In a Swiss tournament like this one, Duelists are paired against competitors with similar win/loss ratios. As the competition gets tougher and tougher, players are seated at lower and lower table numbers; the Duelists with the best records are seated at, or closest to, Table 1. A quick survey of the top tables is a great way to get an idea of which Decks are currently the most successful. We’re halfway through the eight Swiss Rounds we’ll see played here in Day 1, so now’s the perfect time to take a look at what’s being played by the best-ranked Duelists so far, here in Round 5. Here’s the spread:

Table 1:

Christopher Csikortos with Tengu Synchro

Versus

Christopher DiGregorio with Tengu Synchro

Table 2:

Robert Carafotes with Gravekeepers

Versus

Albertus Jackson with Chaos Piper

Table 3:

Anthony Alvarado with Hyperion Agents

Versus

Michael Egna with Karakuris

Table 4:

Sean Turner with Samurais

Versus

Cody Bodnar with Zombies

Table 5:

Patrick Clarey with Scraps

Versus

Luke Mattingly with Hyperion / Herald of Perfection

Table 6:

James Johnson with Tengu Synchro

Versus

Reinaldo Jose Lainez Diaz with Infernities

Table 7:

Guillermo Morales with Scraps

Versus

Steffon Bizzel with Tengu Synchro

Table 8:

Peter Nguyen with Frog Monarchs

Versus

Ryan Williams with X-Sabers

Table 9:

Gaetan Georges with Tengu Synchro

Versus

Ryan Bregoli with Scraps

Table 10:

Brian Ford with Samurais

Versus

Anthony Pascariello with Gravekeepers

Tengu Synchro is extremely successful today, and builds packing Tour Guide of the Underworld are making a big impression. Scraps are also performing really well, thanks to new cards Meklord Emperor Grannel and Scrap Orthros. Samurais and Gravekeepers remain strong, popular choices, while rogue strategies like Infernities and a lone Chaos Piper Deck are still undefeated.

The field here is extremely varied: whether or not that’ll result in a wide array of Decks in the Top 32 like it did at YCS Orlando remains to be seen, but we could see another wide open field in the playoff rounds tomorrow.