Welcome to the Top 32! We’ve got Portland’s Christopher Mastenbrook here, battling against Toronto’s own Sorosh Saberian. Only one Duelist can move ahead from this Duel, so they’re going to give it all they’ve got!

Mastenbrook Set three to his back row.

Saberian lead off the Top 32 with a hand of Genex Undine, Mermail Abysslinde, Tragoedia, Spiritual Water Art – Aoi, Torrential Tribute, and Salvage. He Normal Summoned Undine and sent Atlantean Marksman to the Graveyard. He put Genex Controller in his hand, and Marksman targeted a Set card which was Chained: Legacy of Yata-Garasu! Then Mastenbrook Chained Threatening Roar and Accumulated Fortune! Saberian Set Aoi and Torrential Tribute.

In Mastenbrook’s Standby Phase he played Aoi, Tributing Undine to reveal Pot of Duality, Ojama Trio, Just Desserts, Wattcobra, Reckless Greed, and 2 copies of One Day of Peace. After some thought, Saberian chose Reckless Greed to be discarded. Mastenbrook played Wattcobra and Saberian destroyed it with Torrential Tribute. In Main Phase 2 Mastenbrook played Duality to reveal Secret Barrel, Magic Cylinder , and Lava Golem. He took the Barrel and played One Day of Peace, giving Saberian Atlantean Dragoons.

Saberian drew Abyss-sphere. He Set it and Abysslinde.

Mastenbrook played another Duality, choosing Swift Scarecrow instead of Lava Golem or Legacy of Yata-Garasu. He Set four to his back row.

Saberian drew Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He Normal Summoned Genex Controller, then Flip Summoned Abysslinde. Mastenbrook responded with Just Desserts, Secret Barrel, and Ojama Trio. In response to Trio, Saberian played Abyss-sphere! He brought Mermail Abysspike to the field, and now there was no room for Ojama Trio to bring out its Ojama Tokens, so it failed to resolve! Just Desserts and Secret Barrel dealt 3100 combined damage. Saberian tuned Genex Controller to Abysspike for Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier! Mastenbrook responded to the Summon with Jar of Greed. Gungnir and Abysslinde attacked directly, dropping Mastenbrook to 4000 Life Points while Saberian had 4900 remaining.

Mastenbrook Tributed Gungnir and Abysslinde and handed his opponent a Lava Golem! He Set a back row card.

Saberian drew Spiritual Water Art – Aoi and took 1000 damage from Lava Golem. He played Salvage to return Undine and Marksman to his hand, then Normal Summoned Undine to send Marksman to the Graveyard. He put Controller in his hand, and Mastenbrook Chained his Ceasefire. When Saberian tried to attack directly, Mastenbrook pitched his Swift Scarecrow. Saberian Set Aoi.

When Mastenbrook drew, Saberian’s Aoi robbed him of One Day of Peace, revealing his last remaining card to be a useless Chain Strike! Next turn Saberian played Dragoons, using it and Lava Golem to finish the Duel!

Sorosh Saberian manages to overcome Christopher Mastenbrook’s burn damage, countering a potentially huge Ojama Trio play!

Duel 2

Mastenbrook played One Day of Peace, then Pot of Duality. He revealed Swift Scarecrow, Accumulated Fortune, and Chain Strike. He chose Chain Strike. He finished up by setting one back row.

Saberian had Heavy Storm, Abyss-sphere, Spiritual Water Art – Aoi, Deep Sea Diva, Mermail Abysspike, Marksman, and Mind Control. He Normal Summoned Abysspike, discarding Marksman. He added Undine to his hand, then Marksman targeted Mastenbrook’s Set Reckless Greed, which he Chained. Saberian Set Aoi and Abyss-sphere.

In the Standby Phase, Saberian played Aoi. He revealed 2 Scarecrows, 2 Secret Barrels, One Day of Peace, Lava Golem, and Chain Strike. He pitched One Day of Peace. Mastenbrook Set three back row. Saberian played Abyss-sphere to bring Abysslinde out, and at the End Phase Abyss-sphere and Abysslinde were destroyed, and Saberian Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike. Saberian discarded Undine to add Undine to his hand.

Saberian drew Mermail Abyssmegalo. He played Heavy Storm to force Mastenbrook to play his burn cards early: Mastenbrook Chained Secret Barrel, then Chain Strike, then Secret Barrel, dealing a total of 3600 damage. (Chain Strike cannot be activated with multiple cards/effects of the same name in the Chain, but once it is already played, other cards sharing names can be played. That’s why the second Secret Barrel could be played as the last Chain Link.)

Saberian Normal Summoned Undine to put Dragoons in the Graveyard, adding Genex Controller and Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord to his hand. He Special Summoned Moulinglacia, discarding Lava Golem and Swift Scarecrow. He attacked with Undine, Moulinglacia, and Abysspike, dropping Mastenbrook to 2400 Life Points. He Set Mind Control.

Mastenbrook passed.

Saberian drew Dragoons. He Normal Summoned Genex Controller and tuned it to Abysspike for Gungnir, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, and Mastenbrook used Swift Scarecrow in the Battle Phase. Pass

Mastenbrook passed.

Saberian drew Atlantean Heavy Infantry and attacked into another Swift Scarecrow.

Mastenbrook Tributed Moulinglacia and Gungnir for Lava Golem! Saberian wouldn’t be able to attack next turn because of Moulinglacia.

Saberian drew Salvage and took 1000 damage from Lava Golem. He Tributed it and Undine to Normal Summon Abyssmegalo.

Mastenbrook could only Set a card to his back row.

Saberian drew Dark Hole. He Normal Summoned Diva and brought Marksman to the field. Marksman attacked directly, and Mastenbrook activated Jar of Greed, hoping to draw something to keep himself alive, but it was no good! Saberian attacked with everything to take the Match!

Sorosh Saberian is moving to the Top 16 with Mermails!

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