Fairy Decks with Master Hyperion are making a big impact here today, and there are a lot of different builds in contention. Former YCS Champion Anthony Alvarado is running a popular version, with The Agent of Creation – Venus and Mystical Shine Balls. He’s also teching a single copy of Darklord Desire. His opponent is Benny Esteves, playing X-Sabers. Both of these competitors are undefeated.

Esteves started off the Match with a Set monster.

Alvarado’s hand was Monster Reborn, Mystical Shine Ball, Pot of Duality, Royal Decree, Master Hyperion, and The Agent of Mystery – Earth. He Summoned Earth, searching his Deck to add The Agent of Creation – Venus to his hand. Alvarado attacked with Earth, destroying Esteves’ XX-Saber Darksoul, and activated Pot of Duality, revealing another Royal Decree, another Agent of Mystery, and Mind Control from the Top of his Deck. He added Mind Control to his hand and shuffled the rest back. He Set Decree, and Esteves went and got XX-Saber Faultroll in the End Phase with Darksoul’s effect.

Esteves Normal Summoned XX-Saber Boggart Knight, using its effect to Special Summon XX-Saber Fulhelmknight. He activated Mind Control to take Alvarado’s Agent of Mystery, and Special Summoned Faultroll. He activated Faultroll’s effect to Special Summon Darksoul, then Tuned Darksoul and Fulhelmknight together for Naturia Barkion. He Tuned Agent of Mystery to Faultroll, Synchro Summoned Stardust Dragon, and attacked with everything to drop Alvarado to 1100 Life Points. He Set a Spell or Trap in Main Phase 2.

Alvarado drew another Mystical Shine Ball. He activated Mind Control to target Barkion, and Esteves Chained Gottoms‘ Emergency Call, targeting Darksoul and Fulhelmknight. He Special Summoned them both (Fulhelmknight in Attack Position and Darksoul in Defense Position), and Alvarado took the Barkion. He Normal Summoned Agent of Creation, paying 500 Life Points to Special Summon his last Mystical Shine Ball from his Deck in Defense Position. Monster Reborn let him Special Summon back his Agent of Mystery, and he Tuned it to Barkion to Synchro Summon Scrap Dragon. He banished Agent of Mystery from his Graveyard to Special Summon Hyperion, and attacked Fulhelmknight with Agent of Creation. Esteves negated the attack with Fulhelmknight’s ability. Hyperion attacked to destroy Fulhelmknight, and Scrap Dragon attacked to destroy Stardust Dragon. In Main Phase 2, Alvarado destroyed his Shine Ball and Esteves’ Boggart Knight with Scrap Dragon’s effect, then removed the Shine Ball to destroy Darksoul with Hyperion’s effect. Esteves got X-Saber Pashuul with Darksoul’s effect in the End Phase.

Esteves has 4 cards in hand, with an empty field. He Normal Summoned Boggart Knight, Special Summoned Pashuul, and Synchro Summoned XX-Saber Hyunlei, destroying Alvarado’s Set Royal Decree! That left Hyunlei free to attack over Agent of Creation to end the Duel. Alvarado instantly voiced his regret: “I should’ve destroyed Agent of Creation – Venus with Scrap Dragon.” If he’d done that, there would’ve been no game-winning attack for Esteves to make.

A last-minute mistake by Anthony Alvarado leads to a win in the first Duel for Benny Esteves! Alvarado immediately went to his Side Deck, shaking his head at his misplay.

He started the second Duel with a hand of Mystical Space Typhoon, Enemy Controller, Cyber Dragon, Genex Ally Birdman, Mystical Shine Ball, and The Agent of Mystery – Earth. He Summoned Earth to get The Agent of Creation – Venus from his Deck, then Set Typhoon and Controller.

Esteves Set a monster, then Set 2 cards to his back row. Alvarado destroyed his Solemn Warning with Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Alvarado drew his own Solemn Warning, then Normal Summoned Agent of Creation. When he tried to use her effect, Esteves Chained Royal Oppression, negating her effect and destroying her! Alvarado attacked with Agent of Mystery, destroying Esteves’ XX-Saber Darksoul. Alvarado Set Warning, and Esteves searched his Deck for XX-Saber Emmersblade with Darkoul.

Esteves Normal Summoned XX-Saber Boggart Knight and attacked. Alvarado blocked it, turning it to Defense Position with Enemy Controller. Esteves activated Pot of Duality in Main Phase 2, revealing D.D. Crow, Monster Reborn, and Banisher of the Radiance, adding Banisher to his hand.

Alvarado drew Master Hyperion. He Normal Summoned Birdman and attacked to destroy Boggart Knight, then made a direct attack with Agent of Mystery.

Esteves Summoned Banisher of the Radiance, attacking to destroy and banish Agent of Mystery. He Set another Spell or Trap.

Alvarado drew Pot of Duality, activating it to reveal Monster Reborn, Dark Hole, and Master Hyperion from the top of his Deck. He took Dark Hole. He Tributed Birdman to Summon Cyber Dragon, and attacked Banisher, destroying it.

Esteves activated his Set Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy his own Royal Oppression, then Normal Summoned Boggart Knight. He activated its effect to Special Summon XX-Saber Emmersblade, and tried to Special Summon XX-Saber Faultroll. Alvarado negated the Summon with Solemn Warning. Esteves Set his last card to his back row and ended.

Alvarado drew Dimensional Prison. He was holding Master Hyperion, Dark Hole, and Mystical Shine Ball. After verifying that his opponent had no Tuners in his Graveyard, he sent Cyber Dragon to attack Boggart Knight, taking it down. He Set Prison and Shine Ball.

Esteves attacked Cyber Dragon with XX-Saber Emmersblade next turn, but Alvarado banished it with Dimensional Prison! Esteves ended his turn.

Alvarado drew Mirror Force and attacked with Cyber Dragon for 2100 Battle Damage.

Esteves Summoned another Emmersblade, tried to attack Cyber Dragon again, and this time lost out to Mirror Force. The Duel stood at 3400 Life Points to 5400 Life Points, with Alvarado leading.

Alvarado drew Effect Veiler. He Flip Summoned Mystical Shine Ball, and Esteves banished it with his last Set card, Chain Disappearance. Alvarado lost another copy from his Deck. He removed Agent of Creation – Venus from his Graveyard to Special Summon Master Hyperion, then attacked with Cyber Dragon and Hyperion to finish the Duel!

Anthony Alvarado battles back from defeat in the first Duel, to triumph in the second. One more Duel would decide who would leave this Match with an undefeated 4-0 record. We are at the halfway point in today’s eight Swiss Rounds, so a win here would feel pretty good for the victor.

Esteves activated Pot of Duality, adding XX-Saber Darksoul to his hand over XX-Saber Emmersblade and Monster Reborn. He Set a monster and Set a Spell or Trap.

Alvarado’s hand was Dimensional Prison, Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, Mind Control, Mystical Shine Ball, The Agent of Miracles – Jupiter, and Mirror Force. He Set Shine Ball and Mirror Force.

Esteves Set another monster as time was called. Five more turns after this one would determine the outcome of this Duel.

Alvarado drew Breaker the Magical Warrior. He Normal Summoned Fossil Dyna, and Esteves sent Effect Veiler from his hand to his Graveyard to negate Fossil Dyna’s effect. Both Duelists had 8000 Life Points. Alvarado attacked with Fossil Dyna, destroying Esteves’ XX-Saber Emmersblade: he used its effect to Special Summon XX-Saber Fulhelmknight from his Deck. Alvarado moved to Main Phase 2, Flip Summoned Mystical Shine Ball, then took Fulhelmknight with Mind Control. He Tuned it to Shine Ball for Ally of Justice Catastor, but lost out to Royal Oppression! Alvarado Set Dimensional Prison.

Esteves activated Giant Trunade, bouncing Alvarado’s Traps back to his hand. He Summoned another Emmersblade and destroyed Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo with an attack. He Set a Spell or Trap, like the Royal Oppression again, to end his turn.

Alvarado drew Archlord Kristya. He Normal Summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, and activated its effect to destroy Esteves’ Royal Oppression! He Set his Mirror Force and Prison again, ending.

This was Esteves’ last turn of the Match, and the Duel stood at 7900 Life Points to 7200, with Alvarado just barely leading. He activated Pot of Duality, choosing Boggart Knight over Solemn Warning and Gottoms’ Emergency Call. He Summoned Boggart Knight, Flip Summoned Darksoul, and attacked into Mirror Force! In the End Phase, he used Darksoul to search out XX-Saber Emmersblade. Next turn Alvarado passed his turn, and won the Duel on Life Points.

Anthony Alvarado costs himself the first Duel, but comes back to win the second and wins the third due to time. Alvarado moves on 4-0 with his planetary deck!