24-year-old Richard Hayward traveled here from Pennsylvania to compete in YCS Miami with his Mermail Deck, featuring several of the new Mermail cards in Cosmo Blazer. Hayward is using 2 copies of Mermail Abyssteus and a copy of Mermail Abyssleed in his Main Deck, as well as a copy of Mermail Abysstrite in his Extra Deck. Unlike many of the other Mermail Duelists competing here this weekend, Hayward has also chosen to forgo using Genex Undine and Genex Controller in his Deck, in order to make room for these new monsters. His opponent, 18-year-old Robert Lamb is a Miami local competing in his first-ever YCS this weekend with an Agents Deck. This is sure to be a Match that neither of these Duelists will never forget!

Lamb started off the Match by Summoning Thunder King Rai-Oh and Setting a card to his back row.

Hayward opened up with Mystical Space Typhoon, Mermail Abyssmegalo, Mermail Abysslinde, Creature Swap, and 2 copies of Atlantean Dragoons.

He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Lamb’s face-down Mystical Space Typhoon and then Normal Summoned Abysslinde. He activated Creature Swap next, trading his Abysslinde for Lamb’s Rai-Oh. Next, Rai-Oh attacked and destroyed Abysslinde, allowing Hayward to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck! Abyssleed attacked directly, dropping Lamb down to 4900 Life Points.

Lamb Set a card to each zone and passed.

Hayward drew Deep Sea Diva next turn. He Normal Summoned it and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman from his Deck. Next, he tried to attack Lamb’s face-down monster with Rai-Oh; but Lamb activated Enemy Controller. Lamb Tributed his face-down The Agent of Miracles – Jupiter to take control of Abyssleed. Hayward ended his turn and took back Abyssleed in the End Phase.

Lamb Set a monster and passed.

Hayward drew Mirror Force next turn. He Tuned Diva with Marksman and Rai-Oh to Synchro Summon Mist Wurm and tried to return Lamb’s face-down monster to his hand with Mist Wurm’s effect; but Lamb Chained Effect Veiler to negate Mist Wurm’s effect. Next, Hayward revealed Mermail Abyssmegalo from his hand and discarded 2 copies of Atlantean Dragoons to try to Special Summon it. Lamb Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card when Abyssmegalo was Summoned; but it wasn’t enough! Hayward used the effects of his 2 Dragoons to add Deep Sea Diva and Atlantean Marksman from his Deck to his hand; then he Summoned the Marksman and Tributed it to activate Abyssmegalo’s effect and allow Abyssmegalo to attack twice. Hayward used Marksman’s effect to destroy Lamb’s face-down The Agent of Mystery – Earth, and Two direct attacks from Abyssmegalo and subsequent direct attacks from Mist Wurm and Mermail Abyssleed wiped out all 4900 of Lamb’s Life Points!

Richard Hayward takes a quick victory in Duel 1 thanks to Creature Swap and Mermail Abyssleed! Robert Lamb will be going first in Duel 2!

Lamb started off Duel 2 with Thunder King Rai-Oh, Archlord Kristya, Sangan, The Agent of Creation – Venus, Mystical Shine Ball, and Enemy Controller.

He Summoned The Agent of Creation – Venus and then paid 1000 Life Points to activate its effect twice and Special Summon 2 copies of Mystical Shine Ball from his Deck. Next, he combined both Shine Balls to Xyz Summon Gachi Gachi Gantetsu in Defense Position.

Hayward opened up Duel 2 with Monster Reborn, Torrential Tribute, Atlantean Marksman, Skill Drain, Salvage, and Abyss-sphere.

He Set Torrential Tribute, Skill Drain, and Abyss-sphere before ending his turn.

Lamb Summoned Sangan to the field.

Lamb attacked with Sangan, and Hayward flipped his Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck in Defense Position. Next, Lamb activated Enemy Controller to Tribute Sangan and take control of Abysslinde. Lamb attacked directly with Venus to drop Hayward down to 6000 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Lamb combined Venus with Abysslinde to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines. Hayward flipped Torrential Tribute when it was Summoned and Chained Skill Drain, clearing the field of Gachi Gachi Gantetsu and Zenmaines! Lamb Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Hayward drew Deep Sea Diva next turn. He Summoned Atlantean Marksman and then attacked directly with it, dropping Lamb down to 5600 Life Points.

Lamb Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh next turn and used it to attack and destroy Atlantean Marksman.

Hayward drew Dimensional Prison. He activated Salvage to return Mermail Abysslinde and Atlantean Marksman from his Graveyard to his hand and then Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. He attacked Rai-Oh with Mermail Abysslinde, destroying his own Mermail; but when he tried to use Abysslinde’s effect, Lamb discarded Herald of Orange Light from his hand along with a Mystical Shine Ball to negate its effect. Hayward activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde in Defense Position before ending his turn.

Lamb passed his turn without attacking.

Hayward drew another Deep Sea Diva next turn. He switched Mermail Abysslinde into Attack Position and attacked Rai-Oh, destroying his own Abysslinde. He lost 400 Life Points and then activated his Mermail Abysslinde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck. He attacked Rai-Oh with Abyssleed, and Lamb flipped Forbidden Lance to reduce Mermail Abyssleed down to 1900 ATK. Rai-Oh and Mermail Abyssleed were both destroyed. Hayward Set Deep Sea Diva before ending his turn.

Lamb activated Monster Reborn next turn to revive Mermail Abyssleed, and attacked Hayward’s face-down monster; but Hayward activated Dimensional Prison and banished Mermail Abyssleed.

Hayward drew Atlantean Marksman. He Flip Summoned Deep Sea Diva and then Normal Summoned Marksman. Deep Sea Diva and Marksman both attacked directly, dropping Lamb down to 4000 Life Points.

Lamb Summoned The Agent of Mystery – Earth, but its effect was negated by Skill Drain. Earth attacked and destroyed Deep Sea Diva, dropping Hayward down to 2900 Life Points.

Hayward drew Dimensional Prison next turn. He Summoned another Marksman from his hand and then attacked Earth to destroy it with Marksman. A direct attack from his second Marksman dropped Lamb down to 2200 Life Points.

Lamb banished Earth from his Graveyard to Special Summon Master Hyperion. He attacked Marksman with Master Hyperion; but Hayward flipped Dimensional Prison and banished Master Hyperion!

Hayward drew Mermail Abyssteus next turn. He Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva and Tuned it with Marksman to Synchro Summon Ally of Justice Catastor. Catastor attacked Lamb directly, wiping out Lamb’s last 2200 Life Points!

Richard Hayward is moving on with a 2-0 record!