Joseph Zeng is here from San Fransisco, and he’s packing Dragon Rulers. He’s facing off with Alberto Lopez from Sacramento, who brought Blackwings. These were two of the biggest decks in YCS Toronto, and are here in force this weekend!

Duel 1

Zeng began with two back row cards.

Lopez opened with Bottomless Trap Hole, Black Whirlwind, Dark Armed Dragon, Blackwing – Zephyros the Elite, Blackwing – Vayu the Emblem of Honor, and Blackwing – Bora the Spear. He played Whirlwind and Zephyros, searching out Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow. Zephyros struck directly, and Lopez Set Bottomless Trap Hole.

Zeng passed.

Lopez drew Blackwing – Shura the Blue Flame. He played Vayu, and Whirlwind gave him Blackwing – Kochi the Daybreak. Zeng played Maxx “C”. Lopez attacked, and lost his monsters to Mirror Force.

Zeng banished Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos and Flamvell Guard from his hand to Special Summon another Blaster from his hand, but it fell into Lopez’s Bottomless Trap Hole. Zeng activated Return from the Different Dimension! He got both Blasters and Guard, then Normal Summoned another Guard. He attacked directly with everything, leaving Lopez with 2200 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he Synchro Summoned Colossal Fighter and Stardust Dragon Dragon!

Lopez drew Book of Moon. He used Zephyros to return Whirlwind to his hand, but Zeng Chained Vanity’s Emptiness! Lopez continued by playing Whirlwind again, searching out another Kalut. Shura attacked Stardust Dragon, using Kalut to win the battle. Vanity’s Emptiness destroyed itself, and in Main Phase 2 Lopez Special Summoned Dark Armed Dragon! He banished Zephyros to blow away Colossal Fighter, then Special Summoned Bora. He stacked Bora and Shura for Number 66: Master Key Beetle, using its effect on Dark Armed Dragon. Finally, he Set Book of Moon.

Zeng drew a card – the only card he had. He banished Stardust Dragon and Flamvell Guard to revive Blaster, then played Sacred Sword of Seven Stars to draw two new cards. He banished his remaining Blaster and Flamvell Guard to Special Summon Tempest, Dragon Ruler of Storms, but there was no way he could get through Master Key Beetle and Dark Armed Dragon!

Alberto Lopez keeps applying the pressure, eventually creating an impenetrable field! The Duelists Side Decked extensively. Each had probably been preparing for this matchup after both of these Decks made it to the Top 4 of YCS Toronto.

Duel 2

Zeng played Sacred Sword of Seven Stars to banish Tempest, drew two cards, then added Debris Dragon to his hand with Tempest’s effect. He discarded Debris with Cards of Consonance for two new cards, then played Dragon Ravine. He discarded a second copy of Cards of Consonance for Ravine, sending Blaster to his Graveyard. Next, he banished Blaster and Debris to Special Summon Redox, Dragon Ruler of Boulders from his hand, searching out Flamvell Guard with Blaster’s effect. He Normal Summoned Guard and tuned it to Redox for Stardust Dragon, then Set two back row cards.

Lopez’s hand was 2 Vanity’s Emptiness, Mystical Space Typhoon, Kalut, Shura, and Deck Lockdown. He Set both traps, losing one to Mystical Space Typhoon.

Zeng played Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, banishing Redox. He drew two, but did not use Redox’s effect. He used Ravine next, discarding Dark Hole to send Blaster to the Graveyard. He activated the Redox in his Graveyard by banishing Blaster and Flamvell Guard, Lopez Chained Vanity’s Emptiness, but Zeng Chained Return from the Different Dimension! He got two Blasters, Redox, and Flamvell Guard to the field, and wiped out Lopez’s Life Points in one move!

Joseph Zeng makes a powerful comeback, outplaying Vanity’s Emptiness! This last Duel will decide the winner of it all.

Duel 3

Lopez began this time with Gozen Match, Torrential Tribute, Dimensional Fissure, 2 Bora, and Pot of Duality. He used Pot of Duality to reveal Shura, Kochi, and Mirror Force, choosing to keep Mirror Force. He played Dimensional Fissure, Set all three traps, and Summoned Bora.

Zeng played Dragon Ravine. He discarded Tempest for Ravine’s second effect, choosing Blaster. Thanks to Dimensional Fissure, both Dragon Rulers were banished, and Zeng added Debris Dragon and Blaster to his hand. He Set a monster and a back row card.

Lopez drew Shura. He passed, knowing the Set monster was probably Debris Dragon.

Zeng used Ravine’s second effect again, this time getting Redox and Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls banished. He used their effects to add Redox and Tidal to his hand, then Set a monster.

Lopez drew Icarus Attack and Set it.

Zeng passed.

Lopez drew Imperial Iron Wall. He Tributed Bora with Icarus Attack, destroying Zeng’s newest monster and the lone spell or trap. They were revealed to Maxx “C” and Return from the Different Dimension. He Normal Summoned Shura, Special Summoned Bora, and Xyz Summoned Number 66: Master Key Beetle! He Set Imperial Iron Wall, then used Master Key Beetle’s effect on it. Master Key Beetle destroyed Debris Dragon in battle.

Zeng used Ravine once again, discarding and banishing Tidal. He banished Blaster as well, and both effects gave him Tidal and Flamvell Guard. He played Dark Hole, and Lopez sent his Imperial Iron Wall to the Graveyard to protect Master Key Beetle. Zeng Set a monster, still with six cards in hand.

Lopez drew Soul Drain, Set it, and used Master Key Beetle on it before destroying Flamvell Guard in battle.

In Zeng’s Standby Phase, he flipped Soul Drain, limiting Zeng’s options even further. Zeng played Sacred Sword of Seven Stars, banishing Tidal, then he played Mystical Space Typhoon to finally destroy Dimensional Fissure. He discarded Flamvell Guard and Blaster to destroy Master Key Beetle. He discarded Redox with Ravine, sending Tempest to the Graveyard. Next he played a new Ravine, discarding another Redox to add Dragunity Corseca to his hand. He discarded Corseca with Cards of Consonance, then Set his last two cards to his back row.

Lopez drew Zephyros. He attacked directly with it, finally dealing some damage to Zeng’s Life Points!

Zeng flipped Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Soul Drain. He banished Tempest and Corseca from his Graveyard to revive Blaster, and Tempest gave him Debris Dragon. He used Redox from his Graveyard next, banishing another Redox and Flamvell Guard. When Redox hit the field, Lopez flipped his Torrential Tribute, Zeng used Royal Decree, and Lopez Chained Gozen Match! Gozen Match resolved first, and Zeng chose to keep Blaster. Decree then negated Torrential Tribute. Zeng discarded a spare copy of Dragon Ravine to use his on-field Ravine, sending Trigon to the Graveyard. He Normal Summoned Debris to revive Trigon, and finally moved to the Battle Phase. Blaster wiped out Zephyros, then Debris and Trigon struck directly. In Main Phase 2, Zeng Synchro Summoned Ancient Fairy Dragon, then Xyz Summoned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack. He created two Tokens, then Tributed one to destroy Gozen Match.

Lopez drew Kochi. He Set it.

Zeng made two more tokens with Dracossack, then Tributed one to destroy Kochi. He returned Blaster and attacked directly. Lopez looked at his next draw, Solemn Warning, and offered the handshake!

Joseph Zeng overcomes a massive amount of trouble to take the win with Dragon Rulers!