It’s the Top 16! Anthony Eckroth made a pretty good trip from Utah to participate in YCS San Diego. Long Dao had a bit more of a trip, all the way from Austria! Both Duelists are using Mermails today. Eckroth is using a standard Mermail Deck, while Dao is using a 48-card Genex Mermail Deck!

Duel 1

Dao won the die roll, and began with Genex Undine! He sent Atlantean Dragoons to the Graveyard, then added Genex Controller and Mermail Abyssmegalo to his hand. He used Allure of Darkness next, drawing two new cards and banishing Genex Controller. He Set one to his back row.

Eckroth started off with Torrential Tribute, Abyss-sphere, Mermail Abyssmegalo, 2 Deep Sea Divas, and Mermail Abysslinde. He played Diva and Special Summoned Atlantean Marksman. It destroyed Undine, and its effect brought out Dragoons. Diva attacked, and Dao blocked with Abyss-sphere. Dao Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde, and Eckroth had Dragoons destroy it. Dao used Abysslinde’s effect to Special Summon Mermail Abysspike and discarded Mermail Abyssgunde for Abysspike’s effect. He added Undine to his hand, then Special Summoned Mermail Abysslinde. In Eckroth’s Main Phase 2, he tuned Diva to Dragoons for Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier, and returned Marksman to his hand. He Set Abyss-sphere and Torrential Tribute.

Dao played another Abysspike and discarded Marksman. Abysspike searched out another Marksman, then the discarded Marksman destroyed Eckroth’s Torrential Tribute. Dao stacked the Abysspikes for Abyss Dweller, then used Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Eckroth’s Abyss-sphere. He chose not to play it. When Dao played Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord to strip Eckroth of two cards, Eckroth conceded!

Long Dao takes the first Duel in three turns, using Moulinglacia and Abyss Dweller to take all of Eckroth’s options! Eckroth will be playing first in the second Duel.

Duel 2

Eckroth began this time with Soul Taker, Mystical Space Typhoon, Breakthrough Skill, Marksman, Abysslinde, and Atlantean Heavy Infantry. He Set Abysslinde and Breakthrough Skill.

Dao played Abysspike, discarding Atlantean Dragoons so he could search out Marksman and Mermail Abyssmegalo. Next, he discarded Dragoons and Marksman for Abyssmegalo. Marksman targeted Breakthrough Skill, which Eckroth Chained to negate Abyssmegalo. Dragoons still added a new Abyssmegalo to Dao’s hand, and he Special Summoned that, discarding Diva and Abysslinde. It added Abyss-sphere to his hand. Finally, he played Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, robbing Eckroth of Mystical Space Typhoon and Soul Taker! Abyssmegalo destroyed Eckroth’s Abysslinde. Eckroth brought Abysspike to the field, and he discarded Heavy Infantry for its effect. He searched out Abysslinde and destroyed an Abyssmegalo. Moulinglacia destroyed Abysspike, and Dao Set his last card, the Abyss-sphere he’d searched out. (Eckroth could have destroyed Moulinglacia instead, skipping Dao’s next Battle Phase, but he didn’t want Dao to Xyz Summon a Rank 7 monster.)

Eckroth drew Maxx “C”. He played Abysslinde and crashed it into Abyssmegalo. It Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed, which destroyed Abyssmegalo.

Dao destroyed Abyssleed  with Moulinglcia.

Eckroth drew Mind Control. He passed.

Dao attacked directly with Moulinglacia.

Eckroth drew Abyss-sphere and Set it.

Dao played Pot of Avarice! He returned 2 Atlantean Dragoons, Diva, Marksman, and Abyssmegalo to his Deck to draw two fresh cards. Moulinglacia attacked, and when Eckroth played Abyss-sphere, Dao had Maxx “C”! Eckroth brought out Abysslinde in defense position, and Moulinglacia destroyed it. Eckroth Special Summoned Abysspike, and discarded Marksman to add Mermail Abyssgunde to his hand. Marksman destroyed Dao’s Abyss-sphere (Dao could not Chain Abyss-sphere during the Damage Step). Dao used Mind Control in Main Phase 2, taking Abysspike, then played Instant Fusion! Eckroth Chained his own Maxx “C”, and Dao brought out Darkfire Dragon. He stacked it with the stolen Abysspike to Xyz Summoned Abyss Dweller. Eckroth drew Mystical Space Typhoon and Mermail Abyssteus with Maxx “C”.

On his turn, Eckroth drew his own Pot of Avarice! He returned Maxx “C”, Marksman, Heavy Infantry, and 2 Abysslinde to his Deck, drawing 2 copies of Abyssmegalo. He discarded Abyssgunde for Abyssteus. When Dao tried to Chain Abyss Dweller, Eckroth banished Breakthrough Skill from his Graveyard to negate it! He added Abyssgunde to his hand, then Special Summoned Abyssleed from his Graveyard. Eckroth stacked Abyssleed and Abyssteus for Number 11: Big Eye and swiped Moulinglacia, which destroyed Abyss Dweller. Eckroth Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Dao discarded Abysslinde to Special Summon Abyssteus. He added another Abysslinde to his hand and Summoned it. Dao crashed Abysslinde into Big Eye to bring out Abyssleed, and Xyz Summoned his own Big Eye! It stole Eckroth’s Big Eye, which took back Moulinglacia.

Eckroth drew Abysslinde. He discarded Abyssmegalo and Abyssgunde for Abyssmegalo. He added Abyss-squall to his hand, then revived Abyssleed. Mind Control took Big Eye, which made Moulinglacia trade sides yet again, and Dao conceded!

Duel 3

Dao started with Undine, sending Dragoons. He added Genex Controller and Abyssmegalo to his hand, then Set a back row card.

Eckroth had Debunk, Breakthrough Skill, Abysslinde, Abysspike, Abyssmegalo, and Dragoons. He played Abysspike and discarded Dragoons, adding Abyssgunde and Abyssleed to his hand. He discarded both for Abyssmegalo, next. He added Abyss-sphere to his hand and revived Abyssleed. He Tributed Abysspike for Abyssleed’s effect, and Dao lost Heavy Infantry from his hand. Abyssleed destroyed Undine in battle, and Abyssmegalo struck directly. Eckroth Xyz Summoned Mermail Abyssgaios, then Set Debunk, Breakthrough Skill, and Abyss-sphere to end.

Dao activated Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde. He attacked Abyssgaios with it, and Eckroth negated it with Debunk! Dao Set a monster.

Eckroth drew Abyssteus. He Special Summoned it, discarding Abysslinde, then revealed Abyss-sphere. Dao knew he wouldn’t be able to survive, and shook Eckroth’s hand.

Anthony Eckroth moves on to the Top 16!