We did not cover former YCS winner Hooman Farahbakhsh in Day 1, because it would’ve spoiled the surprise: Hooman is one of the few successful Bujin Duelists in the tournament, but his deck is more than it seems.  He’s running a conversion Side Deck that lets him transition into Fire Fists between Games, keeping his opponents off balance and guessing at what to expect.

His opponent is Stephen Fein, a Mermail Duelist that shares Hooman’s X-1-1 record: that’s 8 wins, one loss, and one draw.  Both competitors are Vegas locals, and both were unclear as to whether or not they could make the Top 32 with a loss in this Round.

Hooman opened with a hand of Fire Formation – Tenki; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Honest; Torrential Tribute; and not one, but two Bujin Yamato!  No Bujingis in sight yet, but Yamato would probably take care of that.  Hoomaned activated Fire Formation – Tenki to search Bujin Mikazuchi, then Set Torrential and searched Bujingi Hare in his End Phase with Yamato’s ability, discarding it to complete the effect.  “Go ahead.”

Fein drew to six and destroyed Hooman’s Torrential with Mystical Space Typhoon.  He Normal Summoned Mermail Abysslinde, ran it into Yamato, and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssleed to attack Yamato; Hooman dropped Honest to turn the tables and blow Abyssleed away!  Fein Set a single card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Hooman drew Fire Formation – Gyokkou to lock it down!  He Summoned Mikazuchi, attacked with both of his Bujin Beast-Warriors, and suddenly Fein was down to 1600 Life Points!  Yamato searched and discarded Bujingi Turtle, and Mikazuchi got Hooman a free Bujincarnation from his Deck!  This one was over.

Fein drew to four cards in hand, discarding Mermail Abyssdine and Atlantean Heavy Infantry to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He destroyed Fire Formation – Gyokkou with Heavy Infantry, and searched Abyss-sphere with Abyssmegalo.  Salvage got him back his Abysslinde and Heavy Infantry, and Fein Normal Summoned Infantry.  He fed it to Abyssmegalo to turn it into a double attacker, targeting Yamato for destruction: Hooman Chained Bujingi Turtle’s effect to keep his Yamato safe.  Abyssmegalo attacked Yamato once; Hooman opted not to protect it with Bujingi Hare, losing the Yamato; and then shielded Mikazuchi with the Hare moments later when Abyssmegalo made its second attack.  Hooman had 7100 Life Points to Fein’s 1600.  Fein Set another Spell or Trap.

Hooman drew another Yamato!  He Summoned it immediately, then searched his Extra Deck for options: he settled on Xyz Summoning Bujintei Susanowo.  Fein flipped Bottomless Trap Hole, but immediately offered the handshake when Hooman revealed his Bujincarnation.

Hooman Farahbakhsh captures the first Duel off a tremendous opening, demolishing the Duel in short order with a Bujin Yamato and Bujin Mikazuchi team-up!  Now it was time: would Hooman Side Deck out his Bujin cards to transition into Fire Fists?

Fein Set four cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone to open the Duel.

Hooman had Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Leopard; Torrential Tribute; Forbidden Lance; Book of Moon; Mystical Space Typhoon; and Pot of Duality.  He activated Duality, revealing Bottomless Trap Hole, Fire Formation – Tenki, and Fire Formation – Gyokkou: he added Tenki to his hand and shuffled the rest back.  He activated Tenki, but Fein fired back with Mystical Space Typhoon on the Chain to stop it from resolving.  Hooman Set Torrential.  Fein flipped Abyss-sphere in the End Phase, prompting Hooman to blast it with Mystical Space Typhoon.

Fein drew to three in hand with two cards Set.  Another Mystical Space Typhoon ripped away Hooman’s Torrential, and Fien Special Summoned Mermail Abyssteus by pitching Aqua Spirit.  He searched Mermail Abyssocea, Normal Summoned it, targeted Abyssteaus with Abyssocea’s effect, and Special Summoned Mermail Abyssdine and Mermail Abysslinde by sending Abyssteus to the Graveyard.  He attacked with Abyssdine, then Abyssocea, then Abysslinde, and in Main Phase 2 he overlaid Abyssocea and Abyssdine for Mechquipped Angineer.

Hooman drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear and sunk into a deep contemplation, up against two face-down backrows, Abysslinde, and Mechquipped Angineer.  Almost a full minute later he Summoned the Bear and attacked Angineer, prompting Fein to turn Angineer to Defense Position with its own effect.  Hooman Set Book and Lance.

Fein turned Angineer to Attack Position next turn, then Normal Summoned his last card from his hand: his topdeck for the turn was Atlantean Marksman.

He overlaid Abysslinde and Marksman for Ghostrick Alucard: Hooman turned it face-down with Book of Moon. Fein attacked Bear with Angineer, and Hooman played Lance in the Damage Step, blowing away Angineer and searching Fire Formation – Tenki, Setting it with Bear’sa bility.  Fein seemed to have played right into Hooman’s plans!

Hooman drew Fire Formation – Tensu, immediately flipping his Tenki to search his Deck for Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Gorilla. He Summoned it, and Fein responded with Overworked, destroying Bear and Gorilla!  Hooman had no rejoinder, and ended his turn.  Suddenly Fein was back in control!

He Flip Summoned Ghostrick Alucard and attacked to drop Hooman to 2600 Life Points. He Set a second Spell or Trap in Main Phase 2.

Hooman drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Rooster.  He thought a moment, activated Fire Formation – Tensu, then Normal Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Leopard to search his Deck for another Tenki.  He flipped it, but lost out to Dust Tornado!  Fein had ripped it last turn.  Hooman groaned: “He draws Dust!  Go ahead.”

Fein hit him with Ghostrick Alucard and Set his topdeck to his backrow once again.

Hooman drew Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear, still holding Rooster with Tensu and Tenki on the field.  He Summoned Rooster, then used its effect to send Tenki to the Graveyard.  But Fein flipped Fiendish Chain, and when Hooman Summoned Brotherhood of the Fire Fist - Bear Fein flipped his topdecked Overworked, spelling the end of Game 2!

Some huge topdecks on both sides of the table, but that first Overworked and a series of spot-on plays from Fein leave him one step ahead of Hooman for virtually the entire Duel!  One more game would decide the Match, and Hooman had to make a decision of his own: Bujins, or Fire Fists?

Bujins!  Hooman had Bujingi Hare; Thunder King Rai-Oh; Fiendish Chain; Forbidden Lance; and two Bujin Yamato!  He Summoned one of them, then Set Chain, searching Bujingi Crane in the End Phase and loading Bujingi Hare to the Graveyard.

Fein needed to shut this down before it really got going, or he wouldn’t have a chance here.  He spent a moment fingering through his Extra Deck with a displeased look on his face, fully aware of how good Hooman’s opening set-up was.  “How many cards?  Four, right?”  Hooman fanned his hand, displaying four cards.  Fein Summoned Mermail Abysspike, pitching Mermail Abyssturge: when Hooman flipped Fiendish Chain Fein had nothing to stop it!  He Set two cards to his backrow.

Hooman drew Bujin Mikazuchi and Summoned it.  Fein shook his head.  Hooman attacked Abysspike with Mikazuchi, destroying it, and when he attacked with Yamato Fein checked his face-downs and gave a small sigh.  He shook his head: “That’s fine.”  He took the damage, dropping to 5900 Life Points.  Hooman moved to his End Phase, Fein tried to Fiendish Chain Yamato, and Hooman Chained his Forbidden Lance!  He searched and pitched Bujingi Turtle with Yamato, then searched Bujincarnation with Mikazuchi!

Fein Set another backrow card, his Fiendish Chain now locked in on Yamato.  “Go.”

Hooman drew another Forbidden Lance!  He overlaid Mikazuchi and Yamato for Bujintei Susanowo, and when Fein flipped Bottomless Trap Hole Hooman kept Susanowo alive with Bujingi Hare, banishing it.  He detached Mikazuchi to send another Bujingi Hare to the Graveyard with Susanowo’s effect, then Normal Summoned his second Yamato.  It attacked for 1800 Battle Damage, Susanowo followed, and Fein was down to 1700 Life Points!  Yamato searched Hooman another Bujingi Turtle, which he promptly placed in the Graveyard.

Fein took a deep breath and drew for his turn, not looking happy.  He puffed his cheeks out in another sigh and rubbed his eye, asking the Feature Judge, “So, do you know if X-2-1’s can make it?”  Fein spent some time looking for options, before pitching Mermail Abyssgunde and Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls to Special Summon Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He Special Summoned Mermail Abyssturge with Abyssgunde, bringing it up in Defense Position, and searched Abyss-sphere.  He banished Abysspike and Abyssgunde to Special Summon Tidal as time was called: five turns would be played after this one.

Fein sent Tidal to attack Susanowo, and before damage he flipped Mind Crush, calling Bujingi Crane: Hooman banished Bujingi Hare and lost his Crane, taking 200 Battle Damage.  He crashed Abyssmegalo into Susanowo to destroy both monsters: “I know where I messed up…” another sigh.  He Set his last card to his backrow.

Hooman drew Fiendish Chain.  He Normal Summoned Thunder King Rai-Oh, overlaid for Number 101: Silent Honor ARK, and took Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls.  He attacked over Abyssturge, leaving Fein with nothing but that Set Abyss-sphere, and Set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Fein drew – this was Turn 2 of the End of Match Procedures.  He passed.

Hooman drew another Yamato!  He Normal Summoned it, attacking with Number 101: Silent Honor ARK into Abyss-sphere: Fein flipped it for Mermail Abysslinde, and Hooman, secure in knowing that Fein’s next turn would be his last and that he only had to survive, keeping his 7800 to 1700 Life Points lead, moved to the End Phase.  Hooman searched and pitched Bujin Mikazuchi with Yamato’s effect, and Fein traded his Mermail Abysslinde for Mermail Abyssmegalo.

He drew to two cards in hand.  “Last turn…”  He fanned his Graveyard, searching for answers.  Looked at the field, searching for answers.  He pitched Atlantean Marksman for Mermail Abyssteus, targeting the Set Fiendish Chain with Marksman.  Hooman Chained it, hitting Abyssteus with Fiendish Chain and stopping its effect!  That left Fein to Xyz Summon Number 11: Big Eye, detaching to take Number 101: Silent Honor ARK.  It attacked Yamato, Hooman flipped Lance and it was all over!

Hooman Farahbakhsh clinches his seat in the Top 32, with Bujins siding into Fire Fists!