News: Doctor O Tweets BCF2013 Vanguard Stage in Sendai Results

Doctor O tweeted the results of the Bushiroad Cardfight 2013 Vanguard Stage this morning through his official account, revealing the outcome of the Senior and Junior tournaments held on the 12th. BCF2013 is part of a nationwide tour lasting through July, which also forms the Fighter's Road 2013 summer national tournament. Of the sixteen finalists for FR2013, eight of them will be determined through BCF2013 events, with four others being Asia Circuit Memorial Tournament champions, and four more being finalists from the Great Vanguard Festival event. The eight participants for the Juniors division of FR2013 will be coming purely from the Fighter's Road 2013 regional events. Only elementary students and younger may participate in the Juniors division, while the Seniors division is open to all ages.

 

While the decklists and names are not yet available, Doctor O stated that the Senior champion used a Gauntlet Buster Dragon-based Narukami deck, while the runner up was also using a Narukami deck, but based on Sweep Commando Dragon. The Junior champion is one of the first major Kagerou victories in a long time, taking the top spot with a Seal Dragon deck, while the runner up used a Gold Paladin Liberator deck.

The remaining seven tournaments will take place in Kyoto, Kanazawa, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Sapporo and Nagoya. This will be the first time that the Fukuoka and Kyoto prefectures have been included in the national tournament, and also the first time that Okayama, Hakata and Osaka will not be participating.

Spotlight: Gotou Kiyomi/後藤聖弥

Fighter's Spotlight is an ongoing project concerned with tracking real-world professional cardfighters across the globe.

Gotou is pictured at the bottom, second from the left.

 Gotou Kiyomi/後藤聖弥

Age: Unknown; Seniors Division
Titles Won: Sendai Regional Champion (Senior Class), Fighter's Road 2012 National Champion (Senior Class)
Current Status: National Champion (Reigning)
Deck Type: Royal Paladin (Alfred)
Gotou Kiyomi is the 2012 Japanese national champion. He is one of eight senior class fighters to define 2012 competitive cardfight as it was known in the game's home country. Coincidentally, he shares his surname with Gotou Hirotaka, as well as much of his deck strategy.

Decks and Play Style
While Gotou is a Royal Paladin cardfighter, his deck eschews Majesty Lord Blaster as popularized by Shinhori Kentarou in favor of a traditional, Hirotaka-style Alfred build with Palamedes filling rearguard attack roles. Although the King of Knights is his key vanguard, Palamedes could be called the deck's true centerpiece, as with either Marron or Toypugal (as called out by Akane), he can form a line above 21000 power, enough to consistently oppose Dragonic Overlord The End and his contemporaries. As these crossrides boast high defense, Gotou's rearguards are designed to oppose this; hence the inclusion of multiple base 10000 grade 2s, whom with Toypugal or Marron can demand more than a draw trigger's worth of shield out of those units. With Alfred's vanguard skill to support himself into being able to likewise assail The End and Blaster Overlord, Gotou Kiyomi's strategy can be defined as making consistent 18000-and-above attacks over the course of multiple turns to wear out the opponent gradually, making it a someone passive deck.

Despite this strong anti-crossride build, Gotou's Royal Paladins have several key weaknesses. Alfred himself cannot exceed 20000 power without triggers, in a limit break and soulblast dominated format where 21000 and above are the key numbers for offense. His Wingal Brave has very limited use due to the deck's lack of focus on Blaster units, being only able to boost Blaster Blade to search out a second Blaster Blade. The unit which Brave searches is more than likely to be relegated to being a shield, due to Gotou's counterblast already being dedicated to Akane and Alfred. His deck is also low on draw triggers, being entirely devoted to criticals, and so it does not perform particularly well defensively. How these flaws will interplay with the incredibly consistent and extremely dangerous The End is yet to be seen.

Summer 2012 Regional Tournament, Sendai Seniors Division (Japan)
Card Pool: TD01-EB03, PR 0001-0066
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Toypugal
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade
x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x2 Knight of Determination, Lamorak
Grade 3
x4 Knight of Knights, Alfred
x3 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

Main Article: Alfred's Place vs Crossride: The "Fifth Marron"
Kiyomi's national championship deck was virtually unchanged from what he used at Sendai. The only difference is swapping out one copy of Gallatin for a fourth Blaster Blade, possibly as insurance for getting Wingal Brave off the field to make room for Marron, Lien or Toypugal.

Summer 2012 National Tournament, Seniors Division (Japan)
Card Pool: TD01-EB03, PR 0001-0066
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Toypugal
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x3 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x2 Knight of Determination, Lamorak
Grade 3
x4 Knight of Knights, Alfred
x3 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

News: Fighter's Road 2012 Sendai, Hakata and Tokyo

This morning the winners of the three followup Fighter's Road 2012 regional competitions were announced through Bushiroad's official CF-Vanguard Japanese website. As in the preceding events, we are seeing the return of some of the previous year's pros, including Otobe Takasuke of the 2011 Grand Prix. In general however, Sendai, Hakata and Tokyo are seeing more newcomers than other cities.

First place winners in these competitions will go on to the national championship; two among those at the championship will be crowned Japan's 2012 National Champions. Following these three cities, we await results from Sapporo and Osaka.

This set of regionals saw the return of The King of Knights, Alfred, whose continuing popularity has bolstered him into Sendai's first-place slot. Dragonic Overlord The End remains a popular choice, and continues to vie with Majesty Lord Blaster for this year's most favored deck. Blond Ezel currently makes up the underdog deck, making a strong presentation at several of this year's competitions. Additionally, this marks the debut of Spectral Duke Dragon outside of the trio battles.

Trio Battle results will be reported in a separate post, due to the encroaching length of this article. Juniors Division results are now available.

Sendai Regional Finals
Seniors Division
Regional Champion: Gotou Kiyomi/後藤聖弥
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Toypugal
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade
x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x2 Knight of Determination, Lamorak
Grade 3
x4 Knight of Knights, Alfred
x3 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

Runner-up: Satou Souta/佐藤爽太
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x2 Dragon Dancer, Monica DT
x4 Lizard Soldier, Ganlu ST
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x2 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
Grade 1
x2 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Goku
x1 Wyvern Strike, Jarran
x2 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x2 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
Grade 2
x2 Dragon Knight, Berger
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Wyvern Strike, Tejas
Grade 3
x3 Dragonic Overlord
x2 Duel Axe Archdragon
x3 Dragonic Lawkeeper

Third Place: Otobe Takasute/乙部貴甫
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x1 Dragon Dancer, Monica DT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x3 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x3 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x1 Flame of Promise, Aermo
x1 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x3 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x2 Cross Shot, Garp
x2 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Fourth Place: Tsunoda Shinji/角田慎治
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x1 Dragon Dancer, Monica DT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x3 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x3 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x3 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x1 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x3 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x3 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Juniors Division
Regional Champion: Niida Kazuki/新井田和輝
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x4 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x2 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x3 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x1 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x2 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x1 Bellicosity Dragon
x2 Cross Shot, Garp
x2 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Runner-up: Hyougo Koyuki/兵庫小柚記
Grade 0
x1 Godhawk, Ichibyoshi (FVG)
x4 Lozenge Magus HT
x4 Oracle Guardian, Nike CT
x4 Emergency Alarmer ST
x4 Psychic Bird CT
Grade 1
x2 Battle Sister, Cocoa
x4 Oracle Guardian, Gemini
x4 Weather Girl, Milk
x4 Crescent Moon Goddess, Tsukuyomi
x2 Battle Sister, Maple
Grade 2
x3 Oracle Guardian, Wiseman
x2 Silent Tom
x3 Half Moon Goddess, Tsukuyomi
x2 Oracle Guardian, Red-Eye
Grade 3
x2 Oracle Guardian, Apollon
x4 Full Moon Goddess, Tsukuyomi
x1 Meteobreak Weizard

Third Place: Kai Ooyoshi/甲斐大吉
Grade 0
x2 Lizard Soldier, Conroe
x1 Amber Dragon, "Dawn" (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x2 Lizard Soldier, Ganlu ST
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x3 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x1 Flame Seed Salamander ST
x2 Demonic Dragon Mage, Rakshasa CT
Grade 1
x1 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x3 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x2 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x4 Iron Tail Dragon
x1 Lizard Soldier, Raopia
x2 Amber Dragon, "Daylight"
Grade 2
x1 Dragon Knight, Aleph
x3 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x2 Blazing Core Dragon
x1 Amber Dragon, "Dusk"
x1 Burning Horn Dragon
Grade 3
x2 Dragonic Overlord
x1 Embodiment of Victory, Aleph
x1 Vortex Dragon
x1 Blazing Flare Dragon
x1 Dual Axe Archdragon
x1 Amber Dragon, "Eclipse"
x2 Dragonic Lawkeeper

Fourth Place: Hamato Hiroyuki/浜登洋行
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x4 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x3 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x2 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x2 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x3 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x3 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Hakata Regional Finals
Seniors Division
Regional Champion: Nakamura Seishirou/中村誠士朗
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x4 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x2 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
x2 Red Gem Carbuncle DT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x3 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x1 Heat Nail Salamander
x1 Flame of Promise, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Burning Horn Dragon
x4 Bellicosity Dragon
x3 Berserk Dragon
Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Runner-up: Itoyama Shintarou/糸山真太郎
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x3 Little Sage, Marron
x2 Lake Maiden, Lien
x3 Toypugal
x3 Knight of Friendship, Kay
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x2 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x1 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x2 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x4 Majesty Lord Blaster

Third Place: Tanaka Yuki/田中優樹
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x3 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x2 Toypugal
x2 Knight of Friendship, Kay
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Blaster Dark
x2 Starcall Trumpeter
Grade 3
x3 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot
x2 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x3 Majesty Lord Blaster

Fourth Place: Hayashi Junpei/林純平
Grade 0
x1 Shieldseed Squire (FVG)
x4 Dangan Chestnut CT
x4 Dancing Sunflower DT
x4 Sweet Honey HT
x4 Watering Elf ST
Grade 1
x4 Caramel Popcorn
x3 Maiden of Blossom Rain
x4 Corolla Dragon
x3 Lady of Kamorebi
x1 Bladeseed Squire
Grade 2
x3 Glass Beads Dragon
x4 Iris Knight
x4 Hey Yo Pinappo
Grade 3
x4 Maiden of Trailing Rose
x3 Forerunner Battle Maiden, Laurel

Juniors Division
Regional Champion: Ario Kousuke/有尾公佑
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Malevolent Djinn CT
x4 Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Old Dragon Mage DT
x4 Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo HT
Grade 1 
x4 Wyvern Guard, Guld
x1 Desert Gunner, Raien
x3 Photon Bomber Wyvern
x4 Red River Dragoon
x2 Lightning of Hope, Helena
Grade 2
x2 Dragonic Deathscythe
x4 Thunderstorm Dragoon
x3 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda
x2 Hex Cannon Wyvern
Grade 3
x2 Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion
x3 Breakthrough Dragon
x3 Thunder Break Dragon

Runner-up: Sougawa Yoshiki/早川嘉輝
Grade 0
x1 Lizard Soldier, Conroe (FVG)
x3 Embodiment of Spear, Tahr CT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x4 Gatling Claw Dragon DT
x4 Blue-Ray Dracokid CT
x1 Demonic Dragon Mage, Rakshasa CT
Grade 1
x4 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x1 Dragon Monk, Gojo
x2 Demonic Dragon Mage, Kimnara
x2 Iron Tail Dragon
x2 Flame of Promise, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Dragon Knight, Nehalem
x3 Burning Horn Dragon
x1 Bellicosity Dragon
x2 Berserk Dragon

Grade 3
x4 Dragonic Overlord
x4 Dragonic Overlord The End

Third Place: Iwanaga Junpei/岩永準平
Grade 0
x4 Dragon Dancer, Monica DT
x4 Dragon Monk, Genjo HT
x1 Amber Dragon, "Dawn"
x4 Flame Seed Salamander ST
x4 Demonic Dragon Mage, Rakshasa CT
Grade 1
x2 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x4 Embodiment of Armor, Bahr
x4 Amber Dragon, "Daylight"
x4 Flame of Hope, Aermo
Grade 2
x4 Dragon Knight, Berger
x3 Amber Dragon, "Dusk"
x4 Cross Shot, Garp
Grade 3
x1 Dragonic Overlord
x3 Amber Dragon, "Eclipse"
x3 Garnet Dragon, "Flash"
x1 Dragonic Lawkeeper

Fourth Place: Nakamura Ryuushirou/中村竜志郎
Grade 0
x1 Crimson Lion Cub, Kyrph (FVG)
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x4 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x4 Sleygal Dagger
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x2 Charjgal
Grade 2
x2 Beast Knight, Garmall
x3 Mage of Calamity, Trip
x4 Gigantech Commander
x4 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
Grade 3
x4 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x2 Holy Mage, Manawydan

Tokyo Regional Finals
Seniors Division
Regional Champion: Yamaguchi Kouhei/山口晃平
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x1 Lake Maiden, Lien
x3 Toypugal
x2 Knight of Friendship, Kay
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade
x1 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x3 Blaster Dark
x3 Starcall Trumpeter
x1 Knight of Loyalty, Bedivere
Grade 3
x2 King of Knights, Alfred
x3 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes
x3 Majesty Lord Blaster

Runner-up: Nukui Yuu/貫井悠
Grade 0
x1 Crimson Lion Cub, Kyrph (FVG)
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Falcon Knight of the Azure DT
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x3 Sleygal Dagger
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x1 Precipice Whirlwind, Sagramore
x3 Charjgal
Grade 2
x4 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x3 Mage of Calamity, Trip
x2 Gigantech Commander
x1 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x2 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x2 Holy Mage, Manawydan
x4 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore

Third Place: Miyao Yuwa/宮尾佑和
Grade 0
x1 Little Fighter, Cron (FVG)
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x4 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier 
Grade 1
x4 Sleygal Dagger
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x2 Charjgal
Grade 2
x1 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
x4 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x4 Mage of Calamity, Trip
x3 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x1 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x2 Gigantech Destroyer
x4 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore

Fourth Place: Matsubara Ryoubun/松原諒文
Grade 0
x1 Wingal Brave (FVG)
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
x4 Margal DT
x4 Alabaster Owl CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x1 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Pongal
x2 Toypugal
Grade 2
x3 Blaster Blade
x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x2 High Dog Breeder, Akane
x2 Knight of Truth, Gordon
Grade 3
x4 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Soul Saver Dragon
x3 Swordsman of Explosive Flames, Palamedes

Juniors Division
Regional Champion: Takenaka Shun'ichi/竹中駿一
Grade 0
x1 Black Dragon Whelp, Vortimer (FVG)
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x4 Falcon Knight of the Azure DT
x2 Silent Punisher CT
x2 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x3 Halo Shield, Mark
x2 Little Battler, Tron
x4 Scout of Darkness, Vortimer
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
Grade 2
x2 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
x4 Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer
x2 Flash Edge Valkyrie
x3 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x1 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x1 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x3 Holy Mage, Manawydan
x2 Spectral Duke Dragon
x1 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore
x1 Battlefield Storm, Sagramore

Runner-up: Katsumata Haruto/勝又悠斗
Grade 0
x1 Blaujunger (FVG)
x3 Battleraizer ST
x1 Shining Lady CT
x4 Round Girl, Clara HT
x4 Red Lightning CT
x4 The Gong DT
Grade 1 
x3 Tough Boy
x2 Screamin' and Dancin' Announcer, Shout
x3 Twin Blader
x3 Death Army Guy
x4 Blaupanzer
x1 Oasis Girl
Grade 2
x3 Genocide Jack
x3 Magician Girl, Kirara
x3 Death Army Lady
x1 Blaukruger

Grade 3
x1 Asura Kaiser
x1 Armoured Fairy, Sphira
x4 Beast Deity, Azure Dragon
x1 Death Metal Droid

Third Place: Abe Seigo/安倍聖吾
Grade 0
x1 Black Dragon Whelp, Vortimer (FVG)
x4 Flame of Victory CT
x3 Falcon Knight of the Azure DT
x4 Silent Punisher CT
x1 Weapons Dealer, Gwydion DT
x4 Elixir Sommelier HT
Grade 1
x4 Halo Shield, Mark
x2 Player of the Holy Axe, Nimue
x4 Knight of Elegant Skills, Gareth
x3 Scout of Darkness, Vortimer
Grade 2
x2 Player of the Holy Bow, Viviane
x1 Mage of Calamity, Trip
x4 Black Dragon Knight, Vortimer
x3 Knight of Superior Skills, Beaumains
x1 Sacred Guardian Beast, Nemean Lion
Grade 3
x4 Incandescent Lion, Blond Ezel
x3 Spectral Duke Dragon
x1 Great Silver Wolf, Garmore
x1 Battlefield Storm, Sagramore

Fourth Place: Ogura Takumi/小倉拓海
Grade 0
x1 Spark Kid Dragoon (FVG)
x4 Demonic Dragon Nymph, Seiobo HT
x4 Malevolent Djinn CT
x4 Yellow Gem Carbuncle CT
x4 Old Dragon Mage DT
Grade 1
x3 Wyvern Guard, Barri
x1 Desert Gunner, Raien
x2 Photon Bomber Wyvern
x4 Red River Dragoon
x1 Lizard Soldier, Riki
x1 Lightning of Hope, Helena
x2 Djinn of the Lightning Spark
Grade 2
x1 Desert Gunner, Shiden
x2 Dragonic Deathscythe
x2 Thunderstorm Dragoon
x3 Demonic Dragon Berserker, Garuda
x1 Brightlance Dragoon
x2 Shieldblade Dragoon
Grade 3
x3 Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion
x3 Vajra Emperor, Indra
x2 Thunder Break Dragon

Spotlight: Yasooka Shouta/八十岡翔太

Fighter's Spotlight is an ongoing project concerned with tracking real-world professional cardfighters across the globe.

 

Yasooka at the height of his Magic career.

Yasooka Shouta/八十岡翔太
Age: Unknown; Seniors Division
Titles Won: Sendai Regional Finalist Third Place
Current Status: Sendai Regional Finalist Third Place (Summer 2011)
Deck Type: Royal Paladin (Lohengrin-SSD)

Yasooka Shouta is a professional Magic: The Gathering player who made his first and only appearance as a cardfighter in the Sendai regional competition, contending with two other finalists. He placed third in the regional, using a swarm-based Royal Paladin deck. Yasooka is primarily known for his success in the Magic 2006 Pro Tour season, in which he was declared Pro Player of the year. He has played over 2500 Magic: The Gathering matches, and currently resides in Shinjuku.

Decks and Play Style
Similar to his other opponents at the time, Yasooka's deck is a Barcgal superior ride build, but rather than being grounded in Alfred like Gotou or Soul Saver Dragon as with Murakami, his centerpiece is Gigantic Charger. His intended vanguard is clearly pinned as Lohengrin or Soul Saver Dragon, but Charger is the deck's main feature in that it immediately and unavoidably fills the field. It comes as a curiosity then, that Yasooka chose not run even a single copy of the King of Knights--his strategy could be broken down into riding from Lohengrin and Soul Saver Dragon, having arranged his field for her Holy Charging Roar beforehand with Charger.

Summer 2011 Regional Tournament, Sendai Seniors Division
Card Pool: TD01-BT02, PR 0001-0018

Grade 0

x1 Barcgal

x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT

x2 Future Knight, Llew CT

x3 Flogal ST

x3 Margal DT

x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT

Grade 1

x4 Flash Shield, Iseult

x4 Little Sage, Marron

x4 Young Pegasus Knight

x4 Pongal

Grade 2

x4 Blaster Blade

x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin

Grade 3

x2 Demon-Slaying Knight, Lohengrin

x2 Solitary Knight, Gancelot

x2 Soul Saver Dragon

x3 Gigantic Charger

1. "2006 Player of the Year Race: Event Coverage: Daily MTG." Magic: The Gathering. Wizards of the Coast, 13 Dec. 2006. Web. 30 Mar. 2012. <http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/Events.aspx?x=protour/standings/poy06>.

Spotlight: Murakami Kazuya/村上和也

Fighter's Spotlight is an ongoing project concerned with tracking real-world professional cardfighters across the globe.

Murakami is to the right, holding the second place trophy.

Murakami Kazuya/村上和也

Age: Unknown; Seniors Division
Titles Won: Sendai Regional Champion (Senior Class), National Runner-Up (Japan, Senior Class)
Current Status: National Runner-Up (Summer 2011)
Deck Type: Royal Paladin (Alfred-Soul Saver Dragon)
Murakami made his first appearance in the competitive scene at the Summer 2011 Sendai Regional, in June of 2011. Taking first place with his Royal Paladin deck, he proceeded on to face Shitakawachi in the first ever national-level Vanguard competition, held in August. However, Murakami ultimately lost this fight, placing as the runner-up. It is unknown if he participated during the following Grand Prix; he has not appeared on official listings since then.

Decks and Play Style
Murakami is noted primarily for paving the way for much of Japan's competitive scene, as Sendai was the first ward of Japan to have a tournament. As such, its results were available ahead of the other tournaments. He's also recognized as one of the earliest advocates for the Royal Paladin clan, defining what are internationally known as its primary strategies with his first decklist. Ironically, the very strategies that Murakami originated became the basis for the deck that would defeat him in the Summer of 2011.

His opponent in the final rounds of the Sendai tournament was Gotou Hirotaka. Unlike Murakami, Gotou advocated for a more heavily Alfred-centric build, using Bors for support in their fight. Murakami's strategy was to superior ride from Barcgal into Blaster Blade, building up the soul for Soul Saver Dragon's soulblast; High Dog Breeder, Akane and Pongal were additional support cards for his strategy. His grade 1s included just three copies of the Flash Shield, Iseult--typical for the time, as Murakami only ran 2 draw triggers--Lien for her deck-searching capability, Marron as a universal booster, and Lionmane Stallion to support a rearguard Alfred. As Lionmane was also a viable target for Akane, Murakami could take advantage of this to use Alfred to superior call Akane and Akane to superior call Lionmane, building up for the turn in which he would ride Soul Saver Dragon.

Murakami's initial decklist included 3 copies of Blaster Blade, with one Gancelot to make up the difference--thus accounting both for the possibility of his Barcgal being retired, and that one may end up in the damage zone. While the build was somewhat rough for the time and likely ruled by budget, it was nonetheless able to either gain card advantage through superior ride and call, or else punish the opponent that attempted to break this advantage with retire skills.

Summer 2011 Regional Tournament, Sendai Seniors Division
Card Pool: TD01-BT02, PR 0001-0018

Grade 0

x1 Barcgal

x4 Future Knight, Llew CT

x3 Flogal ST (TD)

x2 Margal DT

x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT (TD)

x3 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT (TD)

Grade 1

x3 Flash Shield, Iseult

x3 Lake Maiden, Lien

x4 Pongal

x4 Little Sage, Marron (BT)

x1 Lionmane Stallion

Grade 2

x3 Blaster Blade (BT)

x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin

x2 High-Dog Breeder, Akane

x2 Knight of Truth, Gordon

Grade 3

x4 King of Knights, Alfred

x1 Solitary Knight, Gancelot

x2 Soul Saver Dragon

The revised deck Murakami brought to Japan's summer national was, unfortunately, not up to par. Between the two decks, Murakami removed one of his Soul Saver Dragons and ditched Gancelot in favor of an additional Blaster Blade. With just five grade 3s and Akane absent from the deck, he would theoretically be dealing with ride problems in the finals--whether this was actually the case or not is unknown. Murakami appears to have substituted out several of his key cards in favor of other, less useful units--cutting Akane for Randolf and additional Gordons, and Margal for another Flogal, the changes are drastic enough that it becomes ambiguous if this Murakami Kazuya is indeed the same Murakami Kazuya from Sendai.

Murakami appears to have rather strangely cut the trial deck Marrons and Elaines in the transition, but on account of the identical kanji(there are around eight ways to write Murakami in Japanese, similar to the Fisher-Fischer shift in English) and the requirements for national participation, it must be concluded that these two cardfighters are in fact the same person.

Summer National Championship 2011, Seniors Division (Japan)
Card Pool: TD01-BT02, PR 0001-0018
Grade 0
x1 Barcgal
x4 Future Knight, Llew CT
x4 Bringer of Good Luck, Epona CT
x4 Flogal ST
x4 Yggdrasil Maiden, Elaine HT
Grade 1
x4 Flash Shield, Iseult
x4 Little Sage, Marron
x3 Lake Maiden, Lien
x4 Pongal
Grade 2
x4 Blaster Blade
x4 Knight of Silence, Gallatin
x1 Covenant Knight, Randolf
x4 Knight of Truth, Gordon
Grade 3
x4 King of Knights, Alfred
x1 Soul Saver Dragon