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Top 16 Feature Match: Tombkeeper Austin Kulman vs. Honorable Ivan Oropeza

April 10th, 2011

This Match will showcase 1 of the key matchups of this Dueling era. Gravekeepers versus Six Samurai! Austin Kulman was the 2006 U.S. National Champion, and is piloting Gravekeepers. His opponent is Samurai Duelist Ivan Edward Cahuana Oropeza.

Kulman opened the Match with a hand of Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Gravekeeper’s Spy, Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Gravekeeper’s Descendant, Solemn Warning, and Royal Tribute. He discarded Commandant to get Necrovalley from his Deck, activating it and then Setting Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and Warning. He also Set Royal Tribute.

Oropeza Set 2 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Kulman drew another Gravekeeper’s Spy. He tried to Flip Summon Recruiter, but Oropeza negated the Summon with Solemn Warning. Kulman Set the other Gravekeeper’s Spy from his hand.

Oropeza activated Gateway of the Six and tried to Normal Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki. Kulman flipped Solemn Warning, negating the Summon. Oropeza activated Monster Reborn, forgetting about Kulman’s Necrovalley! He lost his Reborn. He tried to Normal Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, clearly a bit flustered by his Reborn mistake, and was reminded that he’d already attempted his Normal Summon for the turn. Oropeza Set a Spell or Trap to end.

Kulman drew Pot of Duality but decided not to use it yet since that would cut off his ability to Special Summon this turn. Instead he Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy, which let him Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Recruiter from his Deck. He Normal Summoned Descendant and Tributed Spy to destroy Gateway, then Tributed Recruiter to destroy Oropeza’s Set Musakani Magatama. Recruiter got Kulman his third Recruiter from his Deck, and Descendant attacked for 2000 Battle Damage. Kulman Set Duality to finish out.

Oropeza had 4000 Life Points left, and drew to 2 cards in hand. He had 1 card Set, with nothing else on the field. Kulman controlled Necrovalley, Gravekeeper’s Descendant, 2 Set cards in his back row, and had a 2-card hand. Oropeza Normal Summoned Kagemusha of the Six Samurai, then Special Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan. He Tuned them together for Naturia Barkion, and attacked to destroy Descendant.

Kulman drew another Necrovalley. He flipped Duality, revealing Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Royal Oppression, and Gravekeeper’s Descendant. Kulman added Oppression to his hand, then Set Spy and Oppression.

Oropeza attacked into Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Kulman Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Deck. Oropeza Set a second Spell or Trap.

Kulman drew Seven Tools of the Bandit and Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Tributing it for Gravekeeper’s Descendant’s effect to destroy Naturia Barkion. Recruiter’s ability got him Gravekeeper’s Assailant from his Deck, and he attacked for 2000 Battle Damage with Descendant.

Oropeza drew and activated Shien’s Smoke Signal, getting The Six Samurai – Yaichi from his Deck. He activated Six Samurai United, Summoned Yaichi, and conceded the Duel after seeing his draw with United.

Austin Kulman opens with Royal Tribute and Necrovalley, but passes on the devasating combo play to take a slower approach instead! The result is a grinding pace punctuated by Tributes with Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and victory in the first Duel. The Top 8 was just within reach.

Tombkeeper Austin Kulman

Oropeza started with Six Samurai United, then Summoned The Six Samurai – Yaichi and Grandmaster of the Six Samurai. He drew 2 cards, then Set 2 to his Spell and Trap Card Zone

Kulman had Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Dimensional Prison, Mystical Space Typhoon, Solemn Warning, Dark Hole, and Necrovalley. He activated Typhoon to destroy Oropeza’s Set Typhoon, then activated Necrovalley. He Summoned Commandant, but lost it to Bottomless Trap Hole. Kulman followed up with Dark Hole, destroying Yaichi and Grandmaster. Grandmaster was returned to Oropeza’s hand, and Kulman Set Warning and Dimensional Prison.

Oropeza tried to Normal Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, but Kulman negated the Summon with Warning. Oropeza Set a spell or trap.

Kulman drew Pot of Duality! He had to choose between Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, Mirror Force, and Kinetic Soldier, adding the Soldier to his hand. He didn’t Set or Summon it.

Oropeza Summoned another Kizan, then Special Summoned Grandmaster. Kizan attacked directly, and Kulman removed Grandmaster with Dimensional Prison. Oropeza Set a second Spell / Trap.

Kulman Set a monster.

Oropeza Summoned Hand of the Six Samurai, but things just got even worse for Kulman, as Oropeza activated Nobleman of Crossout to remove Kulman’s Set Gravekeeper’s Spy from the field! Another copy was also removed from his Deck, and Kizan and Hand both made direct attacks to leave Kulman at 800 Life Points.

Kulman drew Dimensional Prison next turn. He Summoned Kinetic Soldier and attacked Hand, destroying it and lowering Oropeza to 6250 Life Points. He Set Prison, his last card.

Oropeza Summoned Kagemusha of the Six Samurai and Synchro Summoned Naturia Barkion, attacking into Prison. Oropeza didn’t have enough cards in the Graveyard to activate Barkion’s effect, so Barkion was removed from the game!

Kulman drew and Set Seven Tools of the Bandit, then attacked directly with Kinetic Soldier.

Oropeza passed.

Kulman drew another Kinetic Soldier! He Summoned it and attacked with both Soldiers, dropping Oropeza to 2200 Life Points.

Oropeza Set a monster.

Kulman attacked to destroy it. It was Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki. Then Kulman made another direct atack with the other Soldier. Oropeza had 850 Life Points left, while Kulman had 800.

Oropeza got Kagemusha of the Six Samurai with Reinforcement of the Army, and Summoned Kageki and Kagemusha to Synchro Summon Ally of Justice Catastor. He didn’t attack.

Kulman turned his Kinetic Soldiers to Defense Position.

Oropeza Set another Spell or Trap.

Kulman passed.

Oropeza passed.

Kulman Set another Spell or Trap.

Oropeza Set a fourth Spell or Trap.

Kulman passed.

Oropeza Set a fifth card to his back row.

Kulman passed.

Oropeza passed.

Kulman drew, now holding Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Necrovalley, and Royal Oppression. He controlled Necrovalley, 2 Kinetic Soldiers, a Set monster, and 3 Set cards in his back row. Oropeza had Ally of Justice Catastor with 5 cards Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone, plus 2 cards in his hand. Kulman eyed his Tempest Magician. He Summoned Blackwing – Gale and halved Catastor’s ATK and DEF. He Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, but Oropeza removed it with Bottomless Trap Hole. Gale attacked Catastor, but Oropeza removed it with Dimensional Prison.

Oropeza drew a card with Upstart Goblin, putting Kulman back to 1800 Life Points. He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Necrovalley, then flipped Monster Reborn to target his Kagemusha, and Special Summoned it in Defense Position. He Set 2 more Spell or Trap Cards, and ended with an empty hand.

Kulman activated another Necrovalley. He Summoned Descendant and attacked over Catastor for victory!

Austin Kulman is headed to the Top 8 with Gravekeepers!

Honorable Ivan Oropeza