New Jersey’s Nizar Sarhan squaring off against Kansas’ Travis Massengale, as the final Match of the weekend pitted Six Samurai against the winning Deck from the previous Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament: Gravekeepers. Would the reigning Deck to beat score another Championship? Or would Six Samurai ascend to the throne? We’ll have the answer – and a new Champion – in mere minutes!

Sarhan started off the final Match of the day with a handshake and a Shien’s Smoke Signal, searching out Kagemusha of the Six Samurai from his Deck. He drew a card with Upstart Goblin, then activated Gateway of the Six and Six Samurai United! He Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki; Special Summoned Kagemusha; and removed 2 Counters from Gateway and 2 more from United to search Grandmaster of the Six Samurai. He Special Summoned that, removed another 4 Counters, and got Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan. Sarhan then drew 2 cards with Six Samurai United, and Tuned Kageki to Kagemusha for Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En! His Gateway was back at 4 Bushido Counters, and he removed them to get another Kageki from his Deck. He finished his turn by Setting 3 Spell or Trap cards.

Massengale had a hand of Mystical Space Typhoon, Starlight Road, Bottomless Trap Hole, Book of Moon, and 2 Necrovalley – no monsters. He activated Necrovalley with authority that begged negation, and Sarhan negated it with Shi En. Massengale followed up with another Necrovalley, then blasted Gateway with Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set his remaining 3 cards to his back row.

Sarhan activated another Gateway! He got Kagemusha from his Deck with another Smoke Signal; Summoned Kageki; and Special Summoned Kagemusha. Whe he Synchro Summoned another Shi En Massengale conceded the first Duel!

Honorable Nizar Sarhan scores an absolutely explosive opening: one that really sums up the entire pace of the weekend here in Dallas! Devastating plays with Gateway and United allow Sarhan to lock Massengale out with Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, while Massengale struggles with a monster-deprived hand. Though Gravekeepers won the last YCS in Atlanta, we may be seeing a passing of the torch right here, right now, at this table.

More handshakes, and Massengale started the second Duel. This time he had Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Pot of Duality, Kinetic Soldier, Gozen Match, and Gravekeeper’s Assailant. He discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley from his Deck, and activated Duality to choose between Royal Tribute, Spirit Reaper, and Gravekeeper’s Spy. He took the Tribute. He Set Gozen Match, activated Necrovalley, and was stuck with 3 monsters in-hand along with his Royal Tribute. He Summoned Thunder King, then dropped Soldier and Assailant for Tribute, costing Sarhan his Grandmaster and Kizan.

Sarhan Set all his cards to his back row.

Massengale attacked with Thunder King into Mirror Force, which Sarhan had topdecked the turn previous!

Sarhan flipped Reinforcement of the Army to get Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki from his Deck, and then flipped Gateway of the Six. He Normal Summoned Kageki, activated its effect, and Massengale Chained Gozen Match. Sarhan had Kagemusha of the Six Samurai, and was forced to send it to the Graveyard as a result of Gozen Match. Sarhan attacked with Kageki.

Massengale drew Spirit Reaper; Summoned it; and attacked to destroy Kageki.

Sarhan Set a Spell or Trap.

Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Summoned it, turned Reaper to Defense Position, and attacked with Recruiter.

Sarhan Set a Spell or Trap.

Massengale drew and Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy, and attacked with both it and Recruiter. He knew from the Royal Tribute that Sarhan had Nobleman of Crossout Set. Sarhan was down to 2800 Life Points.

Sarhan drew and Set a Spell or Trap Card, but it was all over a turn later – Sarhan just couldn’t fend off Massengale’s Gravekeepers.

Travis Massengale evens the score, as Gravekeepers pull into line with Six Samurai! One Duel remained in this tournament, as Massengale and Sarhan jockeyed to see which Deck would claim dominance in the final YCS of the current Advanced Format: Gravekeepers or Samurai!? Sarhan would open the final Duel.

One last handshake started things off, and Sarhan Normal summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan. He Set 3 cards to his back row.

Massengale had Gravekeeper’s Spy, Gravekeeper’s Assailant, Mirror Force, 2 Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set Spy, then Set Mirror Force and Typhoon.

Sarhan Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, then used its effect to Special Summon Kagemusha of the Six Samurai. He Tuned them together to Syncro Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, then flipped Monster Reborn to Special Summon back Kagemusha in Defense Position. Massengale activated Mystical Space Typhoon to try and destroy his opponent’s back row card, but Sarhan negated it with Shi En’s effect. He Synchro Summoned Naturia Barkion, locking out that Mirror Force! Barkion attacked Spy and Massengale Special summoned a Recruiter from his Deck: Shi En destroyed it, and Massengale got Gravekeeper’s Commandant with its effect.

Massengale drew another Assailant and discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley. He activated it, shutting down Barkion’s effect, and tried to Normal Summon Gravekeeper’s Assailant: Sarhan had Solemn Warning to stop him.

Sarhan Normal Summoned Kageki, and attacked with all 3 of his monsters to knock Massengale down to 1300 Life Points.

Massengale drew Gorz the Emissary of Darkness. When he tried to Normal Summon Assailant and Sarhan had another Solemn Warning, Massengale conceded!

The spectating crowd from New Jersey exploded by the side of the Feature Match area! Honorable Nizar Sarhan is your newest YCS Champion, capturing the title with Six Samurai!