Kevin Silva is 6-1 here, heading into the last round of Day 1. He’s here this weekend reprising his performance from YCS San Jose, and is back once again, playing a Dimensional Eatos Deck. His tech this time around? A pair of Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 “Sazank”. His opponent is repeated Day 2 finisher Da Lee. Lee made the Top 16 and Top 32 of previous events in Atlanta and San Francisco respectively, and was here today angling for a third Top with Lightsworn.

Silva opened the Match with a hand of Dark Hole, Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind, Breaker the Magical Warrior, D.D. Warrior Lady, Thunder King Rai-Oh, and Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 “Sazank”. He Set Warrior Lady.

Lee Set a monster, then Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Silva drew Mystical Space Typhoon and Summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, then activated its effect to try and destroy his opponent’s Set Book of Moon. Lee Chained Book to turn Breaker face-down. D.D. Warrior Lady attacked into Lee’s Ryko, and Lee targeted her with Ryko’s effect, sending Solar Recharge, Pot of Avarice, and Plaguespreader Zombie to the Graveyard: Silva removed both monsters from the game with the Warrior Lady’s effect.  Silva Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Lee Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacked, and destroyed Breaker.

Silva drew Guardian Eatos, but his Breaker the Magical Warrior was stuck in his Graveyard. He Set Karakuri Ninja.

Lee Summoned a second Thunder King! He attacked into Karakuri Ninja, and the Ninja sent the other Thunder King to the Graveyard so it couldn’t make a direct attack. Lee Set Enemy Controller, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Silva drew Pot of Duality. He Summoned Gale, used its effect to halve Thunder King’s ATK and DEF, and Lee repelled the attack with Honest! Silva Set Duality.

Lee Summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, continuing to play fearlessly into Silva’s Set back row cards. He activated Monster Reborn, brought back Honest, and Silva briefly bluffed as if he was considering a reply, before passing. Lee attacked with Honest, Lumina, and Thunder King, and Silva was down to 4000 Life Points. Lee returned Honest to his hand before sending Solar Recharge, Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, and Celestia, Lightsworn Angel to his Graveyard.

Silva drew another Thunder King. He activated Dark Hole to clear the field, then activated Pot of Duality, revealing another Duality, another Breaker, and another Thunder King. He took Thunder King, then Summoned it, attacking for 1900 Battle Damage. He ended with 3 cards in hand.

Lee drew to 3 cards and Set a monster.

Silva drew another Eatos. He Summoned Thunder King, crashed it into Honest, and ended.

Lee Set another monster.

Silva drew and activated Dimensional Fissure, then attacked into Ryko: Lee destroyed Dimensional Fissure, sending Royal Decree, Book of Moon, and another Jain to his Graveyard. Silva Summoned a third Thunder King in Main Phase 2!

Lee drew to 3 cards again, turned Honest to Attack Position, and ran over a Thunder King thanks to a second Honest. He returned Honest to his hand and Set a monster.

Silva drew Breaker the Magical Warrior, Summoned it, and attacked into Honest again, flipping it face-up but not destroying it.

Lee sprang into action next turn. He returned a card to the top of his Deck, Special Summoned Plaguespreader Zombie from his Graveyard with its effect, and Synchro Summoned Goyo Guardian. A confident Silva sent his Thunder King to the Graveyard to destroy Goyo, negating its Summon. With 2 cards left, Lee tried to Special Summon Judgment Dragon! Silva used his last Thunder King to negate that, too! Lee’s actions seemed desperate, but moments later the true nature of his plan was revealed: Lee had 1 more card left, and it was ANOTHER Judgment Dragon! Silva was all out of Thunder Kings, so Lee paid 1000 Life Points, cleared the field, and attacked for the win!

Da Lee does a masterful job of eliminating all 3 of Kevin Silva’s Thunder Kings, winning the Duel with a calculated flurry of Special Summons before wrapping things up with a final Judgment Dragon! Definitely one of the most tactically impressive wins we’ve seen today. But could Lee seal the deal and win the Match?

Silva started the second Duel with a hand of Dark Hole, Pot of Duality, Monster Reborn, D.D. Warrior Lady, Dimensional Prison, and Thunder King Rai-Oh. He activated Duality, chose to take Bottomless Trap Hole over D.D. Warrior Lady and Cyber Dragon, and Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh before Setting Bottomless and Prison.

Lee Set a monster, then Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Silva Summoned D.D. Warrior Lady, attacked with her, and Lee responded with Royal Decree. his Ryko flipped to destroy Thunder King, and he sent 3 cards to the Graveyard with Ryko’s effect.

Lee Set another monster.

Silva drew Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 “Sazank”. He attacked with D.D. Warrior Lady into another Ryko, and Lee targeted Warrior Lady, cuing Silva to remove both her and Ryko from play. Silva set Karakuri Ninja.

Lee Set a Spell or Trap, then Summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner. He discarded Ehren, Lightsworn Monk to Special Summon her, attacked with her, flipped over Karakuri Ninja, and Silva used its effect to send Lumina to the Graveyard. In the End Phase Lee sent Pot of Avarice, Solar Recharge, and Smashing Ground to his Graveyard with Ehren.

Silva drew another Dimensional Prison. He Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, attacked Ehren, and Lee activated Enemy Controller, turning Cyber Dragon to Defense Position.

Lee Summoned Jain, Lightsworn Paladin, kicked Cyber Dragon back to Silva’s Deck by attacking with Ehren, then attacked for 1800 Battle Damage with Jain. He Set a Spell or Trap, then sent Dark Hole, Book of Moon, and Thunder King Rai-Oh to hs Graveyard for Ehren’s effect, and Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior and Recharge for Jain’s effect.

Silva drew Smashing Ground. He cleared the field with Dark Hole, activated Monster Reborn, and Special Summoned Lee’s Thunder King to attack for 1900 damage.

Lee Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and attacked over Thunder King Rai-Oh with Honest. He had no cards in hand, and 1 card Set in his back row, with Decree active. He sent Garoth, Thunder King, and Judgment Dragon to his Graveyard.

Silva drew another Smashing Ground and destroyed Lyla.

Lee passed.

Silva drew Cyber Dragon and passed.

Lee Set a Spell or Trap.

Silva drew Solemn Warning and passed.

Lee drew and Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacking for 1900 Battle Damage. The Duel stood at 2600 Life Points to 6100, with Lee leading.

Silva drew D.D. Warrior Lady. He Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, Normal Summoned Warrior Lady, then activated Smashing Ground. Lee Chained Enemy Controller, Tributed Thunder King, took Cyber Dragon, and Smashing Ground destroyed it. Silva attacked with D.D. Warrior Lady.

Lee Set a monster.

Silva drew another Cyber Dragon and attacked with D.D. Warrior Lady into Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid: he removed both monsters from the game.

Lee Summoned another Lyla, attacked for 1700 damage, and Silva was down to 600 Life Points! Lee sent Pot of Avarice, Pot of Duality, and D.D. Warrior Lady to his Graveyard with Lyla’s ability.

Silva drew another Karakuri Ninja mdl 339 “Sazank”. He Set it.

Lee Tributed Lyla for Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, targeted Silva’s monster and a back row card, and Silva conceded the Match!

Da Lee moves on to Day 2 with a 7-1 record, just a few more wins away from his third playoff qualification!