Vincent Cassello was the final Samurai Duelist left in the tournament. He was so close to the finals, but  he would have to win two more Matches to get there. His opponent, Phillip Smith, intended to put a stop to the Samurai advance with his Plant Synchro Deck.

Cassello opened the Match with Reinforcement of the Army, searching his Deck for Kagemusha of the Six Samurai.  He activated Six Samurai United, then Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki to Special Summon Kagemusha.  He sent United to the Graveyard to draw 2 cards, then activated another United!  He Special Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan, then Synchro Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En so he could draw 2 more cards with the second United.  He ended by Setting 3 cards to his back row.

Smith had a hand of Solemn Warning; Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter; Mind Control; Sangan; Monster Reborn; and Card Trooper.  He Set Sangan, then Warning.  Cassello destroyed the Warning in the End Phase with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Cassello activated Double-Edged Sword Technique, Special Summoning Kageki and Kagemusha from the Graveyard.  He Tuned them both to Kizan, and unleashed Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!  He removed Smith’s Sangan from the Field; his Mind Control from his hand; and his Warning from his Graveyard.  Monster Reborn let him Special Summon his Kagemusha again, and he Special Summoned Grandmaster to Synchro Summon Naturia Landoise!  Landoise, Shi En, and Trishula all attacked to drop Smith to 450 Life Points.

Smith drew Enemy Controller.  He had Reborn, Trooper, and Ryko in hand.  He Summoned Card Trooper, sending Solemn Warning, Effect Veiler, and Spore to the Graveyard to boost its ATK, hoping to send something of use to the Graveyard.  He Tributed Card Trooper for Controller, targeting Shi En: Cassello negated it with Shi En’s effect.  Smith activated Monster Reborn to target Card Trooper, and Special Summoned it in Defense Position, this time sending Gorz the Emissary of Darkness, Enemy Controller, and Caius the Shadow Monarch to the Graveyard to boost the Trooper.  It was for naught, however, as Cassello ended the Duel next turn, attacking Trooper with Trishula and making a direct attack with Landoise.

An explosive first turn with Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En turns into a devastating second turn with Trishula and Landoise, leading to a decisive win in the first Duel for Vincent Cassello.

Smith started the second Duel with a hand of Call of the Haunted; Effect Veiler; Solemn Warning; Lonefire Blossom; Mystical Space Typhoon; and Puppet Plant.  He Summoned Lonefire; Tributed it to Special Summon Dandylion; and Set Warning, Call, and Typhoon.

Cassello tried to Summon Hand of the Six Samurai, but Smith negated the attempt with Solemn Warning.  Cassello Set 2 cards to his back row, then activated Dimensional Fissure: Smith destroyed the Fissure in the End Phase with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Smith drew Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter.  He activated Call of the Haunted to Special Summon Lonefire Blossom, and Tributed it to Special Summon another in Defense Position.  He Tributed Dandylion for the second Lonefire’s effect, and Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens plus Tytannial, Princess of Camellias from his Deck.  Tytannial attacked, and Cassello responded with Mirror Force, destroying her.

Cassello Set a second Spell or Trap and Normal Summon Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan.  It attacked to destroy Lonefire Blossom.

Smith drew Pot of Avarice with 4 monsters in his Graveyard.  He Set Ryko.

Cassello activated another Dimensional Fissure!  He Summoned another Kizan, and attacked a Fluff Token with it.  The next Kizan attacked Smith’s face-down Ryko, and he destroyed the second Fissure, sending Tragoedia, Pot of Avarice, and Royal Decree to the Graveyard.

Smith drew Book of Moon and activated Pot of Avarice, returning every monster in his Graveyard except Dandylion to his Deck.  He drew 2 cards: Caius the Shadow Monarch and Monster Reborn.  He discarded Puppet Plant to target a Kizan, taking control of it and sending it to attack the other Kizan.  Cassello blocked the attack with Book of Moon, turning Kizan face-down, but in Main Phase 2 Smith Tributed it for Caius the Shadow Monarch, removing the other Kizan from the game!  Cassello had nothing left save 1 Set card in his back row.  Smith Set a Spell or Trap to end.

Cassello drew and Set a Spell or Trap.

Smith drew Mystical Space Typhoon, and destroyed the Solemn Judgment Cassello had Set last turn.  Caius attacked for 2400 Battle Damage.

Cassello passed.

Smith drew Mirror Force and made another direct attack with Caius.  He Set Mirror Force.

Cassello Set a second Spell or Trap.

Smith drew Royal Decree and attacked with Caius again, dropping Cassello to 800 Life Points.  He Set Decree, and after seeing his next draw, Cassello conceded.

Phillip Smith pushes the Match to a final Duel!

Cassello opened with Six Samurai United, Summoning Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan and Setting 4 cards to his back row.

Smith had Effect Veiler; Puppet Plant; Book of Moon; Royal Decree; Enemy Controller; and Foolish Burial.  He Set Book, Decree, and Controller, losing Controller and Decree to not 1, but 2 Mystical Space Typhoons in the End Phase!

Cassello activated Shien’s Smoke Signal, getting Kagemusha of the Six Samurai from his Deck.  He Normal summoned it, and took 2 draws with United.  Smith turned Kagemusha face-down with Book of Moon, warding off a potential Synchro Summon.  Cassello activated Dimensional Fissure and attacked for 1800 Battle Damage with Kizan.

Smith drew Mystical Space Typhoon, and activated it to destroy Dimensional Fissure.  He discarded Puppet Plant to take Kizan, and attacked to reveal, but not destroy, Cassello’s Kagemusha.  He activated Foolish Burial in Main Phase 2 to send Glow-Up Bulb to his Graveyard, and Special Summoned it by sending Dark Hole to the Graveyard.  Smith Tuned Bulb to Kizan to Synchro Summon Ally of Justice Catastor.

Cassello flipped Six Samurai United, and Normal Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki.  He Tuned it to Kagemusha for Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En, then drew 2 cards with United.  He Special Summoned another Kizan; ran over Catastor with Shi En; and made a direct attack with Kizan to drop Smith to 4100 Life Points.

Smith drew Caius the Shadow Monarch, adding it to his hand of Effect Veiler.  There was nothing he could do, save Set Veiler and hope to survive the next turn.  He didn’t bother: he revealed his hand and gave Cassello the handshake.

Vincent Cassello takes a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Phillip Smith, and moves on to the Top 4!