Round 1 Feature Match: Craig Zimmerman versus R.F. Hunter
This weekend is going to be huge! It’s the 150th YCS here in Columbus, OH and it’s the first weekend that Crossed Souls is legal for play, so there’s sure to be tons of awesome new strategies over the course of the competition. 1763 Duelists have entered, and they’ve all got a shot at winning this monumental event. The first Match of the day features Craig Zimmerman from Wisconsin with Yang Zings, boosted by the power of brand new cards like Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing, Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, and Chaofeng, Phantom of the Yang Zing. His opponent is R.F. Hunter from Kentucky playing Nekroz, one of the biggest decks coming into this YCS. Hunter won the die roll and opted to go second.
Zimmerman opened with Mystical Space Typhoon, Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing, Jar of Avarice, and Oasis of the Dragon Souls. He Set Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, Set his Traps, and passed.
Hunter started with Upstart Goblin, drawing a card and giving Zimmerman 1000 Life Points. Next, he Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands and activated its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He followed that up with Reinforcement of the Army to grab a Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz from his deck. Then he used Nekroz Kaleidoscope sending Herald of Arc Light to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore. Herald of Arc Light activated and added a Nekroz Cycle to his hand. Hunter then overlaid his two monsters for Diamond Dire Wolf. Dire Wolf activated targeting itself and Jar of Avarice, destroying both. Next, Hunter used Preparation of Rites to add Nekroz of Clausolas and Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand from his Deck and Graveyard, respectively. Nekroz of Clausolas was discarded to add Nekroz Mirror and then Hunter used Nekroz Cycle discarding Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore from his Graveyard. Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz searched out a Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck. Then he used Nekroz Mirror banishing Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz from his Graveyard to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula. The Nekroz of Trishula banished Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing from Zimmerman’s hand, Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing from the field, and Jar of Avarice from the Graveyard. Finally, he attacked directly with Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Trishula to drop Zimmerman to 4000 Life Points.
Zimmerman drew Taotie, Shadow of the Yang Zing. Unable to make any progress, he conceded the first game! Hunter has an amazing start resolving almost all of his Nekroz Ritual Monster’s effects, and Zimmerman is unable to mount any sort of comeback. Could he take the next two games, or was this going to be a swift 2-0 victory at the hands of Nekroz? Zimmer chose to go second in the following game.
Hunter started out Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to add Nekroz of Clausolas, which was then used to search out Nekroz Kaleidoscope. Next, Hunter used Nekroz Kaleidoscope to send Herald of Arc Light to the grave to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore. Herald of Arc Light’s effect kicked in adding Nekroz Cycle to his hand. Then he used Nekroz Cycle sending Djinn Releaser of Rituals to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard. Then he Xyz Summoned Lavalval Chain and used its effect to place Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands on top of his deck! It was a huge opening.
Zimmerman opened with Torrential Tribute, Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing, Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Fiendish Chain. He drew Pot of Duality. He used the Pot of Duality to add a Mistake to his hand. He Normal Summoned Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing and declared and attack on Lavalval Chain for 100 damage. Then he Set Mistake, Fiendish Chain, and Torrential Tribute before ending his turn.
Hunter drew and Zimmerman flipped up Mistake! Hunter passed.
Zimmerman drew Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing. He then Normal Summoned Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing, not realizing that the Nekroz of Clausolas was used with Djinn Releaser of Rituals, locking Zimmerman out of Special Summons. He merely ended his turn with no further plays.
Hunter Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Zimmerman flipped up Fiendish Chain. Hunter ended his turn.
Zimmerman drew Fiendish Chain. He Tribute Summoned Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing by tributing Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing. Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing attacked Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands for 500 damage. He Set Fiendish Chain before ending his turn.
Hunter passed.
Zimmerman drew another Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing. He thought for a moment and then switched his Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing to Defense Positon. Then he Normal Summoned Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing and flipped up Torrential Tribute! He used Jiaotu, Darkness of the Yang Zing’s and Suanni, Fire of the Yang Zing’s effect to Special Summon Chiwen, Light of the Yang Zing and Zefraniu, Secret of the Yang Zing from his deck. Next, he Synchro Summoned Clear Wing Synchro Dragon using his two monsters. Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacked directly for 2500, dropping Hunter to 4900 Life Points. He Set Mystical Space Typhoon before ending his turn.
Hunter Set a monster and passed.
Zimmerman drew Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing. He Normal Summoned it and Clear Wing attacked over a Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz before Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing attacked for 1500 directly.
Hunter Set a monster and passed.
Zimmerman drew another Mistake. Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacked over a Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing attacked for 1500 again. He Set Mistake and ended his turn.
Hunter used Upstart Goblin to draw a card and give Zimmerman 1000 Life Points. He then ended his turn.
Zimmerman drew Dark Hole. He attempted to attack for game but Hunter used Nekroz of Valkyrus to negate the attack!
Hunter passed.
Zimmerman drew Solemn Warning. He attacked again but was met with another Nekroz of Valkyrus. He Set Solemn Warning and ended his turn.
Hunter used Nekroz of Unicore to add Nekroz of Valkyrus back to his hand.
Zimmerman drew Bixi, Water of the Yang Zing. Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacked and was met with Nekroz of Valkyrus. Zimmerman ended his turn.
Hunter used Nekroz Mirror banishing Shurit, Strategist of Nekroz to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Brionac. Zimmerman used Fiendish Chain and Hunter passed.
Zimmerman drew his third Fiendish Chain. Clear Wing Synchro Dragon attacked Nekroz of Brionac for 200 damage, and when Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing attacked it put Hunter down to 200 Life Points.
Hunter conceded, completely shut down by Mistake! The Match was going on to a Game 3. Could Zimmerman draw the crucial Mistake to seal the deal, or would Hunter bombard him with Ritual Summons before he had a chance to Set up his field? Hunter decided to go second in the final game.
Zimmerman opened with two Mistake, Solemn Warning, Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, and Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing and all three of his Trap Cards.
Hunter used Mystical Space Typhoon on Zimmerman’s Mistake and Zimmerman flipped up the second one! He Set a monster and ended his turn.
Zimmerman drew another Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing. He Set it and ended his turn.
Hunter Normal Summoned Armageddon Knight and used its effect to send Shaddoll Dragon to the graveyard, destroying Mistake. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add a Nekroz of Trishula to his hand from his deck. Then, Hunter Flip Summoned Fire Hand. He Xyz Summoned Lavalval Chain and was quickly met with Solemn Warning.
Zimmerman drew Pulao, Wind of the Yang Zing. He Flipped Summoned both his face-down Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing. He attacked with both for 3000 direct damage. He Set the Pulao, Wind of the Yang Zing and Mystical Space Typhoon before ending his turn.
Hunter drew to five cards in hand. He Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. Then he used Preparation of Rites to add a Nekroz of Clausolas to his hand, which he discarded to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. He activated the Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Zimmerman chained Mystical Space Typhoon. Time in the Round was called, and Nekroz Kaleidoscope sent Shooting Quasar Dragon to the graveyard to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Valkyrus. Hunter Xyz Summoned Abyss Dweller and detached Senju of the Thousand Hands to nullify graveyard effects. Then he used Nekroz Mirror banishing Nekroz of Clausolas and Nekroz of Brionac to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula. Nekroz of Valkyrus attacked over Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, Nekroz of Trishula attacked over the other Zefraxi, Treasure of the Yang Zing, and Abyss Dweller attacked over Pulao, Wind of the Yang Zing. Nekroz of Valkyrus tributed Nekroz of Trishula to give Hunter a card.
Zimmerman drew Yang Zing Creation and extended the handshake!