Matt Kolenda is one of this weekend’s “VIP” Duelists. Kolenda won his local “VIP Qualifier” with his Burning Abyss Deck, and earned a special seat in the VIP area this weekend, along with 2 free wins for the first two rounds of the tournament. Now he’s back using his Burning Abyss Deck in this Round 3 Feature Match! John Huff from Nashville, Tennessee earned his first 2 wins this weekend by defeating 2 opponents with his Nekroz Deck. Now, only one of these 2 Duelists will advance with a perfect 3-0 record. Will it be Matt Kolenda and his Burning Abyss monsters, or John Huff and his Nekroz monsters? We’re about to find out. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Kolenda won the die roll and chose to go second.

Huff started off Duel 1 by Summoning Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and activating its effect. Kolenda discarded Effect Veiler from his hand to try to negate its effect, and Huff Chained Book of Moon from his hand to put Manju face-down. He used Manju’s effect to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand and then discarded it to add Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Deck to his hand. He activated Trade-In next, discarding Nekroz of Valkyrus to draw 2 cards. Next, he activated Reinforcement of the Army to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Mirror to his hand and then activated Nekroz Cycle. He Tributed Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Graveyard and then activated Shurit’s effect to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. Finally, he activated his Valkyrus’s effect to Tribute it along with his on-field Manju and draw 2 cards.

Kolenda started off his first turn with Foolish Burial, Raigeki, Crane Crane, and 2 copies of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss left in his hand. He activated Foolish Burial to send Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his Graveyard and then activated Graff’s effect to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck in Attack Position. Next, he Normal Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and combined it with Cir to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Attack Position. He detached Scarm to activate Dante’s effect and send Raigeki Break and 2 copies of Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He attacked directly with Dante, and Kolenda discarded Nekroz of Valkyrus from his hand and banished a Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Graveyard to stop Dante’s attack. In Main Phase 2, Kolenda upgraded his Dante into Downerd Magician, and in his End Phase, he added Tour Guide From the Underworld to his hand with the effect of Scarm.

Huff banished Nekroz Cycle and Nekroz of Valkyrus from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand with the effect of his Nekroz Cycle. Next, he Summoned Senju and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore 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. He added Nekroz of Trishula to his hand with the effect of Herald of the Arc Light. Next, Huff activated Nekroz Mirror! He Tributed Nekroz of Brionac and Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his hand to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula, and activated its effect to banish Downerd Magician from the field, Crane Crane from Kolenda’s hand, and Graff from Kolenda’s Graveyard. Kolenda added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand with the effect of Dante when it was sent to the Graveyard. Next, Huff attacked directly with Nekroz of Trishula, Senju, and Nekroz of Unicore, dropping Kolenda down to 1600 Life Points. He Set Forbidden Lance before ending his turn.

Kolenda activated Raigeki, but Huff flipped Forbidden Lance to protect his Nekroz of Trishula! Kolenda Set Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss before passing.

Huff attacked Kolenda’s face-down Scarm with Nekroz of Trishula to destroy it. Kolenda added Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his hand with the effect of Scarm.

Kolenda drew Vanity’s Emptiness and then Set Farfa.

Huff Summoned Denko Sekka! He attacked the face-down Farfa with Trishula and Kolenda used Farfa’s effect to banish Denko Sekka until the End Phase in order to stay in the Duel. Denko Sekka returned to the field End Phase.

Kolenda conceded, unable to Special Summon due to the Nekroz of Trishula Summoned using Djinn Releaser of Rituals.

John Huff dominates the first Duel with Nekroz of Trishula!

Duel Two

Huff started off Duel 2 by Summoning Senju of the Thousand Hands and activating its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Cycle to his hand. He activated Nekroz Cycle next, Tributing Djinn Releaser of Rituals from his hand and Special Summoning Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard. Huff Set a card to his back row before passing.

Kolenda opened up with 2 copies of Spell Canceller, Mind Crush, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Mask Change II. He Set Scarm and Mind Crush, and then ended his turn, losing his Mind Crush to Huff’s Mystical Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

Huff Summoned Senju 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 from his hand. Next, he activated the effect of Herald of the Arc Light to add Nekroz of Trishula to his hand. He attacked Kolenda’s face-down Scarm with Nekroz of Unicore to destroy it, and then attacked directly with both copies of Senju to drop Kolenda down to 5200 Life Points. In his End Phase, Kolenda added Tour Guide From the Underworld from his Deck to his hand with Scarm’s effect.

Kolenda drew Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare and then Set Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Traptrix Trap Hole Nightmare, and Mask Change II.

Huff combined both of his Senjus to Summon Daigusto Emeral and then activated its effect by detaching a Senju; but his Emeral’s effect was negated by his own Unicore! Unicore attacked Farfa, and when Kolenda tried to banish Nekroz of Clausolas with Farfa’s effect, Huff discarded Nekroz of Trishula from his hand to protect it! Next, Daigusto Emeral attacked directly, dropping Kolenda down to 3400 Life Points.

Kolenda Set Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and passed.

Huff attacked Kolenda’s face-down Rubic with Daigusto Emeral, losing 200 Life Points, and then attacked Rubic with Nekroz of Unicore to destroy it.

Kolenda conceded on his next turn, unable to break out Huff’s Djinn lock.

John Huff takes a quick 2-0 victory with his Nekroz Deck thanks to Djinn Releaser of Rituals!