A Washington native, Eduardo Elliot is Dueling with a Yosenju variant that specializes in lightning fast wins with a flurry of attacks. He is Setting at a 3-1 record, fairly reasonable at this point in the tournament. His opponent is Northern California’s Danny Linares, piloting a Burning Abyss Deck that has been a major contender thus far. Can Yosenju beat the consistent power of Burning Abyss or will the Malebranches drag the Yosenjus down to the shadow realm?

Elliot won the roll and chose to go first.

Duel One:

Elliot opened a hand of Yosenju Kama 1, Yosenju Kama 3, Yosenju Tsujik, Fire Formation – Tenki, and Yosenju’s Secret Move. He activated Fire Formation – Tenki, adding Yosenju Kama 1 to his hand. He ended his turn after Setting Yosenju’s Secret Move to his back row.

Linares drew and looked pensive, ultimately deciding to Set a single card to his back row before ending.

Elliot drew Raigeki for turn, Normal Summoning Yosenju Kama 1 and using its effect to Normal Summon Yosenju Kama 3, he then used Yosenju Kama 3 to Normal Summon another Yosenju Kama 1, and used that Yosenju Kama 1 to Normal Summon Yosenju Tsujik! He used Yosenju Tsujik’s effect to pump things up, then swung directly with all four Yosenjus to put Linares down to 900 Life Points while adding Yosenju’s Secret Move off of Yosenju Kama 3’s effect. He went to Main Phase 2, overlaying Yosenju Kama 1 with Yosenju Kama 3 for Gagaga Cowboy; he used its effect to deal 800, and then overlayed for a second Gagaga Cowboy and Linares conceded!

Boom! Just like that Elliot does his Yosenju thing, showing the impressive lightning fast win that the Deck is capable of. Can he pull it off game two or will Linares be able to mount a comeback?

Linares chose for Elliot to go first after siding.

Duel Two:

Elliot opened with a hand of two Mystical Space Typhoon, Raigeki, Vanity’s Emptiness, Mirror Force, and Yosenju Kama 3. He Set his two traps along with Mystical Space Typhoon before ending.

Linares started off by revealing Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon it, then Normal Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, but when the Graff hit the Field Elliot Flipped his Set Vanity’s Emptiness in an attempt to stop Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. Unfortunately, Linares activated Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying Elliot’s Set Mystical Space Typhoon and causing the Vanity’s Emptiness to destroy itself as well. He then overlayed the two for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, using its effect to send Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Foolish Burial to the Graveyard by detaching Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. In a new Chain, both Graff and Cagna triggered, allowing Linares to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and send Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. He Special Summoned Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next, overlaying it with Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for another Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending two copies of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss along with Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard by detaching Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Cir then activated, Special Summoning Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard. He went to Battle Phase, but when he swung with Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss it prompted Elliot to Flip his Mirror Force! Both of the Dantes triggered, allowing Linares to add back Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss along with Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss to his hand. During the End Phase, Linares added Tour Guide from the Underworld to his hand off of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss’s effect.

Elliot drew Yosenju Shinchu L and contemplated what to do, but after looking through his Extra Decl he chose to pass turn.

Linares drew and Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, activating its effect to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then detached Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss sending Fairy Wind, Snatch Steal, and Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard to pump Dante, Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard via Cir in a new Chain. He Special Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand and followed it up with Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He declared attacks with Farfa, Graff, and Dante, leaving Elliot with 3500 Life Points. He Set two cards to his back row and ended his turn.

Elliot drew Fire Formation – Tenki for turn and held it dramatically in the air before adding it to his hand. He activated Raigeki, destroying Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, allowing Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to put back another Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He then activated Fire Formation – Tenki, adding Yosenju Kama 1 to his hand before placing Yosenju Shinchu L on a Pendulum Scale. He Normal Summoned Yosenju Kama 1, using its effect to Normal Summon Yosenju Kama 3, but that prompted Linares to use Enemy Controller to tribute his Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to take control of Yosenju Kama 1. The Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss then activated, Special Summoning Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard. Elliot moved to End Phase, adding both of the Yosenjus back to his hand while Linares add Tour Guide from the Underworld thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Linares drew for turn, then Normal Summoned the recently added Tour Guide from the Underworld. He used its effect to Special Summon Alich, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, then overlayed it with the Tour Guide from the Underworld for Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction. Seeing the writing on the wall Elliot conceded.

Without having anything proactive early, Elliot’s Yosenjus got ran over by Linares’s Burning Abyss Deck. Now with the match at 1-1, who will claim the final Duel?

Elliot chose to go first.

Duel Three:

Elliot opened a hand of Yosenju Kama 3, Yosenju Kama 2, Raigeki, Macro Cosmos, and Banisher of Radiance. He Normal Summoned Banisher, then Set Macro Cosmos before ending.

Linares drew and immediately snapped down Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Elliot’s Set Macro Cosmos before Special Summong Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss so that he could Xyz Summon Mechquipped Angineer. He Normal Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld next, Special Summoning Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and overlaying for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss; he declared an attack with Angineer over Banisher of Radiance and then directly with Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. In Main Phase 2 he just Set a back row before ending his turn.

Elliot drew Mirror Force for turn, a little too late. He Normal Summoned Yosenju Kama 2, using its effect to Normal Summon Yosenju Kama 1, but when it hit the Field, Linares used Mechquipped Angineer’s effect, detaching Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to shift itself to Defense Position so that he could banish Elliot’s Yosenju Kama 1 until the end of the turn. He moved to Battle Phase next, attacking directly with Yosenju Kama 2 via its effect, and Set Mirror Force and during the End Phase he added back both of his Yosenjus.

Linares drew to two cards, then activated Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss by detaching Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to send Tour Guide from the Underworld, Enemy Controller, and Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. Cagna, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss then sent Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard as well, while Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss Special Summoned Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. The Libic then destroyed itself because Linares controlled Mechquipped Angineer, which let him use Libic’s effect to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand with its effect negated. He switched the Dante along with Angineer to attack mode, then went to Battle Phase and declared attacks with all of his Monsters, not prompting Elliot to want to use his Mirror Force.

Elliot drew Yosenju Kama 3 for turn, then Normal Summoned Yosenju Kama 2 which let him Normal Summon Yosenju Kama 1, which then let him Normal Summon Yosenju Kama 3. He used Yosenju Kama 1’s effect, targeting Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and returning it to the Extra Deck . He then went to Battle Phase, declaring a direct attack with Yosenju Kama 2 thanks to its effect, then searching Yosenju’s Secret Move thanks to Yosenju Kama 3. In Main Phase 2, Elliot Set Raigeki and Yosenju’s Secret Move to his back row before returning his Yosenjus to his hand, but Linares used Mechquipped Angineer on his own Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to detach Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and add Tour Guide from the Underworld once it hit the Graveyard.

Linares drew for turn as time was called, with his Life Points standing at 6200 to Elliot’s 900. With three cards in hand he contemplated his next move, knowing that his sequencing would be crucial. He ultimately decided to Normal Summon Tour Guide from the Underworld, using its effect to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He switched his Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Attack Mode then went to Battle Phase, he declared an attack with Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss but Elliot used his last piece of protection: Mirror Force. All of the Monsters hit the bin and Linares got his Cir and Graff’s effects, Special Summoning Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss respectively in Attack Mode. And with the attack of Libic, Elliot sheepishly Flipped a Raigeki and that was it! The damage went through and Linares won the Duel!

Linares manages to come back and win both Duel two and Duel three, pressing on in the tournament with a 4-1 record!