Adam Ginsberg and Frazier Smith are both currently undefeated with 7-0 records. Ginsberg chose to use Gravekeepers in the tournament because of its strong matchup against Inzektors, Chaos Dragons, and Wind-Ups, and now he’s Dueling in one of the Matchups that he considers his best. Frazier Smith popularized Gravekeepers by winning YCS Atlanta after the release of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, but this weekend he’s using Wind-Ups, and Ginsberg is pitting Gravekeepers against him. Only one of these Duelists will advance to Round 9 with a perfect 8-0 record!

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Duel One

Smith Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon Sangan from his Deck. Then he activated Instant Fusion to Special Summon Charubin the Fire Knight from his Extra Deck and combined Cherubin with Tour Guide to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity. Next, he detached Tour Guide to Special Summon Wind-Up Hunter from his Deck, and used Hunter’s effect to Tribute Zenmaity and send Dimensional Prison from Ginsberg’s hand to his Graveyard. Then he combined Hunter with Sangan to make another Zenmaity, detached Hunter to Special Summon Wind-Up Rat from his Deck. He used Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Hunter from his Graveyard. He Tributed Zenmaity to send Solemn Warning to Ginsberg’s Graveyard, and then Xyz Summoned another Zenmaity and used its effect to Special Summon another Rat. He used Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Hunter back to the field and used his Hunter’s effect to send a Necrovalley from Ginsberg’s hand to his Graveyard by Tributing Zenmaity. Finally, he combined Wind-Up Rat with Wind-Up Hunter to Xyz Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon, and detached Wind-Up Hunter to give it 500 extra ATK. He Set 2 cards to his back row before passing.

Ginsberg drew a card, starting off his first turn with Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Book of Moon, and Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. He discarded the Commandant to get a Necrovalley from his Deck and then activated it. He Set Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and Book of Moon before ending his turn.

Smith detached an Xyz Material from Number 17: Leviathan Dragon and attacked; but Ginsberg flipped Book of Moon to put Number 17: Leviathan Dragon face-down. Smith Set a monster before passing.

Ginsberg drew Pot of Duality and used it to add a Torrential Tribute to his hand. He Set the Torrential and passed.

Smith Flip Summoned his Leviathan Dragon and attacked Ginsberg’s face-down Gravekeeper’s Recruiter. Gravekeeper’s Recruiter survived the battle with 2000 DEF. Next, Smith activated Mind Control to take control of Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Flip Summoned his Snowman Eater, destroying his own Leviathan Dragon with its effect. He combined Snowman Eater with Gravekeeper’s Recruiter to Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines and then attacked directly with it.

Ginsberg drew another Pot of Duality and used it to reveal Gravekeeper’s Descendant, Solemn Warning, and Gozen Match from the top of his Deck. He took the Descendant and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Ginsberg Set Descendant and then ended his turn.

Smith switched Wind-Up Zenmaines to Defense Position and passed.

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Spy and Set it.

Smith Set a monster and passed.

Ginsberg drew Starlight Road and Set it.

Smith Summoned Wind-Up Rabbit and Flip Summoned Wind-Up Shark. He used his Shark’s effect to make it a Level 3 monster and then combined his Rabbit and his Shark to Summon Number 30: Acid Golem! He switched Zenmaines into Attack Position and entered his Battle Phase. Acid Golem attacked and destroyed Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and then Frazier attacked Ginsberg’s face-down Gravekeeper’s Spy with Zenmaines. Its effect activated, and Smith activated Solemn Warning by paying 2000 Life Points to negate its effect and destroy Gravekeeper’s Spy.

Ginsberg drew Royal Tribute and Set it.

Smith attacked directly with Number 30: Acid Golem and Wind-Up Zenmaines, dropping Ginsberg down to 2000 Life Points.

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Stele next turn. He flipped his face-down Royal Tribute, forcing Smith to discard Wind-Up Rat from his hand and reveal Monster Reborn. Then he activated his Gravekeeper’s Stele to return Gravekeeper’s Spy and Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Graveyard to his hand. He Set Spy and passed.

Smith used Book of Moon to put his Acid Golem face-down in the Draw Phase in order to prevent its effect from activating in his Standby Phase.

Then he Flip Summoned Acid Golem and switched Wind-Up Zenmaines into Attack Position. Zenmaines attacked Ginsberg’s face-down Gravekeeper’s Spy, and Smith used Solemn Warning to negate its effect and destroy it by dropping down to 1000 Life Points. A direct attack from Acid Golem finished Ginsberg off!

Adam Ginsberg tries to fight back in Duel 1 after Frazier Smith sends 3 of his cards to the Graveyard with Wind-Up Hunter on the first turn, but he’s eventually defeated by Smith’s Number 30: Acid Golem! Adam Ginsberg will be going first in Duel 2!

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Duel Two

Ginsberg opened up Duel 2 with Gravekeeper’s Commandant, Fiendish Chain, Mystical Space Typhoon, Necrovalley, Pot of Duality, and Torrential Tribute. He activated Pot of Duality to reveal Gravekeeper’s Spy, Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Gravekeeper’s Stele from the top of his Deck and added the Spy to his hand. He Set Gravekeeper’s Spy, Torrential Tribute, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Fiendish Chain, activated Necrovalley, and ended his turn.

Smith Summoned Wind-Up Rabbit, activated Messenger of Peace, and Set 2 back rows. He lost Solemn Warning to Ginsberg’s Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Ginsberg drew Book of Moon next turn. He Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy and used its effect to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Deck; but Smith flipped Bottomless Trap Hole to banish the Descendant. Ginsberg Set Book of Moon before ending his turn.

Smith paid 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace and then activated Heavy Storm. Ginsberg Chained Book of Moon to put his Spy face-down and all other Spells and Traps were destroyed. Next, Smith Summoned Wind-Up Rat and combined it with his Rabbit to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity. He detached Rabbit to Special Summon Wind-Up Rat from his Deck with his Zenmaity’s effect and then used Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Rabbit from his Graveyard. He combined his Rat with his Rabbit to Summon another Zenmaity and then activated its effect by detaching Wind-Up Rabbit from it. He Special Summoned Wind-Up Rat and activated its effect to Special Summon Rabbit from his Graveyard again. He combined his Rat with his Rabbit to Xyz Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon and detached an Xyz Material to give it 500 extra ATK. Leviathan Dragon attacked and destroyed Ginsberg’s face-down Gravekeeper’s Spy and Ginsberg Special Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant in Defense Position.

[Smith paid the 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace despite using Heavy Storm so that he would still have Messenger of Peace in play if Ginsberg negated the Heavy Storm with Starlight Road or Solemn Judgment.]

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Commandant next turn, adding it to the one in his hand. He sent 1 copy to the Graveyard to get a Necrovalley from his Deck, and Summoned the other. He activated Necrovalley.

Ginsberg attacked Number 17: Leviathan Dragon with Gravekeeper’s Assailant. He used his Assailant’s effect to switch Leviathan Dragon to Defense Position, allowing his Assailant to destroy it. Next, Gravekeeper’s Commandant attacked and destroyed a Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity. Ginsberg combined his Gravekeeper’s monsters to Summon Number 39: Utopia in Main Phase 2.

Smith detached the last Xyz Material from Zenmaity to Special Summon Wind-Up Rabbit from his Deck. He activated Messenger of Peace and passed.

Ginsberg drew Compulsory Evacuation Device and Set it.

Smith paid 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace and then Normal Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld! He activated its effect to Special Summon Sangan and then combined Tour Guide with Sangan to Summon Temtempo! He activated its effect to detach an Xyz Material from Number 39: Utopia, and Ginsberg flipped Compulsory Evacuation Device to return Temtempo to Smith’s Extra Deck in the End Phase.

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and Set it.

Smith paid 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace and Set a card to his back row before passing.

Ginsberg Set Torrential Tribute and passed.

Smith paid 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace and then Summoned another Tour Guide! He activated its effect to Special Summon Tour Guide from his Deck and then Combined his Tour Guides to Summon Temtempo the Percussion Djinn back to the field! Ginsberg flipped Torrential Tribute, but Smith negated it with Royal Decree! Smith used Temtempo’s effect to detach an Xyz Material from Utopia and then attacked Utopia with Wind-Up Rabbit to destroy it.

Ginsberg drew Royal Tribute and Set it.

Smith chose not to pay 100 Life Points with Messenger of Peace and then switched all of his monsters into Attack Position. Temtempo attacked and destroyed Ginsberg’s face-down Recruiter, allowing him to get another Recruiter from his Deck. Rabbit and Zenmaity attacked directly, dropping Ginsberg down to 5100 Life Points. Smith Set a back row and passed.

Ginsberg drew Solemn Warning and Set it. He Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and destroyed Zenmaity by attacking with it.

Smith attacked Gravekeeper’s Recruiter with Temtempo, destroying it and allowing Ginsberg to grab a Gravekeeper’s Recruiter from his Deck. Next, Wind-Up Rabbit attacked directly, dropping Ginsberg to 3200 Life Points.

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Stele and used it to add Gravekeeper’s Assailant and Gravekeeper’s Spy from his Graveyard to his hand. He Set the Spy and passed.

Smith Set a back row and passed.

Ginsberg Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Spy and used its effect to Special Summon Gravekeeper’s Descendant from his Deck. He Tributed the Spy to destroy Smith’s face-down Book of Moon and then Normal Summoned Gravekeeper’s Assailant. Gravekeeper’s Assailant attacked and destroyed Temtempo by switching it into Defense Position, and then Gravekeeper’s Descendant attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Ginsberg Tributed Gravekeeper’s Assailant to destroy Smith’s Royal Decree. He Set Compulsory Evacuation Device before ending his turn.

Smith activated Dark Hole and used his Rabbit’s effect to banish the Rabbit until his next turn.

Ginsberg drew Gozen Match next turn and Set it along with a Recruiter.

Smith Set a card to his back row and passed after returning his Rabbit to the field.

Ginsberg Set Deck Devastation Virus and passed.

Smith Set a back row and passed.

Ginsberg drew and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Dimensional Prison, Gravekeeper’s Commandant, and Necrovalley from the top of his Deck. He added the Commandant to his hand and shuffled the other 2 cards back into his Deck. Next, he Flip Summoned Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, and Smith flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Ginsberg’s face-down Solemn Warning. Then, Smith flipped another Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy a face-down Royal Tribute. He attacked with his Recruiter, and Smith used his Rabbit’s effect to banish it, taking the attack as direct damage.

Smith returned his Rabbit to the field next turn and then Normal Summoned Wind-Up Magician; but Ginsberg flipped up Gozen Match.

Smith Chained Torrential Tribute! Smith Chained his Rabbit’s effect to the Torrential, and then Chained Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror to the Rabbit’s effect. Rabbit was banished, the field was cleared, and Recruiter’s effect was negated by Shadow-Imprisoning Mirror.

Ginsberg Summoned Gravekeeper’s Commandant and attacked directly to drop Smith down to 1000 Life Points.

Smith conceded on his next turn, unable to take down the Commandant.

Adam Ginsberg takes a slow victory in Duel 2 to push the Match to a third Duel!

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Duel Three

Smith started off Duel 3 by activating Prohibition naming Necrovalley and Setting a monster.

Ginsberg opened up with Gravekeeper’s Recruiter, Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, Gozen Match, Gravekeeper’s Spy, and 2 copies of Gravekeeper’s Stele. He Set his Fossil Dyna and Gozen Match before passing.

Smith used Mind Control to take control of Ginsberg’s face-down Fossil Dyna. Then he Flip Summoned Wind-Up Magician and Ginsberg flipped Gozen Match to prevent Smith from Flip Summoning Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo! Smith attacked directly with Wind-Up Magician and Ginsberg lost 600 Life Points. Smith Set a monster and activated Prohibition in Main Phase 2, this time naming Gravekeeper’s Spy.

Ginsberg drew Necrovalley and time in the round was called! He Flip Summoned Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and attacked over Wind-Up Magician to tie up the Duel! Ginsberg Set Gravekeeper’s Recruiter and passed.

Smith activated Heavy Storm to clear the back rows and then Flip Summoned Wind-Up Magician. He Normal Summoned Wind-Up Rat and activated its effect to Special Summon Magician from his Graveyard. His other Magician’s effect activated to Special Summon Wind-Up Hunter from his Deck. He Tributed Wind-Up Magician for Hunter’s effect to send Gravekeeper’s Spy from Ginsberg’s hand to his Graveyard. Next, also used his Magician’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Rabbit from his Deck. He combined his Rat with his Hunter to Summon Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity and used its effect by detaching Wind-Up Hunter to Special Summon another Wind-Up Rat from his Deck. He used the Rat’s effect to Special Summon Wind-Up Hunter, and used Hunter to Tribute Wind-Up Magician and send Necrovalley from Ginsberg’s hand to his Graveyard. Next, Smith combined his Rat and Hunter to make another Zenmaity and used its effect to Special Summon another Rat from his Deck. He used its effect to return Wind-Up Hunter to the field and used Hunter’s effect to Tribute Wind-Up Carrier Zenmaity and force Ginsberg to send his last in-hand card – Gravekeeper’s Stele – from his hand to his Graveyard. Next, Smith activated the effect of his Rabbit to banish his Rat, and combined Rabbit with Hunter to Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon.

He detached an Xyz Material from Number 17: Leviathan Dragon and attacked Ginsberg’s face-down Gravekeeper’s Recruiter with it. Ginsberg grabbed a Commandant from his Deck with his Recruiter’s effect. Next, Zenmaity attacked Ginsberg.

Ginsberg drew Gravekeeper’s Descendant. He pitched the Commandant to grab a Necrovalley and activate it, and then Normal Summoned Gravekeeper’s Descendant. He attacked over Zenmaity with his Descendant and passed his turn.

Smith returned Wind-Up Rat to his field and then detached an Xyz Material from Number 17: Leviathan Dragon to give it 500 extra ATK. He attacked over Gravekeeper’s Descendant, and Ginsberg conceded on his next turn with only 5400 Life Points to Smith’s 6900 Life Points in overtime!

Frazier Smith takes a narrow 2-1 victory over Adam Ginsberg to advance with an 8-0 record going into Round 9!