Los Angeles’ Norberto Leon made the Finals at YCS Seattle, and now he’s back in the Top 32, looking to take it one step further!  His opponent is Toronto’s Bo Tang, who’s topped 4 YCS tournaments and represented Canada in the 2011 World Championship.  Tang has competed in only five YCS events in his Dueling career, but has made Top 32 at four of them.  Leon is playing Mermails, while Tang is running Six Samurai.

Tang had a hand of Forbidden Lance; Double-Edged Sword Technique; Kagemusha of the Six Samurai; Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan; Legendary Six Samurai – Kageki; and The Six Samurai – Zanji.  He Summoned Kageki, Special Summoned Kagemusha, and Synchro Summoned Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En!  He Special Summoned Kizan, then Set Double-Edged Sword Technique and Lance.

Leon Set three cards to his back row, and Set a monster.

Tang drew Solemn Judgment.  He flipped Double-Edged Sword Technique and Special Summoned Kageki and Kagemusha, Tuning Kagemusha and Kizan for Naturia Barkion. He Normal Summoned Zanji, then attacked with Barkion to destroy Leon’s set Mermail Abysslinde.  Leon Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed, and Zanji’s effect destroyed Abyssleed.  Tang saved it by sacrificing Kageki.  Shi En made a direct attack.  Tang Set Judgment.

Leon discarded Atlantean Dragoons for Mermail Abyssteus, searching out Mermail Abyssgunde and Atlantean Marksman.  He pitched both monsters for Mermail Abyssmegalo, destroying Solemn Judgment; searching out Abyss-sphere; and Special Summoning Mermail Abyssleed.  He overlaid Abyssteus and Abyssmegalo for Number 11: Big Eye, taking control of Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En!

Leon attacked Barkion with Abyssleed, destroying it.  Shi En attacked Zanji, destroying that too, and Tang had nothing left but the Lance.  Leon Set another Spell or Trap to end the turn, and when Tang saw that his next draw was Mystical Space Typhoon he conceded.

A massive opening goes way South on Bo Tang, whose set-up of Legendary Six Samurai – Shi En and Naturia Barkion just can’t stand up to the power of Number 11: Big Eye!  Norberto Leon wins Duel 1 in a matter of minutes.

Tang’s hand was Shien’s Smoke Signal; Dimensional Fissure; Macro Cosmos; Bottomless Trap Hole; Safe Zone; and Legendary Six Samurai – Kizan.  He Set Macro Cosmos, then thought a moment before Setting Bottomless Trap Hole as well.

Leon drew for his turn; Tang flipped Macro Cosmos; and Leon Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy it!  He discarded Atlantean Marksman and Atlantean Dragoons for Mermail Abyssmegalo: Tang banished the Abyssmegalo with Bottomless, but Leon still got to search out an Abyss-sphere with Abyssmegalo’s effect, and a Deep Sea Diva with Dragoons.  “That MST was huge,” remarked Tang.

“It saved me,” admitted Leon, who started doing some calculations.  Was he really going to game Tang through that Bottomless?

Leon Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva, Special Summoning Atlantean Heavy Infantry.  He Summoned a second Diva, this time getting Atlantean Marksman from his Deck.  He attacked with Marksman to Special Summon Atlantean Dragoons, then attacked with both Divas and the Dragoons, dropping Tang to 4400 Life Points.  In Main Phase 2 Leon Synchro Summoned Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier, bouncing Diva, Heavy Infantry, and Marksman back to his hand!  He Set a single Spell or Trap.

Tang drew another Macro Cosmos.  He activated Dimensional Fissure, then used Shien’s Smoke Signal to get Kagemusha of the Six Samurai.  He Summoned it, then Special Summoned Kizan to Synchro Summon Naturia Barkion: it swung over Dewloren to destroy it.  Tang Set Safe Zone and Macro Cosmos. 

Leon Normal Summoned Atlantean Heavy Infantry, then Normal Summoned Deep Sea Diva to Special Summon Atlantean Marksman.  He Tuned all three for Black Rose Dragon!  Tang lost everything: his Barkion; his Fissure; his Macro Cosmos; and his Safe Zone!  He had no cards left.  Leon Set a single Spell or Trap with two cards in hand.

Tang was down to topdecking.  He ripped Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and attacked with it.

Leon Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde and attacked over Fossil Dyna.

Tang drew Kizan and passed.  Next turn Leon revealed Atlantean Marksman and Mermail Abysspike for Mermail Abyssmegalo, and Tang gave him the handshake!

Norberto Leon moves on to the Top 16 with Atlantean Mermails!