In the last hours of every Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series weekend, eight intrepid Duelists are selected to compete in two unique mini-tournaments, four competitors in each. The first four are the highest points-earners participating in Public Events over the course of the weekend. The next four are selected at random from the complete pool of participants, regardless of performance. These two groups play off in a two-round Single Elimination showdown, and the winner of each group wins a set of the Darklord prize cards. This Match pitted James Neumann against Nicholas Montano, in the first round of the Random Entry Public Event Playoffs. Neumann is running Tengu Synchro, while Montano is playing Gravekeepers.

Neumann opened the Match with a hand of Torrential Tribute, Enemy Controller, Effect Veiler, Lonefire Blossom, Reborn Tengu, and Monster Reborn. He Summoned Tengu, then Set Controller and Torrential.

Montano activated Pot of Duality, revealing Mind Crush, Necrovalley, and Royal Tribute from the top of his Deck. He added Royal Tribute to his hand and shuffled the rest back. He activated Necrovalley, then Set a monster, Set a Spell or Trap, and ended.

Neumann drew Tour Guide from the Underworld, and attacked, sending Tengu into Montano’s Gravekeeper’s Spy: he Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter with its effect. Neumann tried to Summon Lonefire Blossom in Main Phase 2, but Montano negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.

Montano Summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and debated using its effect with priority: he opted not to use it, and Neumann activated Torrential Tribute. Montano Chained Book of Moon to turn Reborn Tengu face-down, and Neumann Chained Enemy Controller to take Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, stopping him from getting Recruiter’s effect. The field was cleared by Torrential, and Neumann Special Summoned his second Tengu from his Deck once the first Chain resolved. Montano activated Royal Tribute, discarding his Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and making Neumann discard Tour Guide and Veiler.

Neumann drew his third Tengu, and Summoned it to attack with both.

Montano Set a card to his back row.

Neumann drew Pot of Avarice and tried to attack for game, but lost one of his Tengus to Dimensional Prison. Montano couldn’t find an out, and Neumann’s last Tengu made a final direct attack on the turn that followed.

James Neumann opens up with a huge hand featuring Torrential Tribute and Reborn Tengu, and not even Royal Tribute can save Nicholas Montano! Neumann takes the first Duel. Play proceeded quickly to the second.

Montano started off with Gravekeeper’s Commandant, discarding it to get Necrovalley from his Deck. He activated Pot of Duality, revealing Necrovalley, Chain Disappearance, and Gravekeeper’s Spy from the top of his Deck: Montano added Spy to his hand and shuffled the rest back. He activated Necrovalley, Set 2 cards to his back row, and Set a monster.

Neumann had Torrential Tribute, Spore, Cyber Dragon, Reborn Tengu, Ryko, Lightsworn Hunter, and Book of Moon. He Set Torrential and Book, then Set Ryko.

Montano banished the Ryko with Nobleman of Crossout next turn, stripping another from Neumann’s Deck. He Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter from his Deck with Spy’s ability: both monsters made direct attacks.

Neumann drew Puppet Plant. He Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, then tried to Normal Summon Reborn Tengu: Montano negated the Summon with Solemn Judgment. When Cyber Dragon attacked, Montano banished it with Dimensional Prison.

Montano attacked again with Spy and Recruiter. He wasn’t going to fall for that Torrential Tribute.

Neumann had just 1200 Life Points left, and drew Foolish Burial. He discarded Puppet Plant to take control of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Summoned Spore. Neumann Synchro Summoned Armory Arm, then attacked over Spy.

Montano activated Gravekeepet’s Stele, returning his Spy and Recruiter to his hand! He destroyed Armory Arm with Dark Hole, then Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. Neuman put it face-down with Book of Moon when it attacked.

Neumann drew Mystical Space Typhoon, and activated Foolish Burial to send Dandylion to his Graveyard, He Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens, then activated Typhoon to destroy Necrovalley. He banished Lonefire Blossom to Special Summon Spore as a Level 4 Tuner, then Synchro Summoned Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier to attack and destroy Recruiter. Montano got Gravekeeper’s Assailant from his deck. Neumann had nothing but Brionac and Torrential Tribute.

Montano activated another Necrovalley, and attacked to destroy Brionac with Gravekeeper’s Assailant. He Set a Spell or Trap. Neumann’s next draw was Gorz the Emissary of Darkness – no help given his low Life Point total – and Montano attacked once more with the Assailant next turn to win the Duel.

Nicholas Montano battles back to push the Match to a third and final Duel! Neumann would get to make the opening turn. The winner here would move on to take a shot at a set of the Darklord prize cards in the next round!

Neumann opened with a hand of Thunder King Rai-Oh, Debris Dragon, Malevolent Catastrophe, Solemn Warning, Monster Reborn, and Foolish Burial. He Set Catastrophe and Warning, and Summoned Thunder King.

Montano activated Necrovalley, then Set a monster and 3 cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Neumann drew Caius the Shadow Monarch. He Tributed Thunder King for it, and banished Montano’s Set Gravekeeper’s Spy! Caius attacked into Dimensional Prison.

Montano Set a third Spell or Trap.

Neumann Summoned Reborn Tengu and attacked for 1700 Battle Damage.

Montano flipped Book of Moon to turn down Reborn Tengu, then banished it with Nobleman of Crossout. He Set another Spell or Trap to replace the Book.

Neumann drew Cyber Dragon and passed.

Montano tried to Summon Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, but lost out to Solemn Warning.

Neumann drew Giant Trunade and passed again.

Montano activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Neumann’s Malevolent Catastrophe, then Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant to attack directly.

Neumann drew Dust Tornado. He activated Giant Trunade, then Special Summoned Cyber Dragon and sent Dandylion to his Graveyard with Foolish Burial. He Summoned Debris Dragon, Special Summoned Dandylion, and Synchro Summoned Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, banishing his opponent’s Assailant from the field, his Chain Disappearance from his hand, and his Recruiter from his Graveyard. Neuman followed up with Monster Reborn, and Special Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh for the win!

James Neumann moves on to the finals of the Public Event Playoffs!