Marcell Threatt of Chicago (left) stares at a card which Brandon Smith (right) signed personally for him at a meet and greet at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. Brandon is the World Champion, Canadian Regional Champion and North American Champion for the game, Cardfight!! Vanguard. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkley, MI, the World Champion of Cardfight!! Vanguard plays against Brandon Bastianelli of Taylor, MI, the Illinois Regional Champion at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkley, MI, the World Champion of Cardfight!! Vanguard plays against Brandon Bastianelli of Taylor, MI, the Illinois Regional Champion as Nick Bovio of Warrenville watches to the side at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkley, MI, the World Champion of Cardfight!! Vanguard plays against Brandon Bastianelli of Taylor, MI, the Illinois Regional Champion at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Rey Adique of Glendale Heights "rests" a card while playing against the World Champion Brandon Smith during an impromptu game of Cardfight!! Vanguard at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkley, MI, the World Champion of Cardfight!! Vanguard plays against Rey Adique of Glendale Heights in an impromptu game of Cardfight!! Vanguard at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkley, MI signs a card from the game Cardfight!! Vanguard at Forever After Antiques & Collectibles in Bartlett on Saturday, February 16, 2013. Brandon is the World Champion, Canadian Regional Champion and the North American Champion for the game Cardfight!! Vanguard. | Erik Anderson~For Sun-Times Media
Brandon Smith of Berkeley, Mich. has traveled to Japan and back as the World Champion of Vanguard Cardfight!! competition. This weekend, Smith packed up his cards and brought them to a Bartlett card store, where he and dozens of other players previewed a long-awaited set …
