Ladies and gentlemen, it’s very possible that the Cashman Center here in downtown Las Vegas will go down in the history books as “Chancy Wigglestove’s house.”  Yesterday we saw Wigglestove demolish opponent after opponent, including a 2-0 Feature Match against veteran competitor Michael Klasel, playing with his cards upside-down and Dragon Ice Main Decked.  He’d probably be undefeated if he hadn’t gotten a game loss last round, showing up late because he needed to use the men’s room.  “I figured I could either go then, or go now in the Top 32.  It was the right decision.”  As it stands Wigglestove’s currently 10-1; first seed in the Top 32.

His opponent in this Mermail mirror Match is Stephen Fein, who we saw just last round, in a spectacular Match that he ultimately lost against Hooman Farahbakhsh.  While Fein’s playing a largely conventional Mermail build with Mermail Abyssdine as a tech pick, Wigglestove’s running Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord, Fishborg Archer, Salvages, and multiple Genex Controllers.  It’s apparently an effective mix, but would it hold out under the pressure of the Top 32 spotlight?  Was Wigglestove a genius, or just on a Vegas lucky streak?

Wigglestove opened the Match with a hand of Mystical Space Typhoon; Salvage; Moulinglacia the Elemental Lord; Genex Undine; Mermail Abysspike; and Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He Summoned Undine to kick Atlantean Dragoons to his Graveyard, searching Genex Controller and Atlantean Heavy Infantry.  He Set Typhoon.

Fein Summoned Mermail Abysslinde, attacked Undine, and Set two cards to his backrow.

Wigglestove drew another Mystical Space Typhoon.  He Summoned Abysspike, discarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry for its ability, searched Atlantean Marksman and blew away Mermail Abysslinde.  Fein Special Summoned his own Abysspike, tossing another copy to search Genex Undine.  Wigglestove got back his Undine and Infantry with Salvage, then he discarded Infantry and Marksman for Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He targeted Abysspike with Infantry and one of Fein’s two Set backrow cards with Marksman: Fein lost Abysspike and his face-down Abyss-squall.  Wigglestove got Abyss-sphere with Abyssmegalo’s effect.  He attacked with Abyssmegalo, then Abysspike, dropping Fein to 4000 Life Points.  He Set ‘sphere.

Fein Summoned Genex Undine, sending Atlantean Dragoons to his Graveyard, searching Genex Controller and Mermail Abyssmegalo.  He revealed Mermail Abyssteus, discarding Mermail Abyssleed, and Special Summoned Abyssteus to search for Mermail Abyssdine.  He pitched Abyssdine and Mermail Abyssgunde for Abyssmegalo, searching another Abyss-sphere and reviving Mermail Abysslinde.  He stacked his Level 7’s for Number 11: Big Eye, stacked his Level 3’s for Mechquipped Angineer, and took control of Wigglestove’s ‘megalo with Big Eye.  Angineer attacked Mermail Abysspike to destroy it, and the pilfered Abyssmegalo scored a clean shot for 2400 Battle Damage.  Fein closed out his turn setting a second Spell or Trap Card, but Wigglestove had other ideas, destroying it with Mystical Space Typhoon: it was Abyss-sphere.

Wigglestove drew Torrential Tribute.  He activated his second Typhoon to clear Fein’s backrow of Torrential Tribute, and Summoned Undine to load his Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, getting another Controller.  That let him Special Summon Moulinglacia!  Fein had one card in hand, and Moulinglacia ripped it away: his Genex Controller.  Wigglestove banished Infantry and Marksman to revive Tidal, and with 4000 Life Points left Fein saw where this was going and conceded.

Stephen Fein makes a big push with Mechquipped Angineer and Number 11: Big Eye to try and secure the first Duel, but falls short and eats the pushback a turn later for game!  Another somewhat unconventional win for Wigglestove, now just one win away from the Top 16.

“I’m kinda scared,” remarked Wigglestove.  “I dunno… He plays ‘leed in his Deck?  It’s really strong in the mirror match.”

Fein opened with a Set monster and two cards Set to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Wigglestove had Debunk; Mermail Abyssmegalo; Atlantean Heavy Infantry; Torrential Tribute; Fishborg Archer; and Mermail Abysslinde.  He Summoned Abysslinde, attacked, and smacked Fein’s Abysslinde into the Graveyard: sure enough, he Special Summoned that Mermail Abyssleed!  Wigglestove Set Debunk, then pitched Heavy Infantry and Fishborg Archer for Mermail Abyssmegalo!  Fein borrowed Archer for a moment to read it over, before tying down Abyssmegalo with Fiendish Chain.  He lost his Abyssleed to Infantry, and Wigglestove Set his Torrential Tribute, now left with no cards in hand.

Fein drew to four cards in hand and Normal Summoned Genex Undine, pitching Atlantean Dragoons from his Deck to search Genex Controller and Mermail Abyssmegalo.  Now he had five cards in hand, with Undine on the field, the Fiendish Chain, and a Set unknown backrow.  He tossed Atlantean Marksman and Mermail Abyssocea to the Graveyard to reveal Mermail Abyssmegalo, activating its Special Summon effect, and Wigglestove hit it with Debunk.  Marksman destroyed his Torrential Tribute.  Now Fein had two cards in hand with one set and Undine on the field.  He passed.

Wigglestove topdecked Maxx “C” and attacked with Abysslinde over Undine.

Fein drew to three and passed.

Wigglestove drew Mystical Space Typhoon and made a direct attack with Abysslinde.  He Set Typhoon, losing it to Dust Tornado in the End Phase.

Fein drew to four cards in hand, his field now blank save the Fiendish Chain on Wigglestove’s Abyssmegalo.  He was up against Wigglestove’s Abysslinde, Chained Abyssmegalo, and the Maxx “C” he didn’t know Wigglestove had.  He Summoned Abyssturge and Set a backrow.

Wigglestove drew Atlantean Dragoons.  He turned Abyssmegalo to Defense Position, attacked with Abysslinde, and Fein activated the effect of Maxx “C” – he drew a card with it when Wigglestove Special Summoned Mermail Abysspike from his Deck in defense.  That let him pitch Atlantean Dragoons, searching Genex Undine and Atlantean Heavy Infantry.  Suddenly he was up to five cards from his previous two short minutes earlier.  He Summoned Undine in Main Phase 2, yarded Atlantean Heavy Infantry and got Genex Controller, destroying Fein’s Abyssturge.  He had six cards total.

Fein drew to three cards in hand, with Fiendish Chain on the field and one Set backrow.  Wigglestove seemed to have turned the tables. Fein Summoned Controller to run over Mermail Abysspike and Set a second card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Wigglestove drew Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls; Fein flipped Mind Crush to call Controller, and Wigglestove revealed his hand while tossing the Tuner – Fein saw the Tidal.  “Well… Top 32 was fun!” He laughed.  Wigglestove reassured him, “It’s still going on!”  He banished Abysspike and Dragoons to Special Summon Tidal, then attacked over Controller with it.  Undine made a direct attack to drop Fein to 3800 Life Points, and in Main Phase 2 Wigglestove overlaid Abyssmegalo and Tidal for Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack in Defense position, Special Summoning two Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens and Tributing one to pop Wigglestove’s useless Set Mystical Space Typhoon.

Fein drew to two cards in hand.  He pitched Mermail Abyssdine for Mermail Abyssteus, Wigglestove chained Maxx “C” to draw Mystical Space Typhoon, and Fein got Mermail Abysslinde.  He Summoned it, sent Abyssteus after Undine, and then cleared the Mecha Phantom Beast Token with Abysslinde, shaking his head.  “Go.”

Wigglestove ripped Salvage!  He detached for two more Mecha Phantom Beast Tokens, then played Salvage to get back Mermail Abysslinde and Genex Undine.  He Summoned Abysslinde, banished Infantry and Marksman to Special Summon Tidal, Dragon Ruler of Waterfalls, and turned Mecha Phantom Beast Dracossack to Attack Position.  He sent his Abysslinde to attack Fein’s; Fein Special Summoned Mermail Abyssmegalo; and Wigglestove got Mermail Abysspike, ditching Atlantean Heavy Infantry to search Mermail Abyssgunde and destroy the ‘megalo.  Tidal attacked over Abyssteus, and the Abysspike and Dracossack finished the Match.

Folks, Chancy Wigglestove is on a roll and now he’s headed to the Top 16 Draft!