrigo Rubio vs. Rai Say

The next featured match is between Rodrigo Rubio (-Noel-) and Rai Say (Cursed Reaction)!

Due to connection issues, these matches had to be replayed several times, but we managed to complete the ones necessary for coverage. Rodrigo won Rock, Paper Scissors to earn the honor of beginning this duel!

Rodrigo is playing Crane Blackwing, while his opponent is playing Geartown!

Rodrigo begins by setting 2 cards to the backrow and Normal Summoning Blackwing - Bora the Spear.

Rai ends his first turn with a single backrow.

During Rodrigo's Draw Phase, Rai flips Trap Dustshoot! Rodrigo's hand consists of 2 copies of Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North, Summoner Monk, and Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning. Rai quickly sends Black Luster back to the Deck. Bora declares a direct attack, which is met with no resistance.

(Rai LP: 6300)

Rai activates the Field Spell Geartown and activates Heavy Storm, but Rodrigo flips Solemn Judgment. For half his Life Points, he negates the Spell and stopping the intended combo. But it's for naught, as Rai activates Mystical Space Typhoon instead, destroying his own Geartown, activating its effect to Special Summon Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon from his Deck! With its mighty 3000 body, it takes down Rodrigo's Bora, damaging his already low LP score!

(Rodrigo LP: 2700)

Rodrigo Sets a monster.

Rai activates Pot of Duality, revealing Ancient Gear Workshop, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Monster Reborn. He adds Reborn to his hand and Normal Summons Elemental Hero Neos Alius. He sets backrow and enters the Battle Phase. Before Gadjiltron can declare its attack, Rodrigo flips Icarus Attack, Tributing his facedown Sacred Crane and destroying both of Rai's monsters!

Rodrigo Normal Summons Summoner Monk and discards Pot of Duality for its effect, Special Summoning Sacred Crane from his Deck. With Sacred Crane's effect, Rodrigo draws a card. He then Overlays his two Level 4s to Xyz Summon Number 39: Utopia. He attacks directly, and then Sets a backrow.

(Rai LP: 3800)

Rai activates Monster Reborn, targeting his Gadjiltron Dragon, but Rodrigo counters with Solemn Warning, negating the effect for 2000 LP! Rai ends his turn there.

(Rodrigo LP: 700)

Rodrigo Normal Summons Blackwing - Blizzard the Far North, using its effect to Special Summon Bora from his Graveyard. He Synchs for Blackwing Armed Wing, and both his monsters strike directly for game!

Rodrigo's timely counter cards and effects manage to overcome Rai's Gadjiltron Dragon plays before they take him out, despite the loss of LP in the process! Rai will be going first in Game 2!

Game 2

Rai sets 2 backrow and Normal Summons Summoner Monk, discarding Gemini Spark from his hand to Special Summon Elemental Hero Stratos from his Deck. Stratos' effect then adds Elemental Hero Neos Alius from his Deck to his hand. He Overlays both his monsters for Number 39: Utopia.

During Rodrigo's Draw Phase, Rai flips Trap Dustshoot. Rodrigo's hand consists of Solemn Judgment, Trap Dustshoot, Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Pot of Avarice, Blackwing - Gale the Whirlwind, and Heavy Storm. After some consideration, Rai sends Black Luster back to Rodrigo's Deck. Rodrigo Normal Summons Gale and uses its effect to halve Utopia's ATK. He attacks Utopia with Gale, but Rai detaches Stratos to negate the attack. Rodrigo sets 2 to the backrow and ends.

Rai is hit with a taste of his own medicine as Rodrigo flips HIS Trap Dustshoot during the Draw Phase. Rai's hand consists of Terraforming, Vylon Prism, Neos Alius, and Mystical Space Typhoon. Neos Alius is returned to the Deck, and Rai activates Terraforming to search for Geartown and activates it. Rodrigo hastily flips Solemn Judgment, paying half his LP to negate the card!

Note: Rai could activate Geartown's Effect at this point to Special Summon his Ancient Gear Gadjiltron Dragon. However, he was unaware of this and did not see the on-hand judge pointing this ruling out until the duel had ended. He would have won this duel if he had known this.

Rai continues by Normal Summoning Vylon Prism and attacking Gale with it. The weakened Utopia attacks directly.

(Rodrigo LP: 2550)

Rodrigo uses Heavy Storm, blowing away Rai's Torrential Tribute. He Normal Summons Summoner Monk and discards Pot of Avarice to Special Summon Sacred Crane and draw a card. He Sets a backrow to end.

Rai activates Mystical Space Typhoon, and Rodrigo chains with Icarus Attack, Tributing his Sacred Crane to destroy Rai's 2 monsters. Rai Normal Summons Elemental Hero Neos Alius and destroys Summoner Monk.

Rodrigo topdecks Black Luster Soldier! He banishes Sacred Crane and Summoner Monk for the mighty warrior and cuts down Alius, allowing Black Luster a second attack!

(Rai LP: 3900)

Rai passes.

Rodrigo Summons Blackwing - Bora the Spear. His two monsters take out the remainder of Rai's LP to claim the match!

Rodrigo emerges 2-0 over Rai. Good games!