We’re nine Rounds deep into the 2015 Central American WCQ, but we haven’t seen a single Burning Abyss Deck in a Feature Match yet!  Jesus Avalos Hernandez has a 7-1-1 record piloting Burning Abyss this weekend, so he has a solid chance at making the Top 64 win or lose.  Victory here would lock his seat in the playoffs and give him some major momentum.

His opponent is Israel Alejandro Samano Ordaz, a Shaddoll Duelist with a matching 7-1-1 record.  This could be an interesting match-up – both Decks are built to tackle Nekroz and Qliphorts, but not really designed to compete against each other.  The pressure’s on Samano, who’ll need to take early control of the Match with his El Shaddoll effects.  Hernandez will be trying to win as quickly as possible before Samano can establish his set-ups.  With its high ATK and burn effect, Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss may prove to be a key card here.

Samano won the roll and decided to play second.  The Match started with a handshake.  Hernandez had Foolish Burial; Raigeki Break; Mathematician; Crush Card Virus; and Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  He Summoned Mathematician to send Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his Graveyard from his Deck.  He Set Break and Virus, then searched his Deck for Tour Guide from the Underworld in his End Phase to resolve Scarm’s effect.

Samano Summoned Mathematician too, sending Felis, Lightsworn Archer to his Graveyard.  He Special Summoned Felis with its effect, then Tuned it to Mathematician to Synchro Summon Black Rose Dragon!  Samano destroyed everything on the field, demolishing Hernandez’s Mathematician, Crush Card Virus and Raigeki Break, then Set a card to his back row.

Hernandez drew Phoenix Wing Wind Blast and Summoned Tour Guide from the Underworld, Special Summoning Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck.  He overlaid for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, then detached Graff to send Vanity’s Emptiness, Breakthrough Skill, and another Graff from the top of his Deck to the Graveyard.  He Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Graff’s ability, then attacked with Cir and Dante to reduce Samano to 3900 Life Points.  Dante went to Defense Position and Hernandez Set Wind Blast.

Samano Set a monster. Hernandez pitched Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss with Wind Blast to spin the monster back to the top of his opponent’s Deck in the End Phase.  That triggered Barbar’s effect, burning Samano for 600 damage when Hernandez banished Graff and Scarm from his Graveyard.

Hernandez drew Mirror Force and detached Tour Guide from the Underworld from Dante, sending Book of Moon, Scarm, and Cir to the Graveyard!  Cir’s effect let him revive Graff from his Graveyard, and he overlaid it with Cir for Ghostrick Alucard.  Hernandez detached Graff to target his opponent’s Set card, and Samano Chained it: Shaddoll Core hit the field in defense mode.  Hernandez Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Graff, and it was destroyed since he controlled Alucard (a non-Burning Abyss monster).  That triggered Farfa’s effect to banish Shaddoll Core, and Hernandez finished the Duel with Dante and Alucard.

Jesus Avalos Hernandez fights through a big three-card loss in the early game to take a commanding win, stringing together Malebranche effects to dominate the first Duel!  He was one win away from the Top 64.

Hernandez would play first at Samano’s request.  He had Mirror Force; Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss; Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; and Phoenix Wing Wind Blast.  He Set all three Trap Cards.

Samano Summoned Mathematician to send Felis, Lightsworn Archer to his Graveyard, Special Summoning it.  Hernandez pitched Scarm for Wind Blast, sending Felis back to the top of Samano’s Deck and interrupting another would-be Black Rose Dragon.  Samano attacked and Hernandez flipped Mirror Force, keeping Samano off Mathematician’s draw effect (which only triggers when Mathematician’s destroyed by battle).  Hernandez searched out Tour Guide from the Underworld with Scarm’s effect in the End Phase.

Hernandez drew Breakthrough Skill and Summoned Tour Guide, searching his Deck to Special Summon Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  He overlaid to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, yarded Graff, and sent Mystical Space Typhoon, Solemn Warning, and Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his Graveyard to power up Dante to 2500 ATK.  He Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Graff’s effect and made two direct attacks, turning Dante to Defense Position.  He Set Breakthrough to finish out.

Samano Set a monster, seemingly stuck with another dead hand.  Samano moved to his End Phase, and Hernandez flipped Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss to give up his Dante and Cir to destroy Samano’s Set Shaddoll Dragon.  Hernandez got back his Fire Lake with Dante and Special Summoned Graff with Cir’s ability.

Hernandez drew Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss facing an open field.  He Summoned Cir, overlaid it with Graff and brought down another Dante.  He detached Graff to send Mirror Force and two Mathematicians to his Graveyard for Dante, then Special Summoned Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Graff’s ability.  Hernandez attacked for a combined 4200 Battle Damage on Samano’s 3900 Life Points and the Match was over!

Israel Alejandro Samano Ordaz seems to catch no luck, and Jesus Avalos Hernandez punishes him for it with a series of swift attacks and boosted damage from Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  Hernandez is going to the Top 64!