Local Seattle VIP Duelist Yueqi Zhu finished the Swiss Rounds with a 9-1 record this weekend, earning a first place finish at the end of Swiss. His opponent, Zhe Sun from Missouri, finished off with a 7-2-1 record, just making it into the Top 32 with a thirty-second place finish at the end of the Swiss Rounds. Now, they’re Dueling against one another in a Nekroz mirror-Match that will eliminate one of these 2 Duelists from the tournament once and for all. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Zhu won the die roll and chose to go first. He opened up with 2 copies of Preparation of Rites, Book of Moon, Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz, and Nekroz of Brionac. He activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Mirror to his hand. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac to activate its effect and add Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Mirror next, Tributing Shurit from his hand to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus. He activated Shurit’s effect to add Nekroz of Trishula from his Deck to his hand. He Tributed Nekroz of Valkyrus along with the Nekroz of Trishula in his hand to draw Mystical Space Typhoon and Dark Hole with the effect of his Nekroz of Valkyrus. Next, Zhu banished Nekroz Mirror and Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard to search his Deck for Nekroz Cycle and add it to his hand with the effect of Nekroz Mirror. He passed his turn with an empty field.

Sun activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore by sending Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He activated the effect of Herald of the Arc Light to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. Sun Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands next, and activated its effect to add Nekroz Cycle from his Deck to his hand. He combined Nekroz of Unicore with Manju to Xyz Summon Lavalval Chain and then detached Manju to send Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his Deck to his Graveyard with Lavalval Chain’s effect. He attacked directly with Lavalval Chain and then activated Nekroz Cycle. He banished Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Clausolas in Defense Position and then discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Nekroz of Gungnir from his Deck to his hand. Sun Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Zhu drew Senju of the Thousand Hands and then Summoned Senju to the field. He activated its effect, and Sun Chained his face-down Shared Ride. Zhu Chained Book of Moon to put Nekroz of Clausolas face-down. Zhu added Nekroz of Brionac to his hand with the effect of his Senju, and Sun drew a card with the effect of Shared Ride. Next, Zhu discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz from his Deck to his hand, and Sun drew another card. Zhu activated Nekroz Cycle next. He Tributed Shurit to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula, and banished an Mystical Space Typhoon from Sun’s hand, Lavalval Chain from his field, and Nekroz Cycle from his Graveyard. Zhu Set all 3 cards in his hand to his back row before passing his turn.

Sun Flip Summoned Nekroz of Clausolas and then attacked Senju to destroy his own monster. Next, he banished Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand. He Summoned Senju next, and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope and sent Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore. He activated the effect of Herald of the Arc Light to add Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Deck to his hand. He activated Foolish Burial next, sending Glow-Up Bulb from his Deck to his Graveyard. He discarded Nekroz of Gungnir to give his Nekroz of Unicore protection for the turn and then Zhu flipped Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying his own Dark Hole, as a defensive maneuver against Evilswarm Exciton Knight. Sun combined Senju with Nekroz of Unicore to Xyz Summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer instead, and detached both Xyz Materials from it to shuffle Nekroz of Trishula back into Zhu’s Deck.

Zhu drew Dark Hole and then flipped his face-down Preparation of Rites. He added Nekroz Cycle and Nekroz of Unicore to his hand, discarded Nekroz of Unicore to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz from his Graveyard to his hand, and then activated Nekroz Cycle to Tribute Shurit from his hand and Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus. He Tributed Nekroz of Valkyrus and Senju with the effect of Nekroz of Valkyrus to draw 2 cards from his Deck. Next, he banished Nekroz Cycle and Nekroz of Unicore from his Graveyard to activate the effect of his Nekroz Cycle and add Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand. He Summoned Manju next, and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope and sent Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore and then used the effect of his Herald of the Arc Light to add Nekroz Mirror to his hand. He combined Nekroz of Unicore with Senju to Xyz Summon Lavalval Chain and then detached Nekroz of Unicore to send Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Nekroz Mirror next, banishing Nekroz of Brionac and the Djinn from his Graveyard to Summon Nekroz of Trishula! He banished Castel from the field, Nekroz Mirror from Sun’s hand, and Nekroz Kaleidoscope from Sun’s Graveyard with the effect of Nekroz of Trishula. Lavalval Chain attacked, and Sun discarded Nekroz of Valkyrus from his hand and banished a Nekroz monster from his Graveyard to block the attack and end the Battle Phase.

Sun activated Raigeki to clear Zhu’s field and then Summoned Tackle Crusader! He attacked directly with Tackle Crusader and then ended his turn.

Zhu banished Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Deck to his hand and then activated Dark Hole to clear the field. He passed his turn with a clear field.

Sun drew the Mathematician and Summoned it to the field. He activated its effect to send Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz from his Deck to his Graveyard and then Special Summoned Glow-Up Bulb from his Graveyard by sending Nekroz of Unicore from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He attacked directly with Glow-Up Bulb and Mathematician before ending his turn.

Zhu activated Raigeki to clear the field and then passed his turn.

Sun Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and activated its effect to add Nekroz Mirror from his Deck to his hand. He attacked directly with Manju, dropping Zhu down to 1700 Life Points, and then Set a card to his back row before passing his turn.

Zhu Set Mystical Space Typhoon and then ended his turn.

Sun Set a card to his back row and then attacked directly with Manju. Zhu discarded Nekroz of Valkyrus from his hand to stop the attack. In Sun’s End Phase, Zhu activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Sun’s face-down Nekroz Cycle.

Zhu drew Manju next turn! He Summoned it to the field and then activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope next, and sent Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore. Next, he used the effect of his Herald of the Arc Light to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. He combined Manju with Nekroz of Unicore to Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral and then detached Nekroz of Unicore from Daigusto Emeral to activate its effect. He shuffled 3 of the monsters in his Graveyard back into his Deck and drew Nekroz of Gungnir. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Unicore to add Nekroz Mirror from his Graveyard to his hand and then activated Nekroz Mirror to banish Shurit from his Graveyard and Special Summon Nekroz of Gungnir. He attacked Manju with Daigusto Emeral to destroy it and then attacked directly with Nekroz of Gungnir to drop Sun down to 4900 Life Points.

Sun Set a monster and passed his turn.

Zhu detached another Xyz Material from Daigusto Emeral to shuffle 3 more monsters back into his Deck and draw another card. He attacked with Nekroz of Gungnir to destroy Shurit and then attacked directly with Daigusto Emeral to drop Sun down to 600 Life Points.

Sun drew a card and then offered the handshake!

Yueqi Zhu patiently gains the advantage in Duel 1 to take the first victory! Only 3 minutes are left in the round for the Duelists to complete their Match and begin Duel 2!

Duel Two

Sun chose to go first and time in the round was called immediately after beginning the Duel! He Summoned Senju and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope and sent Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore and then added Nekroz Cycle from his Deck to his hand with the effect of his Herald of the Arc Light. Next, he combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Lavalval Chain and detached an Xyz Material to activate his Chain’s effect and send Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Nekroz Cycle next, banishing his Djinn from his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard.

Zhu Summoned Mathematician and activated its effect to send Tackle Crusader from his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated his Crusader’s effect to put Nekroz of Clausolas face-down. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. Next, he activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope, and Sun Chained Maxx “C”. Zhu sent Star Eater from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard and Special Summoned Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Gungnir from his hand. Sun drew a card with the effect of Maxx “C”. Zhu entered his Battle Phase, discarded Nekroz of Unicore to destroy Sun’s face-down Nekroz of Clausolas with Nekroz of Gungnir’s effect, and then attacked Lavalval Chain to destroy it with Mathematician. Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Gungnir attacked directly, dropping Sun down to 3200 Life Points.

Sun banished Nekroz Cycle and Nekroz of Unicore from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Mirror from his Deck to his hand and then activated Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Nekroz of Gungnir to his hand. He Summoned Manju next, and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz from his Deck to his hand and then activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope, Tributing the Shurit from his hand to Special Summon Nekroz of Gungnir. He used the effect of Shurit to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand before realizing he was defeated. He conceded, acknowledging that he would be unable to deal enough damage to Zhu to win the Duel.

VIP Yueqi Zhu is moving on to the Top 16!