Heading into Round 8, Honorable Billy Brake and Arthur Pisko are both undefeated: Brake with Six Samurai featuring Mizuho and Shinai, and Pisko with a Chaos Plant Synchro Deck. This is a matchup we haven’t seen yet today, and these Duelists are sure to put on an exhibition!

Brake opened the Match with a Set monster and 3 Set Spell or Trap Cards.

Pisko had Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, Lonefire Blossom, Mystical Space Typhoon, Enemy Controller, Limit Reverse, and Spirit Reaper. He Set Ryko and 2 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, losing his Mystical Space Typhoon to Brake’s Typhoon in the End Phase.

Brake passed.

Pisko Flip Summoned Ryko, destroying Brake’s Kagemusha of the Six Samurai and sending Lonefire Blossom, Debris Dragon, and another Ryko from his Deck to his Graveyard. He tried to Normal Summon Spirit Reaper, but Brake stopped him with Solemn Warning. Ryko made a small attack, then Special Summoned Lonefire with Limit Reverse to make another one. He Tributed Lonefire in Main Phase 2 to Special Sumon Dandylion from his Deck in Defense Position.

Brake took a moment to peruse his opponent’s Graveyard. Then he cleared the field with Dark Hole; Normal Summoned Kagemusha of the Six Samurai; and Special Summoned Grandmaster of the Six Samurai for 2 direct attacks.

Pisko sent everything in his Graveyard back to his Deck for Pot of Avarice next turn, drawing 2 cards: he was left with a hand of Tragoedia, Monster Reborn, Lonefire Blossom, Mystic Tomato, and another Avarice. He tried to Summon Lonefire, but lost it to Brake’s Warning; the Duel stood at 3300 Life Points to 800, with Pisko in the lead. He activated Monster Reborn; brought back Lonefire; and Tributed it to Special Summon Mystic Tomato. Tomato ran over Kagemusha.

Brake drew to 2 cards in-hand, and activated Six Samurai United before Summoning Kagemusha. He pitched United to draw Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, and Special Summoned it. Kizan attacked Mystic Tomato, and Pisko used Tomato’s effect to Special Summon Sangan from his Deck. Brake ran over Sangan with Grandmaster; Pisko Special Summoned Tragoedia; and Sangan got him Debris Dragon from his Deck. Brake Tuned Kagemusha and Kizan in Main Phase 2 to Synchro Summon Goyo Guardian.

Pisko drew Cold Wave, holding Tomato, Debris Dragon, and Avarice. Tragoedia had 2400 ATK. Pisko Normal Summoned Debris Dragon; Special Summoned Dandylion; and Tuned Dandylion and Debris for Black Rose Dragon, clearing the field. He Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens, and Brake used Grandmaster’s effect to return Kizan to his hand. That gave Pisko what he needed for another Pot of Avarice, drawing him Spirit Reaper and Card Trooper. He had 4 cards in hand.

Brake drew Grandmaster, Summoning Kizan and Special Summoning Grandmaster to attack both Fluff Tokens.

Pisko drew another Debris Dragon. He Normal Summoned Card Trooper, sending Ryko, Tomato, and Debris Dragon to the Graveyard to boost up Trooper’s ATK. It attacked over Kizan.

Brake drew and Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki, and attacked with both monsters. Trooper’s effect got Pisko Effect Veiler off the draw.

He drew Torrential Tribute next turn. He Normal Summoned Debris Dragon; brought back Dandylion; and Synchro Summoned Black Rose Dragon, again clearing the field and taking his Fluff Tokens. Brake took back Kizan again, and Pisko Set a Spell or Trap.

Brake cleared a Fluff Token with Kizan.

Pisko drew One for One, and Normal Summoned Tomato. He discarded Veiler for One for One, Special Summoned Spore from his Deck, and Brake conceded the Duel.

Arthur Pisko has a little trouble finishing business, but keeps full control over the bulk of the first Duel! A win here would be a monumentous step towards his first YCS Top 32, but Brake wasn’t ready to call it quits. “I just need to draw anything but triple Kagemusha,” laughed Brake.

He started the second Duel with Shien’s Smoke Signal, getting Kagemusha of the Six Samurai from his Deck. Brake activated Six Samurai United; Summoned Kagemusha; then Special Summoned Kizan, drawing 2 cards with United. He drew Gateway of the Six and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai! He activated Gateway and Special Summoned Grandmaster, following up with a second Kizan! Gateway got him Legendary Six Samurai – Mizuho from his Deck, and he Tuned Kagemusha and Kizan for Naturia Barkion. He Set 2 cards to his back row.

He lost 1 Gateway to Pisko’s Mystical Space Typhoon next turn, and Pisko Set a monster and 2 Spell or Trap Cards.

Brake drew for his turn, moved to his Main Phase, and Pisko discarded Effect Veiler to negate Barkion’s effect for the turn. Reinforcement of the Army got Brake his third Kizan, and he tried to Normal Summon Mizuho, but Pisko negated the Summon with Solemn Warning. Brake Special Summoned Kizan, attacked, and hit Pisko’s Spirit Reaper, making it clear why he negated Mizuho’s Summon. “Why’d you Veiler that guy then?” wondered Brake aloud. “I dunno. I completely misread what was going on.” Brake was befuddled.

Pisko activated Foolish Burial next turn, sending Dandylion to his Graveyard to Special Summon 2 Fluff Tokens. He had Torrential Tribute Set, with Spore as his last in-hand card: he Normal Summoned it; Tuned it to a Fluff Token; and Synchro Summoned Formula Synchron to draw Dust Tornado, which he Set.

Brake destroyed Formula Synchron and the remaining Fluff Token with attacks next turn, and Set a third Spell or Trap.

Pisko drew Dandylion. He Summoned it, removed the other Dandylion from his Graveyard to try and Special Summon Spore, and Brake negated the Summon with Warning. Pisko Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens.

Brake destroyed them next turn with attacks.

Pisko drew and Summoned Debris Dragon: he Special Summoned Dandylion, but Brake had Book of Moon to turn Debris Dragon face-down.

Brake once again cleared everything but Reaper. He just couldn’t get through it.

Pisko passed.

Brake passed.

Pisko passed back with 2400 Life Points.

Brake activated Shien’s Smoke Signal, and searched his Deck for Kagemusha. He Summoned it and Pisko conceded: he couldn’t stop the Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier that he knew was coming.

Brake makes a respectable opening, and though Arthur Pisko keeps himself in the Duel for an admirable length of time with Spirit Reaper, Brake eventually gets to Brionac to press for the win! Both competitors made small talk as they tweaked their Main and Side Decks before the final Duel.

Pisko opened with Puppet Plant, 2 Mystical Space Typhoons, Charge of the Light Brigade, Monster Reborn, and Mystic Tomato. He sent Effect Veiler, Spore, and One for One to his Graveyard with Charge to get Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter from his Deck. He Set Ryko and both Typhoons.

Brake shook his head, unhappy with his hand: “This is no good, man.”

“End turn?”

“I’m not gonna end my turn, but… my hand’s real bad.” Brake Summoned Kagemusha, activated Six Samurai United, and 2 copies of Gateway of the Six! “Real bad,” indeed: Brake was bluffing! He Special Summoned Grandmaster of the Six Samurai, but Pisko blasted both Gateways with his Typhoons! Brake couldn’t believe it! “That’s the only thing he had to come back!” declared an astounded Brake. “What are the chances of that!” Grandmaster attacked into Ryko, and Pisko destroyed Kagemusha (Sangan was amongst the 3 cards Ryko sent to the Graveyard). “That was game!” groaned Brake, beside himself. “I played around Warning, and everything!” Brake shook his head, and laughed.

Pisko took control of Grandmaster with Puppet Plant, then Special Summoned Sangan with Monster Reborn. He removed Puppet Plant to Special Summon Spore as a Level 4 Tuner, and Tuned it to Sangan to make Black Rose Dragon. He didn’t activate the Dragon’s effect: Sangan got him Glow-Up Bulb from his Deck. He Summoned it; Tuned it to Grandmaster; and Synchro Summoned Goyo Guardian. He then sent Spirit Reaper off the top of his Deck to Special Summon Glow-Up Bulb again, Tuning it to Black Rose for Stardust Dragon. Both monsters made direct attacks.

Brake drew to 3 cards in-hand. Smoke Signal got him Kagemusha of the Six Samurai, and he Normal Summoned it to Special Summon Kizan. That let him Synchro Summon his own Goyo, and he attacked to take Pisko’s Stardust Dragon.

Pisko attacked the Stardust and took it back, Setting Torrential Tribute.

Brake attacked the Stardust Dragon, taking it yet again before Setting a Spell or Trap.

Pisko drew, holding Debris Dragon, Dark Hole, and Mystic Tomato. He activated Dark Hole, and Brake negated it with Stardust Dragon’s effect. Pisko Summoned Tomato, traded his Goyo Guardian for Brake’s, and made a direct attck for 1400 Battle Damage. When Pisko tried to Special Summon back his Stardust Dragon, Brake stopped him with Royal Oppression.

Brake Set a Spell or Trap, then Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Mizuho: Pisko responded with Torrential Tribute.

Pisko Normal Summoned Debris Dragon, and since Brake had just 500 Life Points, Pisko used the Dragon’s effect despite Brake’s active Royal Oppression. Pisko Special Summoned Ryko and attacked for victory with both of his monsters.

Arthur Pisko takes a hard-fought, shocking win in the third Duel; as bluffed weakness from Billy Brake turns into legitimate horror, in the face of double Mystical Space Typhoon! Pisko shreds an incredible opening, and leans on Brake to take the win. He’s now just a single Match away from finishing Day 1 with a perfect record.