We’re here with Galo Orbea, winner of YCS Ecuador! He’s using Fire Fists today, and he’s facing off against Brooklyn’s Justin Diaz. Diaz is the last Wind-Up Duelist in the tournament. Will Wind-Ups move on, or will the Fire Fists prove who the new hotness is?

Duel 1

Diaz led the Match with two back row cards.

Orbea opened up with Bottomless Trap Hole, 2 Dimensional Prisons, Fiendish Chain, Rescue Rabbit, and Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear. He played Bear into Diaz’s Bottomless Trap Hole, then Set Fiendish Chain and a Prison.

Diaz Set another back row card.

Orbea drew Heavy Storm and passed.

Diaz Summoned Wind-Up Warrior and played Wind-Up Factory. He used Warrior’s effect on itself to trigger Factory, and added Wind-Up Shark to his hand. Warrior attacked, and was banished by Dimensional Prison.

Orbea drew Torrential Tribute. He used Heavy Storm to clear the field, including Diaz’s face-down Fiendish Chain and Mirror Force. Orbea used his Rescue Rabbit next, getting 2 Gene-Warped Warwolves. They both attacked directly, then Orbea Xyz Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Tiger King. Tiger King’s effect put Fire Formation – Tenki on the field, and Orbea used it to put Bear into his hand. Orbea Set Bottomless Trap Hole and Prison.

Diaz played Wind-Up Rat, then Special Summoned the Shark from his hand. Orbea banished Shark with Bottomless Trap Hole, Diaz Set his remaining three cards to his back row.

Orbea drew Solemn Warning. Tiger King detached a material for its effect, then destroyed Rat in battle. Orbea Set the Warning.

Diaz drew and Set the card to his back row.

Orbea drew Rescue Rabbit. He attacked with Tiger King, but Diaz flipped one of his older Set cards: Mirror Force! Orbea Set Torrential Tribute.

Diaz drew and Set to the back row once again.

Orbea drew Forbidden Lance! He played out Bear and attacked. Diaz flipped Fiendish Chain, and Orbea used Lance on Bear. The attack was successful, and Bear’s effect put Tenki on the field. In Main Phase 2 Orbea flipped it, and Diaz destroyed it in response with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Diaz drew Tour Guide From the Underworld, and Orbea negated it with Solemn Warning.

Orbea drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He entered his Battle Phase and used Typhoon on Fiendish Chain, freeing up his Bear. Diaz had no way to stop him, and Orbea took the first Duel!

If Justin Diaz wants to keep Wind-Ups in the tournament, he’ll need to win two Duels in a row from here! The Duelists moved for their Side Decks, and we were underway once more.

Duel 2

Diaz led off with three back row cards.

Orbea opened with a hand of Compulsory Evacuation Device, Torrential Tribute, Forbidden Lance, Dimensional Prison, Tenki, and Monster Reborn. Tenki got him Bear. He Summoned it, Diaz used Torrential Tribute, and Orbea saved it with Lance. Bear attacked directly, putting a new Tenki face-down on the field. Finally, Orbea Set Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Diaz Set a new back row card.

Orbea drew Reborn Tengu. He used Tenki to get a second Bear, but didn’t Summon it. He attacked with his on-field Bear, but decided not to use its effect. He Set Torrential Tribute.

Diaz played Wind-Up Rat, then used Wind-Up Shark from his hand. He made Shark Level 3 and Xyz Summoned Wind-Up Zenmaines in defense position.

Orbea drew Fiendish Chain. He Summoned Tengu, then moved to the Battle Phase. Bear attacked, Diaz Zenmaines, Diaz had no response, and Orbea used Compulsory Evacuation Device on Zenmaines. Diaz wasn’t having it, and negated it with Solemn Judgment! Bear crashed into Zenmaines vainly. Orbea Set Fiendish Chain.

Diaz played Dark Hole, and Orbea responded with Fiendish Chain on Zenmaines. All monsters were destroyed, and Orbea’s Tengu replaced itself.

Orbea drew Mystical Space Typhoon. Tengu attacked, and fell to Mirror Force.

Diaz Set a card to his back row.

Orbea drew Compulsory Evacuation Device. During the Draw Phase, Diaz used Mind Crush, calling Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear. Orbea Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Diaz’s Torrential Tribute, then lost his Bear. He revived it straight away with Monster Reborn, and attacked directly. Its effect put Tenki on the field, which he then used to get Gene-Warped Warwolf. He Summoned it, and stacked his Beast-Warriors for Maestroke the Symphony Djinn in defense position. Finally, he Set Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Diaz destroyed all five of Orbea’s Spells and Traps with Heavy Storm! He followed with Wind-Up Factory and Wind-Up Rat! Rat revived Shark, and Factory gave him a new Rat. Shark became Level 3, and Diaz Xyz Summoned Temtempo the Percussion Djinn. He detached Rat to steal a material from Maestroke, then revived Rat with Monster Reborn! Rat brought back Shark, and made Number 17: Leviathan Dragon! Leviathan Dragon powered itself up to 2500 ATK. Leviathan attacked to take Maestroke’s last material, and Temtempo was sent away with Compulsory Evacuation Device.

Orbea drew Dust Tornado, Set it, and Set Dimensional Prison.

Leviathan Dragon attacked into the Prison. Diaz Set a monster.

Orbea drew Mystical Space Typhoon and Set it. Maestroke destroyed the face-down Wind-Up Rabbit in battle (Diaz had only 900 Life Points, so he’d been forced to defend with Rabbit).

Diaz’s Pot of Duality gave him another Wind-Up Rabbit, taking it instead of a Spell and a Trap that wouldn’t help him. He Set it.

Orbea drew Dark Hole, and destroyed Rabbit in battle.

Diaz Set a monster.

Orbea drew Warwolf and Summoned it. It destroyed Diaz’s monster, and Maestroke attacked directly!

Galo Orbea is headed to the Top 8!