Victor Santana is 6-2 so far today, coming off a win in the last round. Both of these Duelists are clinging to life in this tournament. A 10-2 finish by the end of the twelve rounds of Swiss competition may qualify a Duelist for the top 64, but a 9-3 finisher will have a much harder time. Everything was on the line from here on out.

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Duel One

Garcia started off the Match Summoning Inzektor Centipede. He equipped it with Inzektor Hopper from his hand, but when he used Hopper’s effect to send Hopper to the Graveyard, Santana Chained Effect Veiler’s ability to shut down Centipede’s effect. Garcia had aimed to send Hopper to the Graveyard, strictly to trigger Centipede’s search, but Veiler shut him down. Garcia Set a card to his back row.

Santana had a hand of Dark Hole, Evoltile Westlo, Effect Veiler, Evoltile Najasho, Solemn Judgment, and Starlight Road. He destroyed Centipede with Dark Hole, then Set Westlo, Solemn, and Starlight Road. He lost Solemn Judgment in his End Phase to Garcia’s Mystical Space Typhoon.

Garcia Summoned Inzektor Hopper, then sent Inzektor Hornet from his Deck to his Graveyard with Foolish Burial. He equipped then used Hornet to destroy Starlight Road. Hopper attacked into Westlo, letting Santana Special Summon Evolsaur Diplo from his Deck, destroying Garcia’s Set Fiendish Chain. Garcia had one card left in hand; it was Inzektor Giga-Mantis, and he equipped it to Hopper to end his turn.

Santana drew Evo-Force. He Set Najasho, Tributed it for Evo-Force, and used his two Special Summon effects to Summon Evolsaur Cerato, then another Diplo from his Deck. Diplo’s effect destroyed Giga-Mantis, letting Garcia Special Summon Hornet in Defense Position with its effect. Santana stacked his two Diplos to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaister, turning Westlo face-down. Santana then Flip Summoned Westlo, Special Summoning again! He Special Summoned Evolsaur Vulcano, which Special Summoned back Diplo! Santana stacked Diplo and Vulcano for Evolzar Laggia, then attacked with Cerato over Hopper, dishing out 500 damage and fetching Evoltile Westlo from his Deck with Cerato’s effect. Westlo attacked Hornet, and Laggia made a direct attack for 2400 Battle Damage. Zenmaister attacked next. Garcia had 2800 Life Points left, no cards, and was conceding moments later.

A solid opening turns into some serious Evoltile insanity, as a topdecked Evo-Force lets Victor Santana erupt with an explosive string of Special Summon combos! One more win like that would keep Santana alive in this tournament.

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Duel Two

Garcia Set a monster, then Set a card to his back row.

Santana had Pot of Duality, Evolsaur Diplo, Heavy Storm, Chain Disappearance, Evo-Force, and Enemy Controller. Duality revealed Evolsaur Vulcano, Evolsaur Cerato, and Torrential Tribute from the top of his Deck; Santana added Cerato to his hand. He Summoned it, and attacked to destroy Inzektor Dragonfly. He Set Chain Disappearance.

Garcia Summoned Inzektor Centipede, then equipped it with Inzektor Sword – Zektkaliber! Centipede – buffed to 2400 ATK – attacked to destroy Cerato. Garcia Set another card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Santana drew another Cerato. After thinking a while, he passed.

Garcia activated Centipede’s effect, equipping Inzektor Hornet to destroy Santana’s Chain Disappearance. Garcia searched his Deck for Dragonfly, equipping it with Hornet. He destroyed his own Sword with Hornet, triggering the Sword’s effect and Dragonfly’s ability; he Special Summoned a second Centipede, and returned Giga-Mantis to his hand! Garcia stacked his Dragonfly with the used Centipede, Xyz Summoning Number 17; Leviathan Dragon, and detached Dragonfly to boost Leviathan to 2500 ATK. Centipede equipped Hornet and Giga-Mantis, Garcia destroyed Giga-Mantis with Hornet, then Special Summoned Dragonfly from his Graveyard. Two Centipede effects let him get two Swords from his Deck, and another Centipede later, a second Leviathan let Garcia seal the deal! He wound up with a field of two Leviathans, a Giga-Brilliant, and Inzektor Hopper.

Micah Garcia evens the score, creating a devastating string of combos that surpassed even that which defeated him in the previous Duel! The pressure was on!

Duel Three

Santana opened the last Duel with a hand of Pot of Duality, Chain Disappearance, Evolsaur Diplo, Enemy Controller, and two Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror. He activated Duality to reveal Evoltile Westlo, Evoltile Diplo, and Heavy Storm, and instantly took the Westlo! As long as Garcia didn’t have a Heavy Storm, business was about to pick up! Santana Set Westlo, Chain Disappearance, and both copies of Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror.

Garcia had the Heavy Storm he needed! Santana lost all three of his Trap Cards! Garcia Summoned Inzektor Hornet, equipped it with Giga-Mantis, and smacked into Evoltile Westlo to destroy it; Santana Special Summoned Evolsaur Diplo to destroy Giga-Mantis. Garcia destroyed Diplo with Smashing Ground, then Set a card to his back row.

Santana Summoned another Diplo, running over Hornet and Setting Enemy Controller. He’d drawn Effect Veiler.

Garcia destroyed Diplo with another Smashing Ground! He Set a second back row.

Santana drew Heavy Storm and passed.

Garcia got Inzektor Centipede with Pot of Duality, and tried to equip it with Hornet, but lost out to Veiler. He made a direct attack with Centipede.

Santana drew Evolsaur Cerato, and wiped the field with Heavy Storm! It destroyed Garcia’s Fiendish Chain and Forbidden Lance. Cerato attacked over Centipede.

Garcia Set a Spell or Trap.

Santana drew and Set Evo-Force, attacking with Cerato directly.

Garcia flipped Mystical Space Typhoon next turn to destroy Evo-Force, and Summoned Inzektor Hopper to equip Giga-Mantis, attacking over Cerato.

Santana drew and Set a card to his back row.

Garcia blew that card away – Torrential Tribute – with Inzektor Hornet. Hopper attacked. It was all over two turns later, as Hopper repeatedly equipped Hornet to blast through Santana’s topdecked cards.

A promising opening for Victor Santana sours under the pressure of a devastating three-card Heavy Storm, and despite a valiant effort, Santana just can’t quite fight back. Micah Garcia moves on with a 7-2 record!