Desmond Johnson from Atlanta finished the Swiss rounds with a 9-1-1 record using Karakuris, and Alejandro Ahearn from Boston finished the Swiss rounds with a 9-2 record using Mermails. Now, these 2 Duelists are Dueling against one another in a Match that will determine who advances to the Top 16!

Duel One

Johnson opened up with De-Synchro, Mystical Space Typhoon, Fiendish Chain, Psychic Commander, Solar Wind Jammer, and Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu”.

He Special Summoned Solar Wind Jammer and then Normal Summoned Psychic Commander. He Tuned them together to Synchro Summon Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X “Bureido” and then used Bureido’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi” in Attack Position. Next, he Normal Summoned Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu” and Tuned it with Komachi to Synchro Summon Karakuri Shogun mdl 00 “Burei”. He used Burei’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” from his Deck in Defense Position. He used his Strategist’s effect to switch it into Attack Position and draw a card with Bureido’s effect. Next, he activated De-Synchro to trade in his Bureido for Solar Wind Jammer and Psychic Commander. He Tuned them back together to Synchro Summon Bureido again, and used its effect to Special Summon Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi” from his Deck. He used his Burei’s effect to switch his Merchant into Attack Position and draw a card with Bureido. Next, Johnson Tuned his Merchant with his Strategist to Synchro Summon Naturia Beast. He Set Solemn Warning and Fiendish Chain before ending his turn.

Ahearn discarded Atlantean Dragoons to Synchro Summon Mermail Abyssteus. He used Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abysslinde to his hand. He used the effect of Atlantean Dragoons to add Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand. Johnson discarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry and Mermail Abysspike to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo. He used his Abyssmegalo’s effect to add Abyss-squall from his Deck to his hand and used the effect of Atlantean Heavy Infantry to destroy Bureido. Next, Ahearn combined his Abyssmegalo with Abyssteus to try to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye. Johnson activated Fiendish Chain to pin down Number 11: Big Eye. Johnson Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde next. He attacked Naturia Beast, losing 700 Life Points and his Abysslinde. He activated Abysslinde’s effect to try to Special Summon a Mermail from his Deck, but Johnson flipped Solemn Warning and negated its effect by giving up 2000 Life Points. Ahearn detached an Xyz Material from Number 11: Big Eye to activate its effect (even though its effect was negated by Fiendish Chain) and then Set 2 cards to his back row.

Johnson drew another Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi” next turn. He used Burei’s effect to switch Number 11: Big Eye into Defense Position and then attacked Big Eye with Naturia Beast to destroy it. Next, Burei attacked directly, dropping Ahearn down to 4700 Life Points. Johnson activated Mystical Space Typhoon next, targeting Ahearn’s face-down Abyss-sphere. Ahearn Chained it to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde, and when the Abyss-sphere was destroyed, Mermail Abysslinde went down with it. Ahearn Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck with the effect of Mermail Abysslinde. Next, Johnson Summoned his Ninishi and Tuned it with Naturia Beast to Synchro Summon Scrap Dragon. Next, he used his Scrap Dragon’s effect to destroy his own Burei along with Ahearn’s face-down Abyss-squall.

Ahearn activated Pot of Avarice next turn! He sent Number 11: Big Eye, Atlantean Dragoons, Atlantean Heavy Infantry, and 2 copies of Mermail Abysslinde back to his Deck to draw 2 cards.

Ahearn Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and attacked Scrap Dragon with it. He lost 1300 Life Points and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck with its effect. In Main Phase 2, he combined his Abyssmegalo with Abyssleed to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye, and used his Big Eye’s effect to take control of Scrap Dragon.

Johnson drew Night Beam and used it to destroy Ahearn’s face-down Solemn Warning.

Ahearn entered his Battle Phase and then flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck. Direct attacks from Abysslinde, Scrap Dragon, and Big Eye finished Johnson off!

Johnson has an explosive start, but Ahearn fights back to win the first Duel! Desmond Johnson will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Johnson opened up Duel 2 with Psychic Commander, Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi”, Bottomless Trap Hole, Monster Reborn, and 2 copies of Emergency Teleport.

Johnson Set Bottomless Trap Hole and then ended his turn.

Ahearn discarded Atlantean Marksman to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus and used his Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck to his hand. He Set a card to each zone and then passed.

Johnson drew Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi”.  He Set both copies of Emergency Teleport and then ended his turn.

Ahearn Flip Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and attacked directly with it, dropping Johnson down to 6500 Life Points.

Johnson drew Solar Wind Jammer and Special Summoned it! He Normal Summoned Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi” and used its effect to Normal Summon Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi”. He used his Strategist’s effect to switch his Komachi into Defense Position and then Tuned Solar Wind Jammer with Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi” to try to Synchro Summon Bureido; but Ahearn flipped Solemn Warning and negated its Summon! Johnson activated Monster Reborn to revive Solar Wind Jammer and then Tuned it with Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” to Synchro Summon another Bureido. He used Bureido’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu” and used 2 copies of Emergency Teleport to Special Summon 2 copies of Psychic Commander from his Deck. He Tuned his Soldier with a Psychic Commander to Synchro Summon Burei and used Burei’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick” from his Deck in Defense Position. Next, he used Burei’s effect to switch his Ninja into Attack Position and draw a card with Bureido.

Next, Johnson attacked Mermail Abysslinde with his Ninja, destroying Abysslinde in battle. Abysslinde Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed from Ahearn’s Deck in Attack Position, and Johnson used his Ninja’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” from his Deck. He used his Strategist’s effect to switch Mermail Abyssleed into Defense Position. Psychic Commander attacked and destroyed Mermail Abyssleed, and then direct attacks from Burei and Bureido dropped Ahearn down to 400 Life Points. Ahearn Special Summoned Tragoedia from his hand in Defense Position. Johnson Tuned Psychic Commander with his Ninja to Synchro Summon Burei, and used Burei’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi”. He Tuned his Merchant with his Strategist to Synchro Summon Naturia Beast. Next, he combined his 2 Bureis to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye and detached an Xyz Material from Big Eye to activate its effect and take control of Tragoedia. Johnson Set Solemn Judgment before ending his turn.

Ahearn discarded Atlantean Dragoons to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus from his hand. He used his Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand, and used his Dragoons’s effect to add Deep Sea Diva from his Deck to his hand. Ahearn Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva next, and used its effect to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman. He Tuned Deep Sea Diva with Atlantean Marksman to Synchro Summon Ally of Justice Catastor and then attacked Bureido with Catastor to destroy it. Ahearn Set 2 cards to his back row before ending his turn.

Johnson drew Fiendish Chain. He Normal Summoned Psychic Commander and then detached an Xyz Material from Big Eye to take control of Catastor. He Tuned Catastor with Psychic Commander to Synchro Summon Bureido, and used Bureido’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi” from his Deck in Defense Position. He used the effect of Strategist to have it switch itself into Attack Position and draw a card with Bureido. Next, he used the effect of Tragoedia to turn it into a Level 5 monster, and Tuned Tragoedia with his Strategist to Synchro Summon Stardust Dragon! Stardust Dragon attacked and destroyed Mermail Abyssteus, and then Naturia Beast tried attacking directly. Ahearn flipped Abyss-sphere, and when Johnson activated Solemn Judgment to negate it, Ahearn conceded.

Desmond Johnson swarms the field with Synchro and Xyz Monsters to win the second Duel of the Match! Alejandro Ahearn will be going first in Duel 3!

Duel Three

Ahearn started off Duel 3 by discarded Mermail Abysspike to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus and using his Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck to his hand. He Set a monster and a back row before ending his turn.

Johnson opened up Duel 3 with Psychic Commander, Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi”, Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu”, Solemn Judgment, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Instant Fusion. He used Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Ahearn’s face-down Solemn Warning and then activated Instant Fusion. He paid 1000 Life Points and Ahearn Chained Maxx “C”! Johnson Special Summoned Cyber Saurus from his Extra Deck and Ahearn drew a card. Next, Johnson Summoned his Strategist and Tuned it with Cyber Saurus to Synchro Summon Bureido, giving Ahearn another card. He used Bureido’s effect to Special Summon a Strategist from his Deck in Defense Position, giving Ahearn another card due to the effect of Maxx “C”. Johnson drew a card with Bureido’s effect when he used his Strategist’s effect to switch his Strategist from Defense Position to Attack Position. Bureido attacked and destroyed Abssteus. Johnson Set Solemn Warning and Solemn Judgment before ending his turn.

Ahearn discarded Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus and used his Mermail Abyssteus’s effect to add Mermail Abysslinde from his Deck to his hand. Next, he used the effect of his discarded Mermail Abyssgunde to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus from his Graveyard. He combined his 2 copies of Abyssteus to try to Summon Number 11: Big Eye; but Johnson flipped Solemn Warning and gave up 2000 Life Points to negate its Summon! Ahearn activated Messenger of Peace and Set a card to his back row before passing.

Johnson drew Dimensional Fissure. He switched Strategist to Defense Position to draw a card with Bureido and then activated Dimensional Fissure. Next, he Normal Summoned Psychic Commander. Johnson attacked Ahearn’s face-down monster with Psychic Commander and Ahearn flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to try to destroy Dimensional Fissure; but Johnson flipped Solemn Judgment and gave up 2500 Life Points to negate the Mystical Space Typhoon! Psychic Commander’s attack continued, banishing Mermail Abysslinde from the Duel with Dimensional Fissure.

Ahearn paid 100 Life Points in his Standby Phase to keep Messenger of Peace on the field.

Johnson drew Solar Wind Jammer and then switched his Strategist into Attack Position to draw Bottomless Trap Hole with Bureido. He switched his Bureido into Defense Position and then attacked directly with his Strategist and Commander to drop Ahearn down to 6000 Life Points. Johnson Set Bottomless Trap Hole before ending his turn.

Ahearn paid 100 Life Points in his Standby Phase to keep Messenger of Peace on the field. He Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Johnson switched his Strategist into Defense Position to draw a card with Bureido and then Normal Summoned Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu”. He attacked Atlantean Dragoons with his Commander and paid 500 Life Points to use his Commander’s effect and win the battle. He attacked directly with his Soldier next. At this point, time in the round was called, and the Duel was set to finish after 3 more complete turns. Johnson Set Fiendish Chain before ending his turn.

Ahearn paid 100 Life Points in his Standby Phase to keep Messenger of Peace on the field. He Set a monster and passed.

Johnson drew Karakuri Merchant mdl 177 “Inashichi” and then switched his Strategist into Attack Position to draw a card with Bureido. He Tributed his Strategist for Solar Wind Jammer and then Tuned it with his Psychic Commander to Synchro Summon Scrap Dragon. Next, he Set Instant Fusion and used his Scrap Dragon’s effect to destroy his face-down Instant Fusion and Ahearn’s Messenger of Peace. Johnson switched Bureido into Attack Position. He attacked Ahearn’s face-down Mermail Abysslinde with Bureido, banishing it from the Duel, and then attacked directly with his Soldier. Ahearn flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed from his Deck; but Johnson flipped Bottomless Trap Hole to banish it. Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 “Nisamu” attacked directly, and Ahearn Special Summoned Tragoedia from his hand in Defense Position! Ahearn attacked Tragoedia with Scrap Dragon to destroy it, but Johnson couldn’t deal enough damage to get Ahearn’s Life Points below his own that turn, and offered the handshake realizing that he had lost in overtime.

Alejandro Ahearn is moving on to the Top 16 with Mermails!