In a tournament filled with Blackwings and Samurai, this was a unique matchup! Travis Massengale is playing Gravekeepers, while Brandon Ogbonna has made it here with Lightsworn.

Massengale got us started with a hand of Gravekeeper’s Spy, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Gravekeeper’s Descendant, Royal Tribute, Gravekeeper’s Stele, and Mystical Space Typhoon. A great hand, especially in this matchup! He got Necrovalley from his Deck with Commandant; Set Spy; Set Typhoon and Stele; and activated Royal Tribute. He discarded his Descendant, while Ogbonna shook his head, losing Celestia, Lightsworn Angel, Plaguespreader Zombie, and Wulf, Lightsworn Beast! Stele then got Massengale back his Commandant and Descendant. He discarded Descendant for another Necrovalley and ended. Devastating!

Ogbonna Set a single Spell or Trap (Bottomless Trap Hole), and lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Massengale Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter with Gravekeeper’s Spy, then Normal Summoned Descendant. He attacked with Spy, Recruiter, then Descendant, and Set Book of Moon. Ogbonna had just 2600 Life Points left.

Ogbonna discarded Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner for Solar Recharge. He drew 2 cards, and sent Card Trooper and Charge of the Light Brigade to his Graveyard. He discarded Jain, Lightsworn Paladin for his next Recharge, this time sending Cold Wave and Thunder King Rai-Oh. He Normal Summon Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, tried to use her effect to destroy Massengale’s Book of Moon, and he Chained it to turn her face-down. Then Ogbonna Special Summoned Judgment Dragon! Its effect cleared the field, but Recruiter got Massengale Gravekeeper’s Assailant from his Deck. Then the Dragon attacked directly before sending Necro Gardna, Beckoning Light, another Recharge, and Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior to the Graveyard.

Massengale locked down the Necro Gardna with Necrovalley; destroyed Judgment Dragon with Smashing Ground; and Summoned his last card, Gravekeeper’s Assailant, to attack for the win!

Every single card just seems to fall in Massengale’s favor, as a tremendous Royal Tribute opening leads to a big attack and then gives way to a three-card answer to Ogbonna’s Necro Gardna and Judgment Dragon! There was nothing Ogbonna could’ve done.

Ogbonna opened Duel 2 with Solar Recharge, discarding Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior to draw 2 cards and send Honest and Card Trooper to his Graveyard. Another Recharge let him discard Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, draw 2, and send Wulf, Lightsworn Beast and Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned Wulf and Set a monster, then Set 2 cards to his back row.

Massengale had Thunder King Rai-Oh, Pot of Duality, Cyber Dragon, Mirror Force, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and Book of Moon. He discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley; Special Summoned Cyber Dragon; and Ogbonna blasted it with Bottomless Trap Hole. He Normal Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, attacked into Ryko, and Thunder King was destroyed while Ogbonna got another Wulf thanks to Ryko’s effect! Massengale Set Mirror Force and Ogbonna destroyed it in the End Phase with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Ogbonna attacked with both Wulfs and Set another Spell or Trap.

Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Assailant. He activated Duality, revealing Mystical Space Typhoon, Smashing Ground and Starlight Road; he added Starlight to his hand, then activated Necrovalley. He Summoned Assailant; attacked Wulf; activated Assailant’s effect to shift Wulf to Defense Position, and destroyed it. He Set Starlight Road and Book.

Ogbonna attacked with Wulf, and Massengale blocked with Book. Ogbonna Set a third Spell or Trap.

Massengale attacked with Assailant, crashing into Mirror Force. Assailant was destroyed. A turn later Ogbonna Special Summoned Judgment Dragon and made a direct attack for victory, knowing that Massengale’s last Set card was a useless Starlight Road.

Brandon Ogbonna seemingly returns the favor paid him by Massengale in the first Duel, dishing out an equally vicious string of massive moves to take the second contest! Once again, we were headed to a third and Final Duel to decide who would survive in this tournament!

Massengale opened Duel 3 with a hand of 2 Gravekeeper’s Spies, Spirit Reaper, Bottomless Trap Hole, Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and Dark Hole. He Set Spy, Set Bottomless, and ended.

Ogbonna discarded Celestia, Lightsworn Angel for Solar Recharge, sending Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress and Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner to his Graveyard. He activated Gold Sarcophagus to remove Judgment Dragon from the Duel, so he could add it to his hand 2 turns from now. He Normal Summoned a Lyla next, but lost her to Bottomless. 2 Set cards to the Spell and Trap Card Zone ended the turn.

Massengale drew Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and Flip Summoned Spy, Special Summoning Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Deck. He Normal Summoned Recruiter and Tributed it for Descendant’s effect, destroying Ogbonna’s Mystical Space Typhoon. Recruiter’s effect got Massengale Gravekeeper’s Commandant, which he discarded for Necrovalley; he activated Necrovalley, and attacked with Spy and Descendant for a total of 3700 Battle Damage.

Ogbonna Set another Spell or Trap.

Massengale drew Starlight Road and Tributed Spy for Descendant, destroying Ogbonna’s freshly-set Pot of Avarice. He Summoned another Descendant and attacked for 4000 Battle Damage, leaving Obgonna at 300 Life Points – not enough Life Points to pay for Judgment Dragon’s effect. Massengale Set a Spell or Trap.

Ogbonna drew for his turn and added Judgment Dragon to his hand with Gold Sarcophagus‘ effect. He Set a second Spell or Trap.

Massengale Tributed 1 Descendant for the effect of another, destroying his opponent’s Bottomless Trap Hole! The last Descendant attacked, and Ogbonna was defeated.

Massengale moves on to the Top 4 with Gravekeepers! Could we see a repeat of YCS Atlanta? Could Gravekeepers win this one, too!?