Last Round, Michael Steinman overcame Frog Monarchs with his Rabbit Fire Fist Deck.  Now he was up against William Montes, one of the many Dino Rabbit Duelists that made the Top 32 here this weekend.  Only four Duelists remained in this tournament.  In a few minutes that number would be reduced to just two.

Steinman shook Montes’ hand and drew his opening six: Pot of Duality; Rescue Rabbit; Fire Formation – Tenki; Solemn Warning; Dimensional Prison; and Tour Guide from the Underworld.  He Summoned Rabbit and activated its effect to Special Summon two Gene-Warped Warwolfs.  He made Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Tiger King to get a Tenki, then flipped it to search his Deck for Reborn Tengu.  Steinman Set Warning.

Montes Set three cards to his back row.

Steinman drew another Dimensional Prison and attacked with Tiger King: Montes flipped Dimensional Prison to banish it.  Steinman Summoned Reborn Tengu in Main Phase 2 and activated Duality, revealing Fiendish Chain, Mirror Force, and Mystical Space Typhoon.  He took Fiendish and Set a Prison.

Montes Set a third Spell or Trap.

Steinman drew his last Warwolf and attacked with Reborn Tengu for direct damage.  He Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld in Main Phase 2 to Special Summon another, then overlaid them for Wind-Up Zenmaines in Defense Position.  He Set another Spell or Trap.

Montes Set a fourth card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Steinman drew another Pot of Duality.  He turned Zenmaines to Attack Position and pressed with Tengu, dropping Montes to 4400 Life Points.  He attacked with Zenmaines, predicting a Dimensional Prison, but the attack went through!  In Main Phase 2 Steinman played Pot of Duality to reveal another Dimensional Prison, Fiendish Chain, and Fire Formation – Tenki.  He took the Prison.

Montes drew to four cards in hand with four cards Set.  Steinman had Tengu, Zenmaines, and Tenki face-up; three cards Set in his backrow; and four cards in hand.  Montes Summoned Jurrac Guaiba and Set a fifth Spell or Trap.

Steinman drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear.  He Normal Summoned it, and Montes flipped Macro Cosmos to keep Steinman from sending Tenki to the Graveyard for Bear’s ability.  Tengu attacked into Guaiba, and Montes flipped Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Steinman’s Tenki so that both monsters would be destroyed.  Both of their Special Summon effects triggered, but Steinman tried to stop Montes’ with Solemn Warning.  Montes responded with Solemn Judgment to negate the Warning: Steinman Special Summoned another Tengu while Montes Special Summoned another Guaiba.

Steinman swung into Guaiba with Zenmaines, detaching a Material to keep it on the field and reserving its destruction effect for later.  He Set a third Spell or Trap, then destroyed Guaiba in the End Phase with Zenmaines’ ability.

Montes activated Dark Hole, destroying Tengu and Bear, and blowing the last Xyz Material off Zenmaines!  He Set a fourth Spell or Trap and had one card left in hand: Cardcar D!  He Summoned it and responded with Torrential Tribute to clear the field.

Steinman drew to four cards in hand, getting Torrential Tribute.  He had seven cards total now to Montes two face-downs and Macro Cosmos.  He activated Tenki to get Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla, Summoned it, and attacked to finish the Duel!

Michael Steinman takes a long and methodical Game 1, now just one win away from a seat in the Finals!

Montes opened Game 2 with a Set monster and two Set cards to his back row.

Steinman had Mirror Force; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Monster Reborn; two Fire Formation – Tenki; and Solemn Warning.  He activated Tenki, but lost it to Mystical Space Typhoon on the Chain.  Steinman Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh next, but Montes had the answer again: Bottomless Trap Hole.  He Set Mirror Force and Warning.

Montes Flip Summoned Kabazauls and attacked for 1700 Battle Damage.  He Summoned another in Main Phase 2 and overlaid them for Evolzar Laggia: Steinman negated the Summon with Solemn Warning.  Montes Set another Spell or Trap.

Steinman drew Forbidden Lance and activated another Fire Formation – Tenki, but Montes’ most recently Set card was another Mystical Space Typhoon!  Steinman pressed on, Special Summoning Kabazauls with Monster Reborn and attacking for 1700.  He Set another Spell or Trap.

Montes Summoned Jurrac Guaiba and attacked into Mirror Force.  Montes Set his last card to his back row.

Steinman drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear!  He Summoned it; Montes flipped Torrential Tribute; and Steinman saved his Bear with Forbidden Lance.  Bear attacked to get another Tenki, and the Tenki let Steinman search for another Bear.

Montes drew and Set another card to his back row.

Steinman drew another Lance.  He attacked with Bear into Mirror Force, and the Lance let the attack continue!  Steinman was out of Fire Formations to search.  He Summoned his second Bear and, after perusing his Extra Deck, decided not to Xyz Summon.

Montes drew Tour Guide from the Underworld!  He Summoned her to get another, then Xyz Summoned Leviair the Sea Dragon to Special Summon Thunder King Rai-Oh!  Montes attacked to destroy both Bears.

Steinman topdecked Rescue Rabbit, but Summoned two Gene-Warped Warwolfs straight into Bottomless Trap Hole!  Steinman conceded immediately, knowing he was beaten next turn.

William Montes takes Game 2, evening the Match score.  The winner of this next Duel would be headed to the Finals, while the loser would be headed home.

Steinman had Rescue Rabbit; Gene-Warped Warwolf; Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear; Forbidden Lance; Bottomless Trap Hole; and Reborn Tengu.  He summoned Rabbit for two copies of Warwolf, then went into Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Tiger King to get Fire Formation – Tenki.  Tenki got him another Bear, and he Set Bottomless to finish out.

Montes Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld to Special Summon another, then Xyz Summoned Wind-Up Zenmaines in Defense Position.  He Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Steinman drew another Bottomless Trap Hole and activated Tiger King’s effect.  He thought a moment, then attacked, successfully destroying Zenmaines!  Montes two Set cards had looked imposing, but Steinman called his bluff.  He Summoned Reborn Tengu in Main Phase 2, calling Torrential, and when Montes did indeed flip it Steinman opted not to Lance his Tiger King.  He Special Summoned another Tengu and Set his second Bottomless.

Montes drew to four cards in hand with one Set in his back row.  He Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, and Steinman banished it with a Bottomless.  Montes Set a second Spell or Trap.

Steinman drew Dimensional Prison.  He Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, then attacked with it to get another Tenki!  Reborn Tengu made a direct attack next, dropping Montes to 4500 Life Points.  In Main Phase 2 Steinman flipped Tenki, but lost it to Montes’ Chained Mystical Space Typhoon.  It was just more simplification that at this point, was working in Steinman’s favor.  He Set Prison.

Montes drew to three cards with one more still Set.  He Normal Summoned Jurrac Guaiba and Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Steinman drew Solemn Judgment and destroyed Guaiba with Bear’s effect.  He had four cards in hand; tow Set; and two monsters, to Montes’ two cards Set and two in hand.  Bear attacked, and Montes banished it with Dimensional Prison.  Tengu hit home, dropping Montes to 2800 Life Points.  Steinman Summoned Gene-Warped Warwolf in Main Phase 2 and Set Lance and Solemn Judgment.  This was academic at this point.

Montes Set his last two cards: one monster and one Spell or Trap.

Steinman attacked with Tengu, destroying Montes’ Set Kabazauls, and made a direct shot with Gene-Warped Warwolf.  That was it: Steinman went for Gagaga Cowboy in Main Phase 2; Montes flipped Torrential Tribute; and Forbidden Lance sealed the Match!  The Cowboy burned Montes right out of the tournament.

Michael Steinman is headed to the Finals with Fire Fist Rabbit!