Five weeks ago, Nizar Sarhan won YCS Dallas with Six Samurai.  At the time, it was a new Deck that was unfettered by the March 1st Forbidden and Limited List.  Now, Sarhan’s Deck only has 1 Gateway of the Six, and just 2 Solemn Warning… But that didn’t stop him from going undefeated in this weekend’s tournament!  Sarhan was the only Duelist to win every Match he played in the Swiss Rounds of this event: now he’s earned a spot in the Top 16, and he’s looking to repeat his Championship victory!  A win here would be almost unprecedented: no Duelist has won back-to-back Championships since Ryan Hayakawa’s 2-time Championship win in 2005.

But his opponent this Round is Stephen Silverman, another YCS winner!  Silverman is playing X-Sabers, and the veteran Duelist has a pedigree that extends far beyond Sarhan’s win in Dallas.  The X-Saber / Samurai matchup is going to be big in this new format, and this Match is bound to be a formative one for the months ahead.  Both of these competitors are truly great Champions, but only one can make it to the Quarterfinals!

Sarhan opened the Match with a  hand of Upstart Goblin; Kagemusha of the Six Samurai; Mirror Force; Giant Trunade; Mystical Space Typhoon; and Enishi, Shien’s Chancellor.  He used Upstart Goblin to draw Gateway of the Six!  But he didn’t have the monsters to make the most of it: Sarhan just Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Silverman Set a Spell or Trap, and Set a monster.

Sarhan drew another Mystical Space Typhoon, and Set it.

Silverman activated Giant Trunade!  Sarhan had no response, and Silverman Flip summoned XX-Saber Darksoul.  He Normal Summoned XX-Saber Boggart Knight; Set 2 cards to his back row; and attacked with both of his monsters.

Sarhan drew Double-Edged Sword Technique: he still couldn’t get a second Samurai with which to go off.  He blasted Silverman’s Torrential Tribute with Mystical Space Typhoon, then destroyed his Royal Oppression with the second Typhoon!  He Set Mirror Force.

Silverman attacked into it next turn, losing Boggart Knight and Darksoul.  He had 3 cards in hand, and Set 1 to his back row.  He got X-Saber Airbellum from his Deck with Darksoul’s effect in the End Phase.

Sarhan drew to 6 cards, getting Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki.  He activated Giant Trunade, Gateway, and Summoned Kageki and Kagemusha!  He got Grandmaster from his Deck with Gateway, Special Summoned it, and Synchro Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En!  He got Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan from his Deck with Gateway, Special Summoned that, and then removed his 2 remaining Samurai from his Graveyard to Special Summon his signature card – Enishi, Shien’s Chancellor!  He attacked with everything and Silverman couldn’t stop him!

Nizar Sarhan gets off to an awkward start, but finally draws into a second Samurai and has no problem taking the Duel from there!  Silverman dove into his Side Deck, determined.

The competitors shook hands, and Silverman started the second Duel with 3 Set cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, and a Set monster.

Sarhan had Kagemusha of the Six Samurai; Solemn Warning; Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan; Solemn Judgment; Nobleman of Crossout; and Musakani Magatama.  He removed Silverman’s Pashuul with Nobleman, then Summoned Kizan: Silverman had no response.  Kizan attacked for 1800 Battle Damage and Nizar Set all his Traps in Main Phase 2.

Silverman flipped Trap Stun: Sarhan had no choice but to flip Solemn Judgment in the face of a possible XX-Saber Hyunlei.  “Show me that Seven Tools!”

“I unfortunately don’t have it,” replied Silverman, who Set a monster and ended.

Sarhan drew Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki.  He Summoned it, activated its effect, and Special Summoned Kagemusha to Synchro Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En: Silverman tried to negate the Summon with Solemn Warning, but Sarhan Chained Musakani Magatama!  Kizan attacked to destroy Silverman’s face-down XX-Saber Emmersblade: he Special Summoned another Emmersblade from his Deck in Defense Position.  Sarhan attacked it with Shi En, and Silverman Special Summoned XX-Saber Fulhelmknight.  Sarhan ended, with Kizan, Shi En, and a Set Solemn Warning with no hand.

Silverman drew to 3 cards in hand, with a Set Spell or Trap plus a face-up Fulhelmknight.  He tried to Normal Summon Darksoul, and Sarhan negated the Summon with Warning, staving off a possible XX-Saber Faultroll.  Silverman shook his head and sighed before ending his turn.

Sarhan drew Reinforcement of the Army.  “Unreal, man,” remarked Silverman, as Sarhan searched his Deck for Hand of the Six Samurai.  Silverman had 4200 Life Points left, while Sarhan had 2000.  Sarhan Summoned Hand, Tributed herself for her effect and targeted Fulhelmknight, and Silverman lost Fulhelmknight: he revealed moments later that he’d had Effect Veiler, as he discarded it to negate Shi En’s effect.  Sarhan had played around the Veiler possibility by Tributing Hand for her own effect, and when he attacked, Silverman used Book of Moon to put Kizan face-down to keep himself alive.  He was hoping to draw Fulhelmknight next turn now that Kizan now in Defense Position, but Emmersblade, Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, Kinetic Soldier, and who knows what else would help a great deal as well.

Silverman didn’t get any of those, and Set a monster.

Sarhan Flip Summoned Kizan, attacked with Shi En, and Silverman offered the handshake!

Nizar Sarhan moves on to the Top 8, just 3 Matches away from another YCS title win!