Only 3 Rounds remained in this tournament – the winner of this Match would be traveling to Long Beach to compete in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship in August, and would have a 1-in-4 shot at becoming the U.S. National Champion right here today! They’d also score a set of the Darklord prize cards. Sean Montague was playing X-Sabers. Grant Kelly was playing Caliber Cat. Montague would open the Match!

He got us started with Gold Sarcophagus, removing XX-Saber Faultroll from his Deck to claim it in 2 turns. He Set a monster and Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Kelly had Gravekeeper’s Spy, Caius the Shadow Monarch, Dimensional Prison, Bottomless Trap Hole, Royal Oppression, and Torrential Tribute. He Set Spy, Set Oppression, and Set Dimensional Prison – the Prison was destroyed in his End Phase by Montague’s Mystical Space Typhoon.

Montague Flip Summoned Sangan next turn, attacked the face-down Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Kelly Special Summoned another in Defense Position.

“I have a weird feeling about that face-down,” remarked Montague. “Is it a Dust Tornado?”

“No, it’s a Mind Crush.”

“You’re not lying to me, are you?” fished Montague.

“I might be. I’ll tell you after the Match.”

Montague Set Trap Dustshoot, flipped it next turn, and sent Kelly’s Caius back to his Deck! That left Kelly with Smashing Ground, Bottomless, and Torrential Tribute. He Set Bottomless and ended.

Montague activated Heavy Storm! He lost his own Book of Moon, while Kelly’s Bottomless and Oppression were both destroyed. Montague followed up with X-Saber Airbellum, Tuning it to Sangan to Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian. Sangan got him Recsue Cat from his Deck, and Goyo attacked and took control of Gravekeeper’s Spy.

Kelly Summoned Doomcaliber Knight, activated Smashing Ground to destroy Goyo, and Set Torrential Tribute.

Montague Set a Spell or Trap.

Kelly passed.

Montague discarded D.D. Crow to force Doomcaliber Knight to Tribute itself, then Summoned Rescue Cat, sending it to the Graveyard to Special Summon XX-Saber Darksoul and Airbellum. Kelly flipped Book of Moon, turning Airbellum face-down, and Montague used Darksoul in the End Phase to get XX-Saber Boggart Knight from his Deck.

Kelly Summoned Airbellum, lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole, and then attacked his opponent’s Airbellum with Gravekeeper’s Spy. A Set Spell or Trap ended the turn.

Montague attacked Kelly’s Gravekeeper’s Spy with his own, destroying both, and Set a card to his back row.

Kelly Set a monster.

Montague Set another Spell or Trap.

Kelly Flip Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, destroying the Starlight Road Montague had Set last turn. Montague dropped to 6800 Life Points. Kelly still had 8000. He Set a monster to end.

Montague Normal Summoned Boggart Knight, didn’t use its effect, and Set a third back row card without attacking.

Kelly Flip Summoned a second Ryko, targeting Boggart Knight, but Montague Chained Gottoms’ Emergency Call, Special Summoned X-Saber Airbellum and XX-Saber Darksoul. Ryko attacked Darksoul, destroying it, and Montague got another Darksoul from his Deck. He was clearly angling for XX-Saber Hyunlei, trying to destroy Kelly’s 3 back row cards. Kelly had nothing else left in hand.

Montague Summoned Darksoul, but Kelly responded with Torrential Tribute! The field was cleared, and Montague searched his Deck for XX-Saber Fulhelmknight in the End Phase.

Kelly drew and Set a monster.

Montague Summoned Fulhelmknight, and took control of Montague’s face-down Sangan with Mind Control. He attacked with Fulhelmknight, but Kelly had Mirror Force. Montague lost his Set Solemn Judgment in the End Phase to Dust Tornado.

Kelly drew and Set another monster.

Montague ran over Sangan with Thunder King Rai-Oh, stopping Kelly from getting anything from his Deck.

Kelly Set another monster. He had 2 Set monsters to Montague’s 4 in-hand cards and Thunder King Rai-Oh.

Montague drew, Summoned Boggart Knight, and attacked with it into Kelly’s Set Gravekeeper’s Guard. Montague Set a Spell or Trap to end.

Kelly drew Pot of Avarice and activated it, targeting 2 Caius the Shadow Monarch, 2 Doomcaliber Knights, and Gravekeeper’s Spy. He drew Airbellum and Caius. Kelly ended.

Montague activated his second Gold Sarcophagus, removing Gottoms’ Emergency Call from his Deck.  He Summoned Boggart Knight, attacked Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Kelly Special Summoned the copy he’d shuffled back with Pot of Avarice.

Kelly drew Rescue Cat! He Tributed Gravekeeper’s Guard for Caius the Shadow Monarch, removing Boggart Knight, then attacked over Thunder King! He ended.

Montague passed.

Kelly drew Airbellum. He already had another copy removed from the game, so that draw made Cat a little tougher to use. He Summoned Airbellum though, Tuned it to Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Synchro Summoned Arcanite Magician. Kelly removed a counter to destroy Montague’s face-down Royal Oppression, and Montague took direct attacks from Caius, Spy, and Arcanite to wind up at 1200 Life Points. Kelly Set a Spell or Trap.

Montague activated Brain Control, targeting Arcanite Magician. Kelly flipped Book of Moon to block the Brain Control, and Montague conceded! “Triple Faultroll in hand,” he commented, explaining why he hadn’t activated Royal Oppression. “I just needed to draw a Saber, and couldn’t.”

Grant Kelly makes a huge comeback, now 1 win away from the top 4!

“You can do it,” said Kelly, almost reflexively being friendly. He thought a moment, realizing what he’d just said and recanting a bit: “I mean, I’m not encouraging you to do it, but, you could.”

Montague started the second Duel with XX-Saber Boggart Knight, Special Summoning X-Saber Airbellum and Setting 3 cards to his back row.

Kelly had Doomcaliber Knight, X-Saber Airbellum, Banisher of the Radiance, Gravekeeper’s Spy, and 2 Prison. He Set both Prisons, Set Spy, and ended.

Montague Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh. It attacked, and Kelly responded with Dimensional Prison. Boggart Knight attacked next, hit Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Kelly Summoned another from his Deck.

Kelly drew Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. He Summoned Doomcaliber Knight and lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole.

Montague Summoned X-Saber Pashuul. He Tuned it to Boggart Knight for XX-Saber Hyunlei, destroying Kelly’s Set Prison. Hyunlei ran over a Spy and Montague ended.

Kelly Set Ryko.

Montague Summoned XX-Saber Darksoul, Tuned it to Airbellum, and Synchro Summoned Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. He discarded X-Saber Airbellum to bounce away Ryko, then attacked over Spy. A direct attack followed, and Montague got XX-Saber Fulhelmknight in his End Phase.

Kelly drew Book of Moon. He Summoned Banisher, attacked Brionac, and turned it face-down with Book to destroy and remove it.

Montague attacked with Hyunlei and Fulhelmknight next turn, destroying Banisher.

Kelly Set Pot of Avarice, and Set Gravekeeper’s Spy. Montague activated Cold Wave. He Summoned Summoner Monk, Tuned it to X-Saber Airbellum for Arcanite Magician, and Kelly conceded!

Sean Montague evens the Match score, and we had 1 more Duel left! Both competitors made more tweaks with their Side Decks before starting the last Duel.

Kelly opened with Dust Tornado, Bottomless Trap Hole, Gorz the Emissary of Darkness, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Doomcaliber Knight, and X-Saber Airbellum. He Summoned Doomcaliber Knight and Set Dust.

Montague Set a monster.

Kelly drew Rescue Cat. He Summoned Airbellum, attacked with Doomcaliber Knight, and revealed Montague’s Set monster: X-Saber Pashuul. “That was supposed to be Darksoul,” said Kelly, disappointed to see Pashuul. He Set Bottomless and ended.

Montague activated Giant Trunade, clearing Kelly’s back row. He Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacking over Airbellum, and ended.

Pashuul was destroyed by Doomcaliber in the Standby Phase of Kelly’s turn. He had drawn another Doomcaliber Knight, but set Ryko, and Set his Dust Tornado and Bottomless again.

Montague Summoned XX-Saber Fulhelmknight. He Tuned his monsters together, Synchro Summoned Black Rose Dragon, and Kelly could do nothing but Chain Bottomless Trap Hole! He lost his field, and Montague ended with 4 cards in hand.

That left him open to Rescue Cat! Kelly Summoned it next turn, used its effect to Special Summon XX-Saber Darksoul and X-Saber Airbellum, and attacked with Airbellum, forcing Montague to discard XX-Saber Boggart Knight. Darksoul made a direct attack, and Kelly Synchro summoned Goyo Guardian in Main Phase 2. He ended, and used Darksoul’s effect to add another Airbellum to his hand. He had 3 cards in-hand and Goyo Guardian.

Montague drew to 4 cards, and Special Summoned Cyber Dragon. He Normal Summoned Rescue Cat, Special Summoned Airbellum and Faultroll, and Synchro Summoned Brionac. He discarded Darksoul to bounce away Goyo Guardian, attacked for 2100 damage with Cyber Dragon, and attacked wih Brionac, at which point Kelly Special Summoned Gorz, and a 2300 ATK Emissary of Darkness Token. Montague had 1 card left in-hand, and discarded it to bounce away Gorz: XX-Saber Emmersblade. He got Boggart Knight in the End Phase.

Kelly drew Dust Tornado. He had Airbelkum, Banisher, Gorz, and Doomcaliber Knight in hand, none of which were really any help against Brionac. He attacked Cyber Dragon with the Token, Summoned Doomcaliber Knight, and ended.

Montague ran over Doomcaliber Knight with Brionac, Summoned Boggart Kngiht, and destroyed the Emissary of Darkness Token with Saber Slash! He ended, no cards left in hand with Brionac and Boggart Knight on the field.

Kelly drew another Doomcaliber Knight, holding Dust Tornado, Gorz, Banisher, and Airbellum. He Summoned Doomcaliber, attacked Boggart Knight, and both monsters were destroyed.

Montague passed, not wanting to let Kelly Summon Gorz again.

Kelly drew Royal Oppression and passed.

Montague attacked with Brionac. Kelly Summoned Gorz, its Token, and lost both monsters to 2 discards from Brionac – Montague’s last 2 cards, Heavy Storm and Book of Moon.

Kelly Set Banisher, Set Oppression, and Set Dust Tornado.

Montague drew Gold Sarcophagus, discarded it to bounce away Banisher, and attacked for victory!

Sean Montague was headed to the Top 4, and to the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship in August!

 

Post-Event Analysis!
See what our panel of experts had to say about this Duel after the event was over. 

Jason Grabher-Meyer (The Old Man of Dueling)
Gold Sarcophagus is a great Spell, but the decision you make when you choose what card to remove can tell your opponent a lot about your hand. In the first Duel, we saw Montague activate Sarcophagus on Turn 1 to remove XX-Saber Faultroll. That told Kelly that Montague probably already had Rescue Cat (or a way to get to it) and a card like Cold Wave or Heavy Storm. He instantly knew to play as defensively as he could, and sure enough, he drew out Montague’s Heavy Storm early. When Montague Summoned Rescue Cat, Kelly had Book of Moon ready to stop him from Synchro Summoning. 

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
In Duel 3, Montague showed us just how much devastation Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is capable of causing. Montague kept Brionac on the field for 5 of his own turns and used it to keep clearing Kelly’s field. This way, he could safely make attacks and protect himself from Gorz. When things are looking rough, Brionac can sometimes open a path to victory.

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