Honorable Jonathan Moore is the only Duelist to ever win a YCS with Six Samurais. His victory in Houston in 2008 surprised the Dueling world immediately after Six Samurai United was first released in Phantom Darkness. Now, Six Samurais have gotten a slew of new monsters, Spells, and Traps in Storm of Ragnarok, and Honorable Jonathan Moore is back with his favorite monsters. His opponent, Jonathon Sandlin, is running an Infernity Deck, and hoping to combo off before Moore can get his Deck running. With 2 fast Decks going at it, this should be a quick Match.

Sandlin started things off by Setting 4 cards in his back row and a monster in Defense Position.

Moore opened up with Mind Control, Solemn Warning, Mirror Force, Reinforcement of the Army, Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He activated Mind Control to take control of Sandlin’s face-down Plaguespreader Zombie, then activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Sandlin’s face-down Infernity Inferno. “Ooooo, I know what I’m playing against now,” Moore said. He activated Reinforcement of the Army next, searching his Deck for Kagemusha of the Six Samurai and adding it to his hand. Then he flipped up the Plaguespreader Zombie he had taken control of, Normal Summoned Kagemusha, and Special Summoned Kizan. Next, he Tuned Kizan with Kagemusha to Synchro Summon Naturia Barkion. Barkion attacked directly, dropping Sandlin down to 5500 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Moore Tuned Barkion with Plaguespreader Zombie to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon. Moore Set Mirror Force and Solemn Warning before ending his turn.

Sandlin put a card from his hand on top of his Deck to Special Summon Plaguespreader Zombie from his Graveyard in Defense Position, then Set the last card in his hand to his back row. He ended his turn.

Moore drew Shien’s Smoke Signal next turn and tried to attack with Stardust Dragon, but Sandlin flipped Enemy Controller to switch Stardust Dragon to Defense Position.

Sandlin drew Infernity Archfiend next turn and revealed it to Special Summon it, but Moore stopped it with Solemn Warning. Sandlin flipped Call of the Haunted to bring it back from the Graveyard, and searched his Deck for a copy of Infernity Necromancer to add to his hand with the Archfiend’s effect. He Normal Summoned it and switched it to Defense Position. Then he Tuned Plaguespreader Zombie with Infernity Archfiend to Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian. Next, he activated his Necromancer’s effect to Special Summon Infernity Archfiend in Attack Position, and used his Archfiend’s effect to add Infernity Launcher from his Deck to his hand. Sandlin used Mystical Space Typhoon next, targeting Moore’s face-down Mirror Force. Moore accidentally revealed it before Tributing Stardust Dragon to negate the Mystical Space Typhoon. Sandlin ended his turn, knowing Moore had Mirror Force, and Moore Special Summoned Stardust Dragon in Attack Position during his End Phase.

Moore drew Shien’s Smoke Signal next turn and activated it. He searched his Deck for Kagemusha and added it to his hand. Then he Normal Summoned it. Next, he Special Summoned Kizan. Moore Tuned Kagemusha with Kizan and Synchro Summoned Goyo Guardian! Moore attacked Infernity Necromancer with Goyo, gaining control of it with Goyo’s effect. He ended his turn.

Sandlin drew Infernity Beetle next turn and Summoned it. He Tributed it to Special Summon 2 more copies from his Deck, then Tuned Beetle with Infernity Archfiend to Synchro Summon Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth, before Tuning Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth with his other Beetle to Synchro Summon Red Dragon Archfiend! He flipped Infernity Launcher next, and sent it to the Graveyard to Special Summon Infernity Archfiend and Infernity Beetle from his Graveyard. He used his Archfiend’s effect to search his Deck for Infernity Barrier and add it to his hand. Next, he Set the Barrier. Red Dragon Archfiend attacked and destroyed Moore’s Goyo, then Goyo attacked and destroyed Stardust Dragon, Special Summoning it to Sandlin’s side of the field.

Moore drew Six Samurai United next turn. With only Six Samurai United in his hand and only an Infernity Necromancer on his side of the field, he conceded, knowing that Sandlin would wipe him out next turn with Red Dragon Archfiend, Stardust Dragon, Infernity Archfiend, Goyo Guardian, and Infernity Beetle.

Some strong draws for Jonathon Sandlin allow him to gain early dominance and win the first Duel!

Moore opened up Duel 2 with Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, Kagemusha of the Six Samurai, Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, Shien’s Smoke Signal, The Six Samurai – Zanji, and Scapegoat. He Normal Summoned Kageki, used its effect to Special Summon Kagemusha, and Special Summoned Grandmaster of the Six Samurai. Then he Tuned Kagemusha with Kageki to Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, Set Scapegoat, and ended his turn.

Sandlin Set 4 back rows and a monster before passing right back to Moore.

Moore drew Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan next turn. He Summoned The Six Samurai – Zanji and then Special Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan from his hand. Sandlin flipped Infernity Inferno to pitch a Beetle and send Infernity Avenger from his Deck to his hand. Zanji attacked and destroyed Sandlin’s Set Beetle, and Sandlin Special Summoned Avenger from his Graveyard. Kizan then destroyed Avenger, and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai and Shi En attacked Sandlin directly.

Sandlin Set a back row and passed.

Moore ended it on his next turn. He Summoned Kagemusha, and when Sandlin flipped Torrential Tribute, Moore negated it with Shi En. He attacked directly with his team of Samurais to finish the Duel!

Sandlin started off Duel 3 by activating Foolish Burial to send Infernity Archfiend from his Deck to his Graveyard and Setting 2 cards to his back row, along with a face-down monster.

Moore opened up with Book of Moon, 2 copies of Six Samurai United, 2 copies of Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, and Mirror Force. In his Draw Phase, Sandlin flipped Trap Dustshoot to send one of the Grandmasters back to Moore’s Deck. Moore Set the Book of Moon, a Six Samurai United, and a Mirror Force before ending his turn.

Sandlin Set a monster and passed.

Moore drew Giant Trunade and ended his turn.

Sandlin Set another monster and passed.

Moore drew Kagemusha of the Six Samurai. He activated Giant Trunade, and Sandlin flipped Dust Tornado to destroy Moore’s face-down Mirror Force. Giant Trunade resolved, and then Moore activated 2 copies of Six Samurai United. He Summoned Kagemusha and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai next, putting 2 counters on each Six Samurai United. He sent 1 copy to the Graveyard to draw Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan and Solemn Warning, then sent the other to the Graveyard to draw another Solemn Warning and a Grandmaster of the Six Samurai. He Special Summoned Kizan from his hand and then Tuned it with Kagemusha to Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian. Goyo attacked and took control of Sandlin’s face-down Infernity Beetle, then Grandmaster of the Six Samurai attacked and destroyed another Beetle. Moore Set three cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Sandlin activated Dark Hole next turn, destroying his own face-down Infernity Avenger along with Moore’s 3 monsters. Grandmaster of the Six Samurai’s effect activated to return Kagemusha from Moore’s Graveyard to his hand. Next, Sandlin Set a Trap Card. He tried to Summon Infernity Necromancer next, but Moore negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.

Moore Summoned The Six Samurai – Zanji next turn, and Sandlin immediately activated Compulsory Evacuation Device so that Moore would be unable to Summon Grandmaster of the Six Samurai from his hand. Moore had Solemn Warning and Book of Moon face-down, with The Six Samurai – Zanji, Kagemusha, and Grandmaster in his hand, with 6000 Life Points remaining. Sandlin was on total topdeck, with no cards in his hand or on his field.

Sandlin drew… Gaia Knight, the Force of Earth next turn. He gave a sigh and showed it to Moore. He had accidentally shuffled it into his Deck after the first Duel. After consulting with the head judge, Sandlin was issued a loss for having an illegal Deck.

Jonathan Moore uses his Samurais to defeat Infernities after an unfortunate penalty for Sandlin. But with Solemn Warning face-down, Moore was in a strong position to win the Duel anyway. Jonathan Moore is moving on to the third round with a 2-0 record!