Oscar Zelaya from Dallas and Dominique Eskridge from Austin are Dueling against one another in this Top 16 Feature Match! Eskridge is using a Dino Rabbit Deck that traditionally has a favorable matchup against Mermails, and Oscar Zelaya is using the Mermail Deck that Eskridge’s Deck is built to beat. Stakes have never been higher for these two Duelists, as the winner of this Match will advance to the Top 8, while the other Duelist is eliminated!

Duel One

Eskridge opened up with Mirror Force, Monster Reborn, 2 copies of Bottomless Trap Hole, and 2 copies of Kabazauls. He Set Kabazauls along with Bottomless Trap Hole and Mirror Force before passing his first turn.

Zelaya discarded Atlantean Marksman to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus. He grabbed Mermail Abyssgunde with Abyssteus’s effect, and targeted Bottomless Trap Hole with Atlantean Marksman; but Eskridge Chained Bottomless Trap Hole to banish Mermail Abyssteus. Zelaya discarded Mermail Abysslinde and Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo next. He added Abyss-sphere from his Deck to his hand with the effect of his Abyssmegalo and Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde with the effect of Mermail Abyssgunde. Zelaya Normal Summoned another Abysslinde, and then attacked Eskridge’s face-down Kabazauls with his Abyssmegalo. Direct attacks from both Abysslindes dropped Eskridge down to 5000 Life Points. Zelaya combined his Abysslindes to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Zenmaines in Defense Position and then Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Eskridge drew Cardcar D next turn. He Normal Summoned Kabazauls and then used Monster Reborn to Special Summon another Kabazauls from his Graveyard. He combined both Kabazauls to Xyz Summon Number 50: Blackship of Corn. He activated Blackship’s effect to send Wind-Up Zenmaines to the Graveyard and deal 1000 points of damage to Zelaya. Eskridge Set Bottomless Trap Hole before ending his turn.

Zelaya Summoned Atlantean Dragoons next turn; but Eskridge banished it with Bottomless Trap Hole. Next, Zelaya attacked and destroyed Number 50: Blackship of Corn using his Abyssmegalo.

Eskridge drew another Cardcar D and Tributed it to draw Heavy Storm and Sabersaurus.

Zelaya Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. He attacked directly with his Mermail Abysslinde and his Mermail Abyssmegalo, and then activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck. A direct attack from Mermail Abyssleed finished Eskridge off!

Dominique Eskridge doesn’t get the cards he needs in Duel 1, allowing Oscar Zelaya to quickly defeat him with Mermails! Eskridge will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Eskridge opened up Duel 2 with Maxx “C”, Tour Guide From the Underworld, Monster Reborn, Vanity’s Emptiness, Tragoedia, and Mirror Force. He Set Mirror Force and then ended his turn.

Zelaya activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Mirror Force and then Summoned Mermail Abysspike. He discarded Atlantean Dragoons and added Snowman Eater to his hand with Abysspike’s effect. Next, he added Deep Sea Diva to his hand with the effect of Atlantean Dragoons. Zelaya attacked directly with his Mermail Abysspike. Zelaya Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Eskridge drew Sabersaurus and Summoned it. He attacked and destroyed Mermail Abysspike with Sabersaurus. He Set Vanity’s Emptiness. Zelaya activated Abyss-sphere in Main Phase 2 to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde. In his End Phase, Abyss-sphere and Mermail Abysslinde were destroyed, and Zelaya Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck.

Zelaya activated Heavy Storm to destroy Vanity’s Emptiness. He Summoned Deep Sea Diva next, and activated its effect. Eskridge Chained Maxx “C” and drew a card when Atlantean Marksman was Summoned. Next, Zelaya Tributed Deep Sea Diva to activated Abyssmegalo’s effect. Atlantean Marksman attacked, allowing Zelaya to recruit Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck. Eskridge drew another card. Dragoons attacked directly next, and Eskridge Special Summoned Tragoedia in Defense Position. Eskridge Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Eskridge activated Heavy Storm to destroy Zelaya’s face-down Royal Decree. Next, he Normal Summoned Jurrac Guaiba. He attacked Atlantean Marksman with Jurrac Guaiba to destroy it and used his Guaiba’s effect to Special Summon another Guaiba from his Deck. Eskridge combined both Guaibas to Xyz Summon Evolzar Dolkka and then used his Tragoedia’s effect to copy the Level of the Sabersaurus in his Graveyard. Next, he used Monster Reborn to revive Sabersaurus. He combined Sabersaurus with Tragoedia to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller and then Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Zelaya attacked and destroyed Evolzar Dolkka with Abyssmegalo. He Set a monster and passed.

Eskridge Summoned Tour Guide From the Underworld and activated its effect to Special Summon another Tour Guide from his Deck. Next, he combined both Tour Guides to Xyz Summon Number 17: Leviathan Dragon. He detached an Xyz Material from Number 17: Leviathan Dragon to boost it by 500 ATK and then attacked Mermail Abyssmegalo to destroy it. Next, Abyss Dweller attacked Atlantean Dragoons. Eskridge didn’t realize it only had 1700 ATK, so he lost his monster along with 100 Life Points. Eskridge Set 2 back rows before ending his turn.

Zelaya activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Eskridge’s face-down Dimensional Prison and then Flip Summoned Snowman Eater to destroy Number 17: Leviathan Dragon. Atlantean Dragoons attacked directly, dropping Eskridge down to 2200 Life Points.

Eskridge drew Kabazauls and Summoned it. He attacked Snowman Eater to destroy it and deal 1700 points of damage to Zelaya.

Zelaya attacked and destroyed Kabazauls with Atlantean Dragoons. He Set Dust Tornado before ending his turn.

Eskridge Set Dimensional Prison and Zelaya destroyed it with Dust Tornado in the End Phase.

Zelaya attacked directly with Atlantean Dragoons and Set Abyss-sphere.

Eskridge activated Mystical Space Typhoon to target Zelaya’s face-down Abyss-sphere, and when Zelaya Chained the Abyss-sphere Eskridge instantly conceded.

Oscar Zelaya is moving on to the Top 8!