It’s the final day of the North American WCQ! We’ve got a great Match to start off the day – Jarel Winston against Denny Yu! Winston is a World Championship competitor, infamous for taking Exodia to Japan and wreaking havoc. He’s hoping to take a repeat trip to Japan, and is using an unconventional choice for his Ritual Beast Deck – he’s maindecking Mistake to defeat Nekroz, and isn’t using any copies of Emergency Teleport! Yu is the Champion of YCS Las Vegas, and is using Nekroz today. Can the power of Nekroz help Yu to muscle through Winston’s Deck, or will Winston’s unique choice triumph? Let’s find out!

Duel 1

Winston won the die roll and started the Duel with a hand of Dimensional Fissure, Ritual Beast’s Bond, Spiritual Beast Apelio, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Ritual Beast Tamer Lara. He played Dimensional Fissure, Set Ritual Beast’s Bond and Mystical Space Typhoon, and Normal Summoned Apelio.

Yu discarded his Nekroz of Brionac to search out Nekroz of Gungnir. He played Nekroz Kaleidoscope, Tributing Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to play Gungnir! Shurit’s effect searched out another Brionac. Gungnir attacked Apelio, and before the Damage Step he used Gungnir to discard Nekroz Mirror, destroying Dimensional Fissure. Apelio went down in battle.

Winston drew Vanity’s Emptiness. He played Lara and revived Apelio, prompting Yu to use his Gungnir again. He discarded a Kaleidoscope to target Apelio, and Winston used Ritual Beast’s Bond! He Tributed Lara and Apelio to bring forth Ritual Beast Ulti-Gaiapelio! It destroyed Gungnir in battle, and Winston Set Vanity’s Emptiness.

Yu discarded his Brionac to search out Shurit from his Deck, then discarded Nekroz of Unicore to get back Brionac. He banished Kaleidoscope and Unicore from his Graveyard to search out Nekroz Cycle. He activated it, and Winston flipped Vanity’s Emptiness to shut it down!

Winston drew Ritual Beast Ambush. Ulti-Gaiapelio attacked directly, and Winston Set Ambush.

Yu had four cards in his hand to Winston’s four on the field. He discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to search out Nekroz Cycle, then banished Clausolas and the Cycle from his Graveyard, searching out Nekroz Mirror. Winston knew he had Cycle, Mirror, and Brionac, all of which Yu had searched for earlier.

Winston drew Raigeki. He played it, hitting Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss! It banished Ulti-Gaiapelio, and Winston flipped Ritual Beast Ambush to bring out Lara and Apelio. He used Apelio’s effect, banishing Ritual Beast’s Bond, then fused Apelio and Lara for Ritual Beast Ulti-Cannahawk! He used its effect, putting Lara and Bond back in the Graveyard to search out another Apelio! He Normal Summoned the new Apelio and used its effect as well, giving all of his Ritual Beasts a total of 1000 extra ATK! Apelio and Ulti-Cannahawk attacked directly, wiping out Yu’s Life Points!

Duel 2

Yu decided to play first this time. He began with Senju of the Thousand Hands and Reinforcement of the Army for Nekroz of Unicore and Nekroz of Clausolas. He used Clausolas to get Nekroz Kaleidoscope, then played it to Ritual Summon Unicore. He used Herald of the Arc Light as the Tribute, and Herald’s effect got Nekroz Cycle. Yu Xyz Summoned Lavalval Chain, and its effect sent Djinn Releaser of Rituals to the Graveyard. He played Nekroz Cycle, and Winston Chained Lancea’s effect! Since he couldn’t resolve Cycle, Yu had to reveal his hand of Preparation of Rites, Nekroz of Gungnir, and an Artifact Lancea of his own, to prove he couldn’t complete Cycle. Yu passed.

Winston’s opening hand was 2 Mistake, Soul Drain, Dimensional Fissure, Artifact Lancea, and Ritual Beast Steeds. He played Dimensional Fissure, and Yu sighed. He Set both copies of Mistake and Ritual Beast Steeds.

Yu played Preparation of Rites, and Winston flipped Mistake. Yu sent Lavalval Chain to attack directly, then used its effect to send Great Sorcerer of the Nekroz to the Graveyard, and it was banished via Dimensional Fissure. Great Sorc’s effect activated, also banishing Exa, Enforcer of the Nekroz. Exa’s effect Special Summoned Great Sorcerer in Attack Position. Yu played Manju, and stacked it with Great Sorcerer for Evilswarm Exciton Knight! Its effect blew away everything else on the field!

Winston drew Vanity’s Emptiness, adding it to his hand of Soul Drain. He Set both.

Yu attacked with Exciton Knight, dropping Winston to 4300 Life Points.

Winston drew Raigeki, and blew away Exciton Knight!

Yu banished Kaleidoscope and Great Sorcer from his Graveyard to search out Nekroz Cycle, and Great Sorcerer sent Nekroz of Decisive Armor to Yu’s Graveyard. Yu banished a Cycle and Clausolas to search out Nekroz Mirror, then used Brionac to get Shurit. He played Cycle, and Winston flipped up Vanity’s Emptiness. Yu banished the Cycle from the Graveyard, along with Brionac, to get Kaleidoscope.

Winston drew Apelio and sent it to attack.

Yu Set two to his back row.

Winston drew Ritual Beast Tamer Elder. He had Apelio attack again, putting Yu down to 4400 Life Points.

Yu played Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands! It added Nekroz of Unicore to Yu’s hand, then he flipped Royal Decree and Nekroz Kaleidoscope! He Ritual Summoned both Nekroz of Gungnir and Nekroz of Unicore by sending Star Eater to the Graveyard! Gungnir discarded Shurit to blow away Apelio, and it was all over!

Duel 2

Winston began with Raigeki, Thunder King Rai-Oh, Spiritual Beast Pettlephin, Ritual Beast Tamer Zeframpilica, and Artifact Lancea. He played Thunder King Rai-Oh.

Yu Set a monster and a back row card.

Winston drew Ritual Beast Steeds. He played Raigeki to blow away Yu’s Set Djinn Releaser of Rituals, and attacked with Rai-Oh. He Set Pettlephin and Steeds.

Yu Set another card to his back row.

Winston drew Apelio. He Normal Summoned Zeframpilica and flipped up Pettlephin, and contact fused for Ritual Beast Ulti-Apelio! Ulti-Apelio and Rai-Oh attacked directly, leaving Yu with just 1600 Life Points. Winston swapped Ulti-Apelio out for Zeframpilica and Pettlephin, and brought in Ritual Beast Ulti-Pettlephin in Defense Position.

Yu drew his card, and offered the handshake! Winston took it and jumped up, shouting “YES! YES!” and knocked over his chair in excitement. With just two more wins, Winston has a great shot at making it to the Top 64 cutoff!