We’re almost done with Day 1! For Round 8, we’ve got a Chicago Duelist, Boris Martinez. He’s using Satellarknights today, and so far has a great record. He’s up against Sacramento’s Denny Yu, who’s using Nekroz.

Duel 1

Martinez started off with Call of the Haunted, Stellarnova Alpha, Raigeki, Reinforcement of the Army, and Satellarknight Unukalhai. He played Unukalhai, putting Satellarknight Deneb in the Graveyard. He Set Call and Stellarnova Alpha.

Yu Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands, adding Nekroz of Brionac to his hand. He discarded that, adding Nekroz of Unicore to his hand, and discarded Unicore to get back Brionac. He Set a back row card. In the End Phase, Martinez used Call of the Haunted, but lost it to Yu’s Mystical Space Typhoon.

Martinez drew Honest. He played Reinforcement of the Army, getting Satellarknight Altair, and it revived Deneb. Deneb’s effect searched out another Altair, putting it in Martinez’s hand. When he tried to attack, Yu used Nekroz of Valkyrus to end the Battle Phase. Martinez stacked Deneb and Unukalhai to Xyz Summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer. He detached both Xyz Materials to shuffle Senju back into Yu’s Deck.

Yu played Raigeki, and Martinez negated it with Stellarnova Alpha, which let him draw Upstart Goblin. Yu continued, playing Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to search out Nekroz of Unicore. He discarded Nekroz of Clausolas next, getting Nekroz Kaleidoscope. He played that, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon Unicore. Herald’s effect searched for Nekroz Mirror. Yu discarded Brionac next, getting Nekroz of Trishula. He played Nekroz Mirror, banishing Clausolas and Brionac to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula! Trishula’s effect banished Deneb from Martinez’s Graveyard, Castel from his field, and Honest from his hand! Yu attacked with Manju, Unicore, and Trishula, leaving Martinez with only 1600 Life Points! In Main Phase 2, Yu stacked Manju and Unicore for Number 106: Giant Hand!

Martinez drew Pot of Duality, and he blew away Giant Hand and Trishula with Raigeki! He Normal Summoned Altair, bringing back Unukalhai. That let him send Deneb to the Graveyard. Altair attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, Martinez Xyz Summoned Number 80: Rhapsody in Berserk, and it was hit by Yu’s Book of Eclipse. Martinez played Upstart Goblin, drawing another copy. He played that too, drawing Solemn Warning – no good with so little Life Points. He Set it and Pot of Duality, and in the End Phase he drew Deneb thanks to Book of Eclipse.

Yu banished Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Unicore to add Nekroz Cycle to his hand. Next, he banished Nekroz Mirror and Nekroz of Valkyrus to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope. Reinforcement of the Army gave him Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz, then he used Nekroz Cycle with Shurit for another Trishula! He hit Deneb from the Graveyard, Deneb from the hand, and Pot of Duality from the field! Shurit’s effect gave him Brionac, which searched for Unicore. He played Nekroz Kaleidoscope, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard to Ritual Summon Unicore. When he made it to the Battle Phase, Martinez couldn’t stop him!

Denny Yu takes the first game, dropping multiple Trishula and even a Giant Hand! The Duelists moved to their Side Decks, hoping to swing things more in their favor in this second Duel.

Duel 2

Yu began with a back row card.

Martinez started with Reinforcement of the Army, 2 Mind Crush, Imperial Iron Wall, Honest, and Stellarnova Alpha. Reinforcement gave him Satellarknight Unukalhai, and he played it to send Satellarknight Deneb to the Graveyard. He attacked directly, and everything but Honest. Things were looking good, right up until Yu flipped Royal Decree.

Yu played Denko Sekka. He used Reinforcement of the Army to get Nekroz of Clausolas, which he discarded to add Nekroz Mirror. He played it, Tributing Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula! Trishula banished Honest from the hand, Deneb from the Graveyard, and Unukalhai from the field! Shurit let him search for Nekroz of Brionac. He played Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz Mirror and Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. Next, he discarded Brionac to add Nekroz of Valkyrus to his hand. He attacked directly with his monsters. When Martinez drew Mystical Space Typhoon, he knew he had no way to survive!

Denny Yu takes the win, with Nekroz!