We’re almost at the end! We’re in the Top 4, which means that the winner of this round will be moving onto the finals of TEAM YCS Las Vegas! For this Feature Match, we have Cameron Taylor Neal of Team Neal 4 Papa playing the Branded Dracotail Deck, facing off against Yacine Sahli of Team Road of the King playing the Fiendsmith Yummy Deck. Both of these Duelists have competed in the Top Cut of multiple YCSs in the past, but the pressure is still on!

Duel 1

Sahli won the die roll and chose to go first! He opened with Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit, Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion, Infinite Impermanence, Cooky☆Yummy, and Cupsy☆Yummy. He began by Normal Summoning Cupsy and searching for Yummy☆Surprise, then used Cupsy to Link Summon Yummy☆Snatchy and place Yummyusment☆Mignon to his side of the field. He Special Summoned back Cupsy, then used the two to Synchro Summon Cupsy☆Yummy Way, searching for Marshmao☆Yummy and Lollipo☆Yummy then discarding the Marshmao. Next, Sahli Special Summoned Lollipo☆Yummy from hand and used it to Link Summon Linkuriboh! He activated Surprise to Special Summon back Marshmao and added Surprise back to hand, then Synchro Summoned Lollipo☆Yummy Way! He brought back two monsters, and immediately used them to Link Summon Reprodocus. He used Reprodocus’ effect to turn Lollipo☆Yummy Way into a Fiend, used Lollipo to Link Summon Requiem, then used Requiem to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears and send Fiendsmith Engraver to the Graveyard. After a flurry of summons, Sahli Special Summoned both S:P Little Knight and D/D/D Wave High King Caesar! Finally, he Special Summoned Cooky☆Yummy from hand, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn. 

Neal started his turn by Special Summoning Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous! He activated its effect, and Sahli Chained the effect of Cupsy☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning Lollipo☆Yummy Way and Yummy☆Snatchy from the Graveyard as Neal Special Summoned Fallen of the White Dragon from his Deck. Neal used White Dragon’s effect to Special Summon back Ecclesia, and on resolution, Sahli activated Snatchy’s effect, using Snatchy and Cooky to Synchro Summon Cooky☆Yummy Way and flip Neal’s two monsters face-down. Neal then Special Summoned another Fallen of the White Dragon from hand by sending Albion the Branded Dragon to the Graveyard, as Sahli Chained the effect of Lollipo☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning back both Cupsy☆Yummy and Lollipo☆Yummy. This allowed Sahli to draw a card, as well as banish Neal’s Albion from the Graveyard! Neal then Special Summoned Blazing Cartesia, the Virtuous from hand and activated its effect, but Sahli responded with Infinite Impermanence, shutting Cartesia’s effect down! Finally, Neal activated Branded Fusion, but Sahli Chained the effect of Caesar. Without any pushes left, Neal conceded the first Duel. 

Duel 2

Sahli’s opening hand contained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion, Infinite Impermanence, Fiendsmith’s Tract, and Retaliating “C”. 

Neal chose to go first in game 2! He began by Normal Summoning Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous and activating its effect, Special Summoning Fallen of the White Dragon from the Deck. However, when he activated its effect, Sahli Chained the effect of Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion! Next, Neal activated Rahu Dracotail, but it was met by Sahli’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Neal Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn. 

Sahli drew Yummyusment☆Mignon for turn! He activated Fiendsmith’s Tract, searching for Lacrima the Crimson Tears and discarding Mignon. He then Normal Summoned Lacrima and sent Fiendsmith Engraver to the Graveyard. He used Lacrima to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then used Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver from the Deck. He equipped Requiem to Engraver, then used Engraver’s effect, sending both White Dragon and Requiem to the Graveyard. He followed up by activating the effect of Engraver in his Graveyard, returning Requiem to the Extra Deck, but Neal Chained Dracotail Sting, banishing Sahli’s Engraver and Tract! Sahli attacked Neal’s Life Points directly with Engraver, then ended his turn. 

Neal started by Special Summoning another copy of Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous, then activated its effect to Special Summon another Fallen of the White Dragon from Deck. This time, when he activated its effect, Sahli Chained Infinite Impermanence, however, Neal Chained Forbidden Droplet, sending White Dragon to the Graveyard to cut Engraver’s Attack Points in half. He proceeded to the Battle Phase and attacked Engraver with Ecclesia before Setting a card to his backrow and ending his turn. 

Sahli drew Mulcharmy Fuwalos for turn. He returned Lacrima to the Deck to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver, then entered the Battle Phase. Here, Neal activated Ecclesia’s effect, Tributing it to Special Summon Fallen of Albaz from the Deck! Neal discarded a card, then used Albaz and Sahli’s Engraver to Fusion Summon Albion the Branded Dragon. When Neal activated Albion’s effect, Sahli Chained the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos, allowing him to draw a card as Neal Fusion Summoned Mirrorjade the Iceblade Dragon! However, Sahli knew that he could not push through Neal’s board any further, and conceded. 

Duel 3

Sahli opened the pivotal third Duel with Cupsy☆Yummy, Cooky☆Yummy, Yummyusment☆Acroquey, Infinite Impermanence, and Dominus Purge. He started by Normal Summoning Cupsy and searching for Yummy☆Surprise! On resolution, Neal activated the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Sahli activated Acroquey from hand, used Cupsy to Link Summon Snatchy, then Special Summoned Cooky from hand. He then Set three cards to his backrow. During the End Phase, Neal activated the effect of Dracotail Faimena, using two copies of Fallen of the White Dragon to Fusion Summon Khaos Starsource Dragon! Neal activated Starsource Dragon’s effect, destroying Sahli’s face-down Surprise and Purge. Sahli decided to then use Snatchy and Cooky to Synchro Summon Cupsy☆Yummy Way, using Acroquey’s effect to destroy Starsource Dragon, searching for Marshmao☆Yummy and Lollipo☆Yummy, then discarding Lollipo. He Special Summoned Marshmao and added Surprise back to hand, Set it to his backrow, then ended his turn. 

Neal began his turn by activating Rahu Dracotail! Sahli Chained the effect of Cupsy☆Yummy Way, Special Summoning Yummy☆Snatchy and Lollipo☆Yummy from the Graveyard as Neal used Dracotail Urgula from his Deck and Dracotail Lukias from hand to Fusion Summon Dracotail Arthalion. Cam used Arthalion’s effect to try and add Fallen of the White Dragon back to hand, but Sahli activated Lollipo’s effect as Chain Link 2  to shuffle it back into the Deck. Neal followed up with The Fallen & The Virtuous as Chain Link 3, destroying Sahli’s Acroquey, and finally Neal used Forbidden Droplet as Chain Link 4, sending The Fallen & The Virtuous and Arthalion to the Graveyard! Sahli’s Snatchy was negated, Surprise was destroyed, and Neal Set Ketu Dracotail and Dracotail Horn to the backrow. Neal added Dracotail Lukias back to hand with the effect of Urgula, then Normal Summoned Lukias, but Sahli negated its effect with Infinite Impermanence! Neal Special Summoned Fallen of the White Dragon from hand, sending Albion the Branded Dragon to the Graveyard, then Special Summoned back Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous. Next, he activated Ketu Dracotail, searching for Dracotail Pan, then used Pan and Lukias to Fusion Summon Secreterion Dragon! With a field full of Dragons and Spellcasters, Neal was easily able to push through Sahli’s board and wipe out the rest of his Life Points. 

Neal wins the match, helping his team meet the needed 2 of 3 match wins. Team Neal 4 Papa is moving on to the finals of TEAM YCS Las Vegas!