The Finals: Eduard Kuang Versus Sorosh Saberian
It all came down to this! All weekend we’ve seen countless decks new and old fighting for the number one spot, and now it was down to Dragon Rulers versus Mermails. This was an all-Canadian Finals and both Duelists have a reputation for success: Kuang topped the National Championship in 2010, while Saberian has made Top 32’s seven times… but never won. This is the first time Saberian’s made it past the Top 4.
Saberian opened with Abyss-sphere; Maxx “C”; Mystical Space Typhoon; Aqua Spirit; Mermail Abyssteus; and Mermail Abyssmegalo. He discarded Abyssmegalo for Abysteus, searching Mermail Abyssocea! This was it – the big move that had been floating around this weekend but that we hadn’t yet seen in a Feature Match. Saberian Summoned Abyssocea, targeted Abyssteus, and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssgunde and Mermail Abysspike by sending Abyssteus to the Graveyard. He banished Abyssteus to Special Summon Aqua Spirit, then Xyz Summoned Bahamut Shark to Special Summon Mermail Abysstrite! He then overlaid Abyssocea and Abyssgunde for Mechquipped Angineer, and Set Typhoon and Abyss-sphere!
Kuang banished Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms with Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, drawing two cards and searching his Deck for Dragunity Corsesca. He discarded it for Cards of Consonance, then activated Dragon Ravine, discarding Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls – Saberian blasted Ravine on the Chain with Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying it to stop its effect. Kuang dropped Dark Hole, and Saberian chained Angineer’s effect to protect Bahamut Shark: Angineer and Abysstrite were destroyed, and Abysstrite Special Summoned back Abyssmegalo. Kuang Special Summoned Tidal from the Graveyard by banishing Corsesca and Redox, but Saberian Chained Maxx “C” to draw Mermail Abysslinde. Kuang searched Redox with Redox, and attacked over Abyssmegalo. He Set one card to his back row, tried to move to his End Phase, and Saberian flipped Abyss-sphere to Special Summon Mermail Abysslinde. That got him Mermail Abyssleed.
Saberian drew Effect Veiler, and Kuang discarded Redox for Raigeki Break to destroy Bahamut Shark before Saberian could use its effect! Saberian shuffled his hand a moment, Summoned Abysslinde, and rammed it into Tidal to destroy it; he Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo from his Deck with Abysslinde’s ability. Abyssleed swung over Tidal, and Abyssmegalo made a direct attack: Kuang was down to 5500 Life Points. Saberian Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack, and when he Summoned his Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens Kuang drew a card by chaining Maxx “C”.
Kuan drew to three cards in hand. He had a blank field, against Saberian’s Dracossack, two Tokens, and one in-hand card. Kuang’s Graveyard was Maxx “C”, Redox, and Tidal.
“Dark Hole and Raigeki Break…” mused Saberian. “That’s the only way you can break that board. Or Wind Blast.”
Kuan Summoned Debris Dragon to try and bring back Maxx “C”, but Saberian negated the effect with Veiler. That left Kuang to Special Summon back Redox, banishing Maxx “C” and Tidal to get another Tidal. He activated Dragon Ravine, pitched Tidal, and sent Blaster to his Graveyard from his Deck. He had one card left in hand, and swung with Redox and Debris Dragon to take out the Tokens. In Main Phase 2 he Summoned Star Eater! He then banished Debris and Redox to Special Summon Blaster, and Set a single Spell or Trap.
Saberian Summoned two more Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens next turn, and gave up one to try and destroy Ravine… but Kuang had Skill Drain! Saberian turned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack to Defense Position.
Kuang drew Cards of Consonance and discarded it for Ravine, getting Dragunity Corsesca. He Summoned it to attack the last Token; ran down Dracossack with Blaster; and then made a direct attack with Star Eater! In Main Phase 2 he Synchro Summoned Stardust Dragon, then banished Tidal and Corsesca to bring back Blaster. That got him another Tidal. Saberian conceded after seeing his next card.
Sorosh Saberian scores a massive opening, but Edward Kuang has enough removal to fight through it, and takes control of the Duel with a flurry of Dragon Ruler searches before ending it all with Star Eater. Eduard Kuang is just one win away from capturing the Championship title.
Saberian had Imperial Iron Wall; two Mermail Abyssteus; Mermail Abysslinde; Mermail Abyssgunde; and Mermail Abyssocea. He discarded Abysslinde for Abyssteus, searching out another Abysslinde. He Normal Summoned Abyssocea to trade Abyssteus for two Mermail Abyssgunde, then overlaid all three for Mermail Abysstrite! He Set Iron Wall.
…Then flipped it as Kuang began his next turn. Kuang Summoned Card Trooper, sending Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos; Skill Drain; and Dragon Ravine to his Graveyard off the top of his Deck to power it up.
Saberian drew Mystical Space Typhoon. He tossed an Abyssgunde for Abyssteus, and Kuang chained Maxx “C” to draw a card. He drew another one when Saberian Special Summoned Abysslinde with Abyssgunde. Abyssteus got Saberian Mermail Abyssturge. Abysslinde attacked to destroy Card Trooper, giving Kuang a draw, and Saberian Set Typhoon.
Kuang drew to eight cards in his next Draw Phase, and discarded two copies of Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls to send Debris Dragon from his Deck to his Graveyard. He Summoned Trooper and sent Tempest, Maxx “C”, and Raigeki Break to his graveyard for its effect. He then discarded two copies of Redox to Special Summon Debris Dragon, and Synchro Summoned Black Rose Dragon for its effect! Saberian lost Iron Wall, Typhoon, Abysslinde, Abyssteus, and Abysstrite, Special Summoning back Abyssteus in Defense Position and Mermail Abyssleed in attack.
Kuang had six Dragon Rulers in his Graveyard, and with Imperial Iron Wall gone he was free to use them! He banished Black Rose and Tidal to Special Summon Blaster, then banished Debris and Redox to Summon Tempest. Blaster attacked to destroy Abyssleed, and he overlaid his two Dragon Rulers in Main Phase 2 for Number 11: Big Eye! He took control of Abyssteus.
Saberian drew Abyss-sphere, holding Abysslinde and Abyssturge. He Summoned Abyssturge, pitching Abysslinde to get back Abyssgunde, then Set ‘sphere. This was looking pretty good for Kuang.
Kuang discarded Redox and Dandylion to Special Summon Tidal from the Graveyard with Redox’s ability. He Special Summoned his Fluff Tokens, then overlaid Tidal with Abyssteus for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack! He banished Tempest from his hand and Redox from his Graveyard to Special Summon Blaster and search Corsesca, then discarded it for Cards of Consonance, drawing a new two-card hand! Blaster attacked Abyssturge, Dracossack attacked, and when Kuang attacked with Big Eye Saberian flipped Abyss-sphere to block it with Mermail Abysslinde. Kuang continued the attack and Saberian Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike, discarding Mermail Abyssgunde to search out Atlantean Marksman and Special Summon back Mermail Abyssturge. He pitched Atlantean Marksman to take back Mermail Abyssgunde with Abyssturge’s effect.
Saberian drew Gozen Match! He Xyz Summoned Bahamut Shark, then Special Summoned Mermail Abysstrite in Attack Position. Kuang borrowed it for a moment, passed it back, and Saberian attacked Big Eye with Abysstrite. But when it hit the Graveyard and Saberian tried to make a Special Summon, Kuang flipped Debunk to negate Abysstrite’s effect! Saberian conceded immediately.
Edward Kuang battles through a Bahamut / Abysstrite / Angineer set-up to take the first Duel, then pulls out all the stops to beat Imperial Iron Wall in Duel 2! And with that, Kuang wins the first Championship of the new format!
Edward Kuang wins YCS Toronto!
