Sorosh Saberian hasn’t played in a Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series tournament since his Top 16 finish at last year’s YCS Toronto. Today, he’s piloting a Fabled Deck, and his opponent Romario Luari is running Tengu Synchro. Saberian’s Deck is extremely fast, making huge numbers of Synchro Summons while drawing extra cards with Fabled Ragin. But Saberian has a problem.

When Saberian wrote his Deck list this morning, he mistakenly wrote “1 Giant Trunade” twice. The judges of the Deck Team discovered the error, and as part of the standard application of Round 3 Deck penalties, issued Saberian a game loss. The lesson here is very important: always make sure that your Deck is legal, and that it matches your written Deck list. Failure to do so can cost you the most important of your Duels: in Saberian’s case, a Duel in a publicized Feature Match. Saberian would have his work cut out for him.

Saberian opened the Match with a hand of Pot of Avarice; Snipe Hunter; Reckless Greed; Solemn Warning; Fabled Kushano; and Instant Fusion. He Set Greed and Warning.

Luari tried to Summon Reborn Tengu, but Saberian negated the Summon with Solemn Warning. Luari Set a Spell or Trap.

Saberian drew his own Tengu, and when he tried to Summon it, Luari negated that Summon with his own Warning.

Luari Set a Spell or Trap.

Saberian drew Mystical Space Typhoon and Set it. He lost it to Luaria’s Typhoon in the End Phase.

Luari Summoned another Reborn Tengu, and attacked for 1700 Battle Damage.

Saberian also drew his second Tengu. He Summoned it, and ran it into Luaria’s Tengu. Both Duelists Special Summoned another, and both were destroyed by a successive attack.

Luari Summoned Lonefire Blossom, then Tributed it to Special Summon another. He Tributed that, and Special Summoned Dandylion in Defense Position.

Saberian drew Fabled Grimro. He Summoned Kushano, and sent Grimro to the Graveyard to search his Deck for The Fabled Cerburrel. He paid 1000 Life Points to activate Instant Fusion, then Special Summoned Musician King from his Extra Deck. He Tuned it to Kushano to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon, then activated Pot of Avarice to return 3 Reborn Tengu, Grimro, and Musician King to his Deck, then draw another Cerburrel and another Instant Fusion. Stardust Dragon attacked Dandylion, and Luari Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens. Another Set Spell or Trap rounded out Saberian’s turn.

Luari activated Pot of Avarice, returning 3 Tengus and both Lonefire Blossoms back to his Deck to draw 2 cards. He Normal Summoned Debris Dragon to Special Summon Dandylion, and Tuned everything together for Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! Its effect banished Saberian’s Stardust Dragon from the field, his Kushano from the Graveyard, and a Cerburrel from his hand. Luari Special Summoned 2 Fluff Tokens, and attacked directly with Trishula.

Saberian had 600 Life Points left. He drew The Fabled Ganashia, holding Snipe Hunter and Cerburrel. He Summoned Snipe Hunter and discarded Cerburrel, targeting Trishula, but Snipe Hunter’s effect was negated by Luari’s Effect Veiler! Saberian Special Summoned Cerburrel and activated Reckless Greed, drawing Monster Reborn and Fabled Krus. His opponent still had 6000 Life Points, and Saberian took a moment to carefully consider his next move. He Tuned Cerburrel and Snipe Hunter together for Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and discarded Krus to bounce away Trishula. Krus’ effect Special Summoned Cerburrel from the Graveyard, and Saberian discarded Ganashia to bounce away a Fluff Token. He Special Summoned Ganashia with its effect and started running numbers, trying to figure out if he could actually win the Duel here and now. He Set Monster Reborn, then Tuned Cerburrel and Ganashia for Fabled Ragin, then drew Reborn Tengu and The Fabled Chawa with its effect. He discarded Tengu for Brionac’s effect, bouncing away the last Fluff Token, then Special Summoned Tengu back with Monster Reborn. Taking a deep breath, Saberian pressed his Tengu forward, then Fabled Ragin, and finally Brionac to finish the Duel!

A last ditch effort with Reckless Greed lets Sorosh Saberian pull through, evening the Match score to 1-each after a damaging Duel 1 game loss penalty. Luari would get to open the last Duel of the Match.

Luari started the Duel with a Set Spell or Trap and a Set monster.

Saberian had Instant Fusion, The Fabled Chawa, Reborn Tengu, Fabled Grimro, Monster Reborn, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He activated Typhoon, destroying his opponent’s Typhoon. He Summoned Tengu, and ran it into Gravekeeper’s Spy. Luaria Special Summoned another Spy from his Deck.

Luari Set a Spell/Trap.

Saberian drew another Grimro, and tried to Normal Summon Chawa, but he lost it to Chain Disappearance, and stripped 2 more out of his Deck, banishing them. Saberian would’ve been in good shape if he could have used his 2 Grimros, but it was not to be.

Luari passed.

Saberian drew a third Grimro! He Summoned 1, then sent the remaining 2 to the Graveyard to search out The Fabled Cerburrel and Fabled Krus.

Luari drew to 6 cards in hand: “I’m so confused,” said Saberian. “You have so many cards!” Luari passed, still unable to put any of his cards to work.

Saberian drew Gozen Match. He Summoned Cerburrel, Tuning it to Reborn Tengu for Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. He Special Summoned another Tengu from his Deck, then discarded Krus to bounce away a Spy and Special Summon Cerburrel. He activated Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Flame Ghost from his Deck, and Tuned the Ghost to Cerburrel and Reborn Tengu for Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. Trishula banished Luari’s Gravekeeper’s Spy from the field, Mind Control from his hand, and Chain Disappearance from his Graveyard. Saberian Special Summoned his last Reborn Tengu. He now controlled a combined total of 8400 ATK: “You’ve got it,” announced Luari. He immediately surrendered.

Sorosh Saberian overcomes a Duel 1 game loss for what should’ve been an obvious Deck list error, to win 2 Duels back-to-back and capture a 3-0 record heading into Round 4. Take note: don’t get game losses.