Both of these Duelists had 7-2 records going into this round, and at least one of the competitors – Sorosh Saberian – had done the math and was convinced he was one win away from the Top 32. Both Duelists had a strong shot at the playoffs, but they had to win this Match to get there. Leiva was playing Frog Monarchs. Saberian was playing Fableds. Minutes from now, one of them would be headed to the Top 32.

Leiva opened up with Swap Frog, using its effect to send Treeborn Frog from his Deck to his Graveyard. He bounced Swap Frog back to his hand.

Saberian had a hand of Fabled Grimro, Reborn Tengu, The Fabled Cerburrel, Snipe Hunter, Reckless Greed, and Dark Hole. He Summoned Tengu and made a direct attack for 1700 Battle Damage. Saberian Set Reckless Greed.

Levia activated Mystical Space Typhoon, and Saberian Chained Reckless Greed to draw The Fabled Chawa and Dust Tornado. Leiva Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, Tributed it for Raiza the Storm Monarch, and spun away Reborn Tengu. He attacked for 2400 Battle Damage.

Saberian couldn’t draw his Tengu, locked down under his own Reckless Greed. That Raiza had been a tricky blow. if he’d had that Tengu on-field, this was an easy victory scenario with Chawa, Cerburrel, and Grimro. Now things were a bit more complicated, and Saberian had to think for a moment before seeing the path to victory. He Summoned Snipe Hunter, discarding Cerburrel to destroy Raiza. He Special Summoned Cerburrel, and used Grimro to get Fabled Krus from his Deck. He discarded Krus to Special Summon Chawa in Defense Position, then Special Summoned Grimro with Krus’ effect. He Tuned Grimro and Chawa together to Synchro Summon Fabled Ragin, and realized he forgot to Set his Dark Hole and Dust Tornado! He drew nothing! “Oh my god, that was so bad, so bad…” Saberian beat himself up for the mistake. He attacked with all three monsters, smallest to largest, lowering Leiva to 1500 Life Points.

Leiva Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, and swept the field with Dark Hole. He Summoned Genex Undine, using her effect to kick another Treeborn Frog to his Graveyard, getting Genex Controller to his hand. He discarded Fishborg Blaster to Special Summon Swap Frog, sending another Swap Frog to the Graveyard, then discarded Controller to Special Summon Fishborg Blaster. He Tuned everything together for Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and attacked for 2300 Battle Damage. He ended his turn with 2 cards left in hand.

Saberian couldn’t draw, but had Dark Hole and Dust Tornado, with 3300 Life Points left. He Set Tornado.

Leiva Special Summoned Treeborn Frog, then discarded Soul Exchange to Special Summon Fishborg Blaster. He Synchro Summoned Formula Synchron to draw a card, and attacked for 2300 Battle Damage. He Tributed Brionac for Caius the Shadow Monarch in Main Phase 2, removing itself to finish the Duel!

A rough misplay from Saberian costs him a Duel that was all his for the winning, leaving him to try and win two Duels straight to make the Top 32. Ricky Leiva just needed one more win to take a shot at the playoffs. Saberian took a deep breath to center himself, and went for his Side Deck.

Moments later, he opened Duel 2 with a hand of Instant Fusion, The Tricky, Snipe Hunter, The Fabled Cerburrel, The Fabled Chawa, and Reborn Tengu. He passed.

Leiva passed back.

Saberian drew Snipe Hunter and Summoned Reborn Tengu. He discarded Cerburrel to Special Summon Chawa, Special Summoning Cerburrel immediately afterwards. He Tuned it to Reborn Tengu to Synchro Summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, then Special Summoned his second Tengu from his Deck. He attacked with Tengu, and Leiva Special Summoned Battle Fader to block the hit. Saberian activated Instant Fusion in Main Phase 2, paying 1000 Life Points to Special Summon Darkfire Dragon. He Synchro Summoned Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, banishing Leiva’s on-field Battle Fader and his in-hand Light and Darkness Dragon! He Special Summoned his third Reborn Tengu. Saberian had clearly hoped to banish a Monarch, or something else that would’ve been a threat during Leiva’s next turn. Banishing Light and Darknesss Dragon didn’t really help, since it was very unlikely that Leiva could’ve used it any time soon.

Leiva Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, and Tributed it for Dark Dust Spirit, destroying Tengu, Brionac, and Trishula! Dark Dust Spirit made a direct attack, then bounced back to Leiva’s hand.

Saberian drew Pot of Avarice, activating it to return 3 Reborn Tengu, plus Cerburrel and Trishula to his Deck. He drew Snipe Hunter and Reckless Greed, and Summoned Snipe for a quick 1500 Battle Damage. He Set Reckless to his back row.

Leiva Normal Summoned Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, running over Snipe Hunter to banish Brionac and Chawa from Saberian’s Graveyard.

Saberian drew Reborn Tengu. He discarded Snipe Hunter for The Tricky, Special Summoning it, and Normal Summoned Tengu. Tricky attacked Kycoo, and Tengu made a direct attack. Leiva was down to 4600 Life Points, while Saberian had 4500.

Leiva Normal Summoned Swap Frog, sending Treeborn Frog to the Graveyard. He shook his head a moment, then ended.

Saberian drew Cerburrel. He Summoned Snipe Hunter, and pitched Cerburrel to destroy Swap Frog! He Special Summoned Cerburrel, then attacked with everything for game!

Sorosh Saberian recovers from his loss in the first Duel to take the second, as the draws don’t seem to fall in Ricky Leiva’s favor. Leiva would have a big advantage in the third Duel though, with the opportunity to establish his Treeborn Frog in his Graveyard early on.

Leiva started the last Duel with Foolish Burial, sending Treeborn Frog to his Graveyard. He Summoned Reborn Tengu.

Saberian had The Fabled Chawa, Instant Fusion, Pot of Avarice, The Tricky, Solemn Warning, and Fabled Grimro. He Set Warning.

Leiva attacked with Tengu for 1700 Battle Damage.

Saberian drew The Fabled Ganashia, and discarded it to Special Summon Chawa. He Special Summoned Ganashia with its effect, then sent Grimro to the Graveyard to search his Deck for The Fabled Cerburrel. He discarded Cerburrel for The Tricky, Special Summoning both, and Set his remaining cards (Avarice and Instant Fusion) to his back row. He Tuned Ganashia and Cerburrel for Fabled Ragin, drawing Snipe Hunter and Fabled Gallabas. Saberian hadn’t yet used his Normal Summon. he Summoned Gallabs, and discarded Snipe Hunter to destroy Reborn Tengu. Leiva Special Summoned another in Attack Position. Saberian flipped Instant Fusion, paying 1000 Life Points to Special Summon Darkfire Dragon. He Tuned Chawa to it, bringing out another Ragin to draw 2 more cards. Reborn Tengu and Gozen Match. He discarded his Tengu with Gallabas to destroy Leiva’s, who brought out his last Tengu in Defense Position, then activated Pot of Avarice, sending Darkfire Dragon, Reborn Tengu, Snipe Hunter, Grimro, and Chawa back to his Deck. He drew Card Destruction and Chain Disappearance, and busted out his calculator to start doing some math. He calculated 8100 total damage. He discarded Card Destruction, destroyed Tengu, and attacked with Gallabas. Leiva tried to Special Summon Battle Fader, but Saberian flipped Solemn Warning. Saberian attacked with The Tricky and his Ragins to end the Duel!

Sorosh Saberian overcomes a big misplay in the first Duel, to take Duel 2 and Duel 3! Saberian is headed to the Top 32!