This is Kenny Kwan’s first ever YCS playoff appearance and he’s made it to the Top 4 with a Quickdraw Deck. His opponent, Sean McCabe, has topped 2 previous YCS tournaments, and made it here with X-Sabers. The winner here will be guaranteed a set of Darklord Prize Cards and continue to Duel for the honor of becoming the champion of YCS Philadelphia.

Kwan started off the Match by setting a card to each zone.

McCabe opened up with XX-Saber Boggart Knight, XX-Saber Emmersblade, XX-Saber Fulhelmknight, XX-Saber Faultroll, Mirror Force, and Seven Tools of the Bandit. He Summoned Fulhelmknight and used it to attack McCabe’s face-down monster. It was a Super-Nimble Mega Hamster, which flipped face-up and Special Summoned Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from Kwan’s Deck. McCabe ended his turn.

Kwan Tributed his Hamster to Summon Caius next turn and activated its effect to remove Fulhelmknight from the game. Then he attacked directly with Caius, dropping McCabe down to 5100 Life Points.

McCabe drew XX-Saber Darksoul next turn. He Summoned it to the field and used it to attack Kwan’s face-down Ryko. Kwan chose not to destroy Darksoul with Ryko’s effect, but sent Quickdraw Synchron, Spore, and Trap Stun from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. McCabe Set Mirror Force and Seven Tools, then ended his turn.

Kwan used Book of Moon next turn to put his Ryko face-down, then flipped Ryko back up to destroy McCabe’s face-down Seven Tools and send 3 more cards from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. Then he Summoned Lonefire Blossom and Tributed it to Special Summon another Lonefire Blossom from his Deck. Next, he Tributed that one to Special Summon Tytannial, Princess of Camellias in Attack Position. He removed Lonefire Blossom from his Graveyard to Special Summon Spore as a Level 4 Tuner, then Tuned it with Ryko to Synchro Summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. Kwan attacked with Brionac, and when McCabe flipped Mirror Force, Kwan flipped Solemn Judgment to negate it! Brionac barreled through Darksoul, and then Caius and Tytannial attacked directly to finish the Duel!

Kenny Kwan takes a quick win in Duel 1 with his Quickdraw Deck!

Sean McCabe opened up Duel 2 with Cyber Dragon, XX-Saber Boggart Knight, XX-Saber Emmersblade, XX-Saber Fulhelmknight, Solemn Warning, and Pot of Duality. He activated Pot of Duality, revealing Monster Reborn and 2 copies of Book of Moon from the top of his Deck. He added Monster Reborn to his hand and shuffled both copies of Book of Moon back into his Deck. Then he Set XX-Saber Emmersblade and Solemn Warning, ending his turn.

Kwan Set a monster and 3 Spell or Trap Cards.

McCabe drew Bottomless Trap Hole next turn. He passed without playing any cards.

Kwan Tributed his face-down Sangan for Caius the Shadow Monarch next turn! McCabe tried to negate the Summon with Solemn Warning, but Kwan Chained Solemn Judgment to negate it! Caius hit the field and removed McCabe’s face-down XX-Saber Emmersblade from the game with its effect. Then Kwan searched his Deck for Card Trooper and added it to his hand with the effect of Sangan and attacked directly with Caius.

McCabe drew XX-Saber Darksoul next turn. He Set Darksoul and Bottomless Trap Hole before ending his turn.

Kwan activated Pot of Duality next turn, revealing Effect Veiler, Doomcaliber Knight, and Seven Tools of the Bandit from the top of his Deck. He added the Effect Veiler to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Then he Summoned Doomcaliber Knight. When McCabe flipped Bottomless Trap Hole, Kwan chained Trap Stun to negate it. Doomcaliber Knight attacked the face-down Darksoul and negated its effect by Tributing itself. Then Caius attacked directly.

McCabe drew Bottomless Trap Hole next turn. He tried to Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, but Kwan flipped Royal Oppression and paid 800 Life Points to negate the Summon. He Set a Boggart Knight and a Spell or Trap, ending his turn.

But it was all over on Kwan’s next turn! He Summoned Card Trooper and boosted its ATK to 1900 by sending the top 3 cards from his Deck to his Graveyard. Card Trooper attacked and destroyed McCabe’s face-down Boggart Knight and Caius the Shadow Monarch attacked directly, wiping out McCabe’s remaining 1200 Life Points!

Kenny Kwan is moving on to the finals!

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)
Kwan’s Shadow Monarchs were really the stars of this Match.  While McCabe could’ve perhaps played defensively for a stronger early game in Duel 1, Kwan’s Caius meant that McCabe was going to lose his first monster no matter what, while Mega Hamster ensured that Kwan could easily make the Tribute Summon.  Then, in Duel 2, Kwan’s Tributing Sangan for Caius (which he protected with Solemn Judgment), left him in an unbeatable position.  Both Finalists made stunning use of Caius all throughout the competition, taking advantage of both its 2400 ATK, and its precise removal effect. 

Michael Kohanim (2009 World Championship Competitor)
Both Kwan and McCabe used Seven Tools of the Bandit in their Decks. With so many popular Trap Cards determining the outcome of each Duel, it has never been a better time to use Seven Tools of the Bandit. Since opponents need to pay the cost of any Trap Card they activate, even if it gets negated, Seven Tools of the Bandit is especially effective against cards like Solemn Warning and Solemn Judgment.

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