Matt Bishop is a well-known local Duelist here in Toronto with four YCS top cuts in his Dueling career.  His opponent Francois Boucher hails from Quebec City, and this is his first YCS ever.  Bishop’s 2-0 so far with Tidal Mermails, while Boucher’s undefeated with Teleport Karakuri.  Note that Matt Bishop isn’t running Mechquipped Angineer, nor is he playing multiple copies of Bahamut Shark and Mermail Abysstrite – a suite of cards that’s proving popular today amongst Water Duelists in the know.  We’ll talk more about that in our first tech update later this afternoon.

Bishop opened the Match with a hand of Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Abyss-sphere; Mystical Space Typhoon; Mermail Abysspike; Aqua Spirit; and Effect Veiler.  He Set Abyss-sphere and Typhoon.

Boucher opened up with Instant Fusion, Special Summoning Cyber Saurus.  He activated Emergency Teleport to Special Summon Psychic Commander from his Deck.  He Tuned them to Synchro Summon Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X “Bureido”, and when he tried to use its effect to Special Summon another Karakuri from his Deck Bishop shut it down with Veiler.  Boucher pressed on, Summoning Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi”.  He’d been looking to draw a card with Bureido by using Nishipachi’s effect to change its own battle position, but had forgotten about the Veiler from moments before.  The result was a Nishipachi in vulnerable defense position, which would turn itself to attack mode next turn if Bishop pressed it.  Boucher attacked with Bureido; Bishop blocked, using Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde; and Boucher ran it over, letting Bishop Special Summon Mermail Abyssleed.

Bishop drew Mermail Abyssocea, and with Aqua Spirit in hand this is one of those situations where he could’ve made big plays with it if he ran Mechquipped Angineer.  He didn’t, so he Summoned Abysspike instead, discarding Tidal to search his Deck for Mermail Abyssgunde.  He banished Tidal to Special Summon Aqua Spirit, searching another Tidal with the first Tidal’s effect.  He overlaid Abysspike and Aqua Spirit for Abyss Dweller, then attacked over Bureido with Abyssleed.  Dweller then ran over Strategist, hammering through it for 1700 Battle Damage.  Boucher was down to 4900 Life Points.

Boucher Set a monster.

Bishop drew another Abysspike and spent a moment considering his options.  He Summoned the Abysspike, and Boucher quickly conceded the game, wanting to get to Game 2.

Francois Boucher makes a gutsy first-turn push against two backrow cards in a matchup where he doesn’t know what his opponent’s playing, and pays for it when Matt Bishop flips Abyss-sphere to kill his momentum.

Boucher Set a monster, then Set a Spell or Trap.

This time Bishop had Abyss-sphere; Enemy Controller; Mermail Abysspike; Atlantean Marksman; Mermail Abysslinde; and Maxx “C”.  He Summoned Abysspike to pitch Marksman, searching his Deck for Mermail Abyssgunde.  Marksman kicked in once the search resolved, and Bishop chose to destroy Boucher’s Set monster: Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 “Nishipachi”.  Abysspike made a direct poke for 1600 Battle Damage, and Bishop Set his ‘sphere and Controller.

Boucher Special Summoned Solar Wind Jammer in Defense Position.  He Normal Summoned Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 “Ninishi”, and Bishop dropped Maxx “C” in response.  Boucher pressed on making Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X “Bureido”, giving Bishop a draw: Tragoedia!  He was likely safe anyways with that Abyss-sphere Set, but was definitely safe now.  Boucher used Bureido’s effect to Special Summon Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 “Kuick”, attacked with it, and Bishop stopped the attack with Enemy Controller.  Boucher got to draw a card for Bureido, and sent it to attack and destroy Abysspike: Bishop Special Summoned Tragoedia.

Bishop activated Abyss-sphere in Boucher’s Main Phase 2, Special Summoning Abysslinde.  It was destroyed a moment later when Abyss-sphere left the field, and Bishop Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed with Abysslinde’s effect.

Bishop drew Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He sighed, thought for a second, and then Normal Summoned Mermail Abysspike.  He discarded Mermail Abyssgunde for Abysspike’s ability, searched Atlantean Marksman, and then Special Summoned back Abysslinde with Abyssgunde.  He revealed Abyssmegalo for its effect, discarding Marksman and Abysslinde to Special Summon it, and Boucher flipped Abyssleed face-down with Book of Moon on the chain – it was going to be destroyed by Marskman anyways, but Boucher didn’t seem to register that the Abyssleed was going to flip back over.  Bishop got an Abyss-sphere with Abyssmegalo’s effect and then Flip Summoned Abyssleed.  He changed Tragoedia to Level 4, overlaid it with Abysspike for Abyss Dweller, and activated Abyssleed’s effect to Tribute Abysslinde, forcing Boucher to discard a Ninishi.  Abyssleed attacked to destroy Bureido, Abyssmegalo attacked Kuick (which conveniently rotated to Attack Position), and Abyss Dweller attacked to drop Boucher to 2600 Life Points.  He overlaid in Main Phase 2 for Mermail Abyssgaios.

Boucher blasted him with Dark Hole next turn, and Bishop chained Abyss Dweller’s effect.  Boucher had three cards left in hand: he banished Bureido and Strategist from his Graveyard to Special Summon Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders from his hand in Defense Position and ended.

Bishop drew Maxx “C” and passed.  Boucher took back his Redox.

Boucher Set a Spell or Trap.

Bishop drew Vanity’s Fiend and passed.

Boucher Special Summoned Solar Wind Jammer, then Normal Summoned Psychic Commander: Bishop flopped his Maxx “C”, activating its effect.  Boucher attacked with Psychic Commander to drop Bishop to 5400 Life Points. Bishop checked his Graveyard a moment, and flipped Abyss-sphere in Main Phase 2 to Special Summon Mermail Abyssocea in Defense Position via Mermail Abysslinde.

Bishop drew Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls.  He Special Summoned it by banishing Marksman and Dweller from his Deck, then Tributed Abyssocea to Summon Vanity’s Fiend.  “Yyyyeah,” groaned Boucher.

“I like the sound of that,” grinned Bishop.  Boucher had one Set card in his backrow, but Bishop swung fearlessly to clear out the Commander and the Wind Jammer, and a turn later he was swinging for game – Boucher had no defense.

Matt Bishop takes a 2-0 victory with Mermails!