Frazier Smith, Sean McCabe, and Ronald Mack all worked together to develop the Deck they’re playing today: Gravekeepers. Gravekeeper’s Recruiter has revolutionized Gravekeepers and catapulted them to the forefront of this tournament.

But Smith’s opponent, Da Lee, gave us one of the most impressive Matches of Day 1, making some impressively skilled plays with a Deck that many often underestimate: Lightsworn. This is Lee’s third trip to the playoff rounds at a Championship-level tournament, and that level of experience may carry him all the way to the Top. For now, 8 Duelists remain. In a few minutes, only 4 will be left.

Smith opened up the Match with Pot of Duality, revealing Book of Moon, Dimensional Prison, and Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. He took Recruiter and shuffled the rest back. He Summoned it, activated Necrovalley, and Set 3 cards to his back row before activating Royal Tribute! Lee revealed his hand of Pot of Avarice, Cold Wave, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid, and Honest. He discarded all 3 monsters.

Lee drew and Set Royal Decree.

Another Pot of Duality got Smith Gravekeeper’s Descendant over Bottomless Trap Hole and Dark Hole. He Summoned Descendant, attacked with Recruiter and Descendant for a total of 3700 Battle Damage, and Tributed Recruiter to destroy Decree. Recruiter’s effect got Smith another Recruiter from his Deck, and he discarded Commandant to get another Necrovalley. He then activated Gravekeeper’s Stele, taking back Commandant and Recruiter.

Lee drew Book of Moon and immediately conceded.

A massive Royal Tribute rips away half of Da Lee’s opening hand, leaving him with no way to contend the first Duel! It’s an easy win for Smith, taking him one step closer to the Top 4.

Lee started the second Duel with 2 Banishers of the Radiance, Enemy Controller, My Body As A Shield, Monster Reborn, and Smashing Ground. He Summoned a Banisher, Set My Body and Controller, and ended.

Smith drew 2 cards with Allure of Darkness, removing Gravekeeper’s Descendant to complete Allure’s effect. Pot of Duality revealed Bottomless Trap Hole, Royal Tribute, and another Pot. He chose to take the Pot, then Set 3 cards to his back row and Set a monster.

Lee attacked, hitting Gravekeeper’s Spy and flipping it, letting Smith Special Summon a Descendant. Lee Summoned another Banisher, then tried to destroy Spy with Smashing Ground. Smith activated Book of Moon to save the Spy, and the Descendant was destroyed instead. Lee Set another Spell or Trap.

Pot of Duality revealed Gravekeeper’s Descendant, Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Starlight Road for Smith next turn. He took the Descendant. He Flip Summoned Spy, Special Summoned another Spy in Defense Position, and Normal Summoned Descendant, Tributing a Spy for Descendant’s effect. Lee Chained My Body As A Shield, but Smith Chained Solemn Judgment to negate it and destroy the Banisher. Lee then turned Descendant face-down with Book of Moon, saving the second Banisher.

Lee attacked to destroy the Descendant and Set a second Spell or Trap.

Smith flipped his Set Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Lee’s Set Enemy Controller next turn. He destroyed the last Banisher with Smashing Ground, then discarded Gravekeeper’s Commandant to get Necrovalley and activate it. He activated Royal Tribute, revealing Lee’s in-hand Monster Reborn, and ended.

Lee drew and Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, using her effect to destroy Necrovalley. Lyla sent 2 Thunder King Rai-Oh and a My Body As A Shield to the Graveyard.

Smith passed.

Lee passed, sending Forbidden Chalice, Royal Decree, and Aurkus, Lightsworn Druid to the Graveyard.

Smith activated Dark Hole, destroying his Spy and Lyla, then got back Commandant and Spy with Gravekeeper’s Stele. He Set Spy, discarded to get Necrovalley, and activated it again.

Lee drew Royal Decree, holding Solar Recharge and Monster Reborn. He passed.

Smith Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy, Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant, and Normal Summoned Recruiter. All 3 monsters attacked for a combined total of 5400 Battle Damage.

Lee drew Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter. He Set it.

Smith attacked with Spy, hit Ryko, and Ryko destroyed Gravekeeper’s Assailant, sending D.D. Warrior Lady, Solar Recharge, and Smashing Ground to the Graveyard. Recruiter attacked for another 1700 Battle Damage. Lee was down to 500 Life Points. Smith set a card to his back row, and Lee flipped Royal Decree in the End Phase.

Lee drew Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior. He Summoned it, attacked over Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Set Monster Reborn.

Smith Set a monster.

Lee drew and Summoned Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, destroying Necrovalley with her effect. He flipped Reborn, brought back Banisher of the Radiance, and attacked Recruiter to remove it from play. Garoth attacked into another Spy though, killing Lee’s momentum and letting Smith Special Summon another Recruiter from his Deck. He was running out of Gravekeepers. Lee sent Pot of Duality and 2 Dimensional Fissure out of play with Lyla’s effect.

Smith activated Gravekeeper’s Stele, returning Spy and Commandant to his hand. All of his Descendants had been removed from play by the previous Banishers, so he couldn’t reuse them with Stele. He Summoned Commandant, turned Recruiter to Attack Position, and attacked to destroy Lyla and Banisher.

Lee drew Book of Moon. He Set it, attacked over Recruiter, and Smith searched his Deck for another Commandant.

Smith Summoned the Commandant, turned Spy to Attack Position, and attacked with Commandant: he activated Book of Moon to target Garoth, but Lee responded with his own Book, turning the Commandant face-down.

Lee drew Forbidden Chalice, attacked over Spy, and Set the Chalice.

Smith Set another monster.

Lee drew a second Solar Recharge, and sent Garoth to destroy the face-down Commandant in battle.

Smith passed.

Lee drew Enemy Controller and Set it. He didn’t attack.

Smith Set another Spell or Trap.

Lee Set a monster.

Smith passed.

Lee Flip Summoned Ryko, targeted Smith’s face-down monster, and Smith conceded!

Da Lee pulls out a massive comeback, wrestling the Duel under control with three Banishers of the Radiance as Frazier Smith simply runs out of the monsters and Necrovalleys he needed to overcome Lee’s Lightsworn! One more Duel would decide who was going to the Top 4!

Smith started the last Duel with a Set monster and a Set card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Lee had Dark Hole, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior, Book of Moon, Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and Enemy Controller. He activated Dark Hole, destroying Gravekeeper’s Spy! He followed up with a direct shot with Thunder King, and Set 2 cards to his back row.

Smith activated Smashing Ground, and Lee Chained Book of Moon to keep his Thunder King. Smith Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Lee blocked its attack with Enemy Controller.

Lee activated Dimensional Fissure, drawing it on his next turn! He Flip Summoned Thunder King, lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole, and Summoned Lyla, attacking into Book of Moon.

Smith Summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant, turned Recruiter to Attack Position, and attacked to destroy Lyla. Descendant attacked for 1500 Battle Damage.

Lee drew Pot of Duality, activating it to reveal My Body As A Shield and 2 Solar Recharge. He took My Body As A Shield. He Summoned Garoth, attacked Descendant, and Smith responded with Mirror Force, forcing out that Shield. Descendant was destroyed.

Smith turned Recruiter to Defense Position.

Lee destroyed Recruiter with Garoth and Set a Spell or Trap.

Smith drew Pot of Duality, and used it to take Dark Hole over Allure of Darkness and a Recruiter. He had 2 cards in hand with 1 card Set. Lee had Garoth, Dimensional Fissure, and a Set card in his back row. Dark Hole destroyed Garoth.

Lee drew and Set his new card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Smith drew and activated Necrovalley.

Lee drew Ehren, Lightsworn Monk, and attacked for 1600 Battle Damage. He sent Ryko, Smashing Ground, and Solar Recharge off his Deck in the End Phase.

Smith Set a Spell or Trap.

Lee drew and Summoned Garoth. Smith responded with Bottomless, and Lee Chained another My Body As A Shield! Smith Chained Solemn Judgment to ensure that Garoth would be removed. Ehren attacked, Lee activated Forbidden Chalice, and Smith dropped to 75 Life Points!

He drew Gravekeeper’s Assailant, attacked over Ehren, and Lee was now down to 3100 Life Points.

Lee drew and Set a card to his back row.

Smith Summoned Gravekeeper’s Commandant, attacked with it, and it was turned to Defense Position with Enemy Controller. Assailant made a direct attack, and Lee conceded next turn!

Frazier Smith emerges from a huge topdecking war to win the Match, with just 75 Life Points to his name! Gravekeepers are headed to the Top 4, as Smith achieves victory by the skin of his teeth!