Norberto Leon made the Finals of YCS Seattle with the same strategy he’s playing here this weekend: Mermails.  His opponent is Fire Fist Duelist Michael Steinman, who you might remember from the Top 8 of the North American WCQ last year.  While Mermails are an imposing, explosive strategy that generates lots of free cards and searches, the Fire Fist Deck grinds its opponent down inch by inch, wielding powerful removal effects.  These are two very different Decks, and this is a classic match-up in this Format.

Leon opened the Match with Dark Hole; Solemn Judgment; Mystical Space Typhoon; Deep Sea Diva; Mermail Abyssmegalo; and Atlantean Heavy Infantry.  He Set Typhoon.

Steinman fired back with Pot of Duality, revealing Dimensional Prison; Gene-Warped Warwolf; and Reborn Tengu: he added Tengu to his hand.  He Summoned Gene-Warped Warwolf, swung for 2000 Battle Damage, then Set a single Spell or Trap.  It was Torrential Tribute, and Leon destroyed it with Mystical Space Typhoon in his End Phase.

“Got game?”

Leon drew Mermail Abyssleed.  “Actually, yeah.”  He pitched Abyssleed and Atlantean Heavy Infantry for Mermail Abyssmegalo, getting Abyss-sphere.  He Special Summoned Abyssmegalo, then Summoned Deep Sea Diva for Atlantean Marksman.  He Normal summoned Deep Sea Diva to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman, fed Diva to Abyssmegalo, and attacked with Marksman, the Atlantean Dragoons it Summoned, and Abyssmegalo two times to win Game 1 in an instant!

“I just needed to draw a Water monster,” explained Leon.  Drawing the Abyssleed had given him the last discard he needed for Abyssmegalo.  Norberto Leon takes the first Duel in mere moments!

Duel 2 saw Steinman open with Pot of Duality, digging through Mirror Force, Fiendish Chain, and Tour Guide from the Underworld: he took Mirror Force.  He Set three cards to his back row, then Normal Summoned Banisher of the Radiance!

Leon had a hand of Enemy Controller; Atlantean Dragoons; two Abyss-sphere; and two Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He Set both ‘spheres.

Steinman joked that Leon must’ve had Malevolent Catastrophe, then drew for his turn.  He thumbed through his hand for a moment, musing, then attacked with Banisher for 1600 Battle Damage.  He Set a fourth Spell or Trap.

Leon drew Mermail Abyssgunde, then Normal Summoned Atlantean Dragoons to try and get rid of Banisher.  Steinman flipped Mirror Force to destroy Dragoons when Leon tried to attack, and once Dragoons was banished Leon flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abyssteus.  He attacked again, and this time Steinman blocked with Fiendish Chain.  “Let’s try again,” remarked Leon, flipping his second ‘sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo!

Leon attacked a third time, and this time Steinman had nothing to protect his Banisher.  “That sucks.”  Banisher hit the Graveyard.  Leon overlaid his Level 7’s for Mermail Abyssgaios in Main Phase 2, still holding Pot of Avarice, Abyssgunde, and two Abyssmegalo.  “Go ahead!”

Steinman activated Fire Formation – Tenki, getting Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear from his Deck.  He sent Tenki to the Graveyard to try and destroy Abyssgaios, but Leon negated the effect.  Steinman flipped up his Fire Formation – Tensu; Normal Summoned another Bear; and popped Abyssgaios!  He attacked with both Bears, searching and Setting two copies of Fire Formation – Tenki.

Steinman Xyz Summoned Abyss Dweller in Attack Position, overlaying his two Bears, then Set one more card to his back row.

Leon drew another Mermail Abyssgunde.  His hand was two Abyssgunde, two Abyssmegalo, and Pot of Avarice.  He pitched an Abyssmegalo and an Abyssgunde to Special Summon another ‘megalo, drawing out Abyss Dweller’s effect.  Steinman denied Leon his search with Fiendish Chain, but Leon now had exactly five monsters in his Graveyard.  He activated Pot of Avarice, but Steinman Chained Solemn Judgment to negate it!  Steinman now had two Fiendish Chains in his backrow, one attached to Abyssmegalo and one just floating on the field, plus his two Set copies of Tenki.  He had nothing in hand.  Leon had one Abyssgunde in hand with Abyssmegalo locked on the field, and he couldn’t do anything but end his turn.

Steinman used a Tenki to get his last Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear next turn, and Leon conceded!

Michael Steinman pushes the Match to one more Duel!  This was make or break: the winner would move on to the Top 8, while the loser would be eliminated from this tournament.  Both Duelists wished eachother good luck.

Leon had Abyss-sphere; Abyss-squall; Mystical Space Typhoon; Mermail Abyssmegalo; and two Torrential Tribute. He Set ‘sphere and Typhoon.

Steinman activated Fire Formation – Tenki, but lost it to Typhoon on the Chain, getting no search.  He followed up with Fire Formation – Tensu, then Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear to attack and Set another Tenki from his Deck.  Leon opted not to block with Abyss-sphere.  Steinman activaed Dimensional Fissure in Main Phase 2.

Leon drew Mermail Abyssteus and Set both copies of Torrential Tribute.

Steinman attacked with Bear, scoring another free Tenki.  He flipped it in Main Phase 2 to get another Bear, then played Pot of Duality to pick between Tour Guide from the Underworld and two Dimensional Prisons.  He added a Prison to his hand and Set a Spell or Trap.

Leon drew Atlantean Marksman.  He took some time to think about his situation: Dimensional Fissure was making his life pretty difficult.  He flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abyssgunde, then Normal Summoned Marksman. He overlaid them for Number 17: Leviathan Dragon, detaching Marksman to destroy Steinman’s Set Dimensional Prison.  Leviathan Dragon powered over Bear to destroy it.

Steinman drew to four cards in hand, with Tenki Set, plus a face-up Tenki, Tensu, and Dimensional Fissure.  Leo had Leviathan Dragon, two Set Torrential Tributes, and three cards in hand: Abyssteus, Abyssmegalo, and Abyss-squall.  Steinman flipped his last Tenki and searched out Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla.  He used Tensu to Normal Summon it, pitching a Tenki to destroy one of Leon’s Torrential Tributes.  He Normal Summoned Bear, and Leon flipped his second Torrential to wipe the field!  Steinman activated Monster Reborn to Special Summon Leon’s Mermail Abyssgunde, attacking for 1400 Battle Damage.

Leon needed a piece of removal to get rid of that Dimensional Fissure: he drew Pot of Avarice instead.

“That’s a Heavy isn’t it?” asked Steinman.

“No, it’s a Pot of Avarice,” replied Leon, leaving Steinman to guess if he was telling the truth.

“You wouldn’t side Avarice out?”  Leon shook his head, then Set Abyss-squall.

Steinman Summoned Gene-Warped Warwolf with Tensu’s effect, then Normal Summoned Banisher of the Radiance to overlay it with Abyssgunde.  He Xyz Summoned Leviair the Sea Dragon and Special Summoned Gorilla back, popping Abyss-squall and attacking with everything for game!

Michael Steinman triumphs with Fire Fists, taking knocking Norberto Leon’s Mermails out of the tournament!  Steinman moves on to the Top 8.