It’s not the finals, but this is one of the most important Matches in the entire tournament. The winner of this Feature Match is going to the World Championship! We’ve got Charley Futch, who has already been a World Champion as a Dragon Duelist! He’s using Mitsurugi today. His opponent is Isaias Estrada, who’s been making waves with his Gem-Knight Deck. He may not have been to the World Championship before, but he doesn’t want it any less!

Duel 1

Futch won the dice roll and chose to play second. By now the word of Estrada’s Deck had spread, and Futch knew Estrada had built around intentionally going second. Estrada had a hand of Triple Tactics Thrust, Gem-Knight Dispersion, Shaddoll Dragon, Scatter Fusion, and Gem-Knight Quartz.

Futch started things off with Mulcharmy Purulia. Estrada activated Dispersion to add Gem-Knight Nepyrim to his hand. He Normal Summoned it, letting Futch draw from Purulia, and Futch negated it with Infinite Impermanence. Estrada activated Triple Tactics Thrust, but Futch had Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! Estrada Set Scatter Fusion to finish.

Futch simply passed the turn back.

Estrada drew Mulcharmy Meowls. He used Nepyrim’s effect to Normal Summon Quartz, and Futch activated Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Estrada Link Summoned Gem-Knight Phantom Quartz, letting Futch get his Mulcharmy draw. Phantom Quartz put a new Nepyrim in Estrada’s hand, and Futch activated Droll & Lock Bird. Estrada Normal Summoned Nepyrim, then Link Summoned a new Phantom Quartz. He used its effect to fuse the Gem-Knights in his Graveyard into Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion! He used Master Diamond Dispersion’s effect to bring Gem-Knight Topaz, Gem-Knight Ruby, and Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond to the field. He moved to the Battle Phase and attacked with everything to end the first Duel!

Futch had plenty of Mulcharmies and other disruption, but didn’t draw anything to get his own plan going! We’ll see how things change with the Side Decks.

Duel 2

Futch chose to play first this time, hoping to use his Side Deck cards to preempt the Gem-Knights. Estrada had a hand of Fuwalos, Brilliant Fusion, Nepyrim, and two copies of Lightning Storm.

Futch began with Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, adding Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi to his hand. He used Habakiri’s effect, and Estrada Chained Fuwalos. Futch Special Summoned Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji and Tributed it, and Estrada drew Nehshaddoll Genius. Saji’s effect put Mitsurugi Prayers in his hand. He activated Prayers, Tributing Habakiri. He added Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa to his hand, then took 800 damage to Special Summon it. Aramasa’s effect put Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi in his hand, and the Tributed Habakiri found Mitsurugi Ritual. He played Mitsurugi Ritual to bring Murakumo down from his hand, Tributing Futsu no Mitama no Mitsurugi from his Deck. Futsu’s effect put Mitsurugi Mirror in his hand. He activated Mirror to Ritual Summon Futsu from his Graveyard, Tributing Murakumo. Murakumo returned to the field, adding Mitsurugi Great Purification to his hand. He used Triple Tactics Talent to look at Estrada’s hand, returning Brilliant Fusion to the Deck. He Set two cards in his back row, then used Manju and Aramasa to Link Summon I:P Masquerena. Estrada drew Sales Ban thanks to his Fuwalos.

Estrada drew Gem-Knight Hollowcore. He started with Lightning Storm to destroy Futch’s spells and traps, and Futch Chained Mitsurugi Great Purification, Tributing Murakumo. Mitsurugi Mirror returned to the Deck, and Murakumo came back to the field, adding Prayers to Futch’s hand. Estrada played Sales Ban next, declaring Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi! Futch Chained Murakumo’s effect while he could, and Estrada discarded Genius to make his effect resolve. Genius then targeted I:P Masquerena to negate it, and Futch Chained it, using it and Murakumo to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, banishing Genius from the Graveyard. Estrada Normal Summoned Nepyrim, and Futch Chained S:P Little Knight’s effect to banish itself and Nepyrim. Nepyrim’s effect put Dispersion in Estrada’s hand. He Special Summoned Hollowcore by sending Gem-Knight Fusion to the Graveyard. Futsu’s effect let Futch Special Summon Aramasa from the Graveyard, which put Habakiri in his hand.

Estrada continued, using Dispersion to fuse Nepyrim and Quartz from his Deck into Gem-Knight Lady Rose Diamond! He activated Nepyrim’s effect in the Graveyard, and Futch activated Futsu. Estrada Chained Lady Brilliant Diamond’s effect on Futch’s Set card, destroying Crossout Designator. Futsu brought Saji to the field, and Nepyrim returned to the field by discarding Lightning Storm, Estrada’s last card in hand. Saji’s effect put Mitsurugi Magatama in Futch’s hand, and Futsu brought Murakumo back to the field. Estrada used Hollowcore and Nepyrim to Link Summon Phantom Core.

Phantom Core put Quartz in Estrada’s hand, and he used it to Set Brilliant Fusion. He activated Brilliant Fusion, fusing Hollowcore, Quartz, and Nepyrim from his Deck into Lady Brilliant Diamond. He used Quartz’s effect to get Nepyrim back in his hand. He returned Gem-Knight Fusion to his hand by banishing Quartz. He used Phantom Quartz’s effect, fusing his banished  Gem-Knights into Gem-Knight Master Diamond Dispersion. He used its effect to bring Ruby, Topaz, and Gem-Knight Aquamarine to the field! He activated Gem-Knight Fusion, fusing Phantom Quartz, Topaz, and the Nepyrim in his hand into Gem-Knight Master Diamond! He banished Phantom Quartz to get Gem-Knight Fusion back to his hand, then used it for Brilliant Fusion to return Lady Brilliant Diamond to its full ATK. He had Master Diamond copy Topaz’s effects to attack twice and inflict burn damage. He then used Ruby’s effect, Tributing Lady Brilliant Diamond to gain its ATK. He moved to the Battle Phase, sending Ruby to attack Aramasa and deal 5000 piercing battle damage! He attacked with his other monsters, ending the Match!

Isaias Estradas is headed to the World Championship thanks to Gem-Knights!