Although Nekroz has begun taking control of the top tables, there are still many other strategies that remain in contention. Faisal Khan is sitting with a 6-1 record using a Burning Abyss Deck that is trying to make a flurry of Special Summons and ride the game off of the advantage he gains while disrupts his opponent with Traps. His opponent, Antton Winder, is running a Qliphort strategy that is looking to use Qliphort Scout to help him build up while he uses powerful Traps such as Lose 1 Turn to hinder his opponent and limit their options. A win here means a significantly less stressful final Round as an X-3 record is likely not to be good enough for a Top Cut finish.

Khan won the roll and chose to go second.

Duel One:

Winder started things off strong with Qliphort Scout, placing it in his Pendulum Zone and paying 800 Life Points to add Qliphort Carrier. He Normal Summoned it and Set four to his back row before ending.

Khan opened with a hand of Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Vanity’s Emptiness, Foolish Burial, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, and Vanity’s Emptiness before drawing Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for turn. He started with Foolish Burial, sending Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and using its effect to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck. He revealed Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next and Special Summoned it, overlaying it along with Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. In response to the Summon, Winder Flipped his Set Soul Transition, tributing his Qliphort Carrier and drawing two cards! The effect of Qliphort Carrier then triggered, bouncing away the opposing Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. Khan Set all of his traps and then searched Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss during the End Phase thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Winder drew for turn and announced he was activating Qliphort Scout, paying 800 Life Points to add Qliphort Stealth to his hand. He then Flipped his Set Summoner’s Art to add Qliphort Monolith to his hand; he placed Qliphort Monolith on his Pendulum Scale, then Pendulum Summoned Qliphort Carrier from his Extra Deck along with Qliphort Helix from his hand. Khan chose to Flip Karma Cut, banishing Qliphort Helix and discarding Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss! The Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss triggered to Special Summon a Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from the Graveyard. Winder Set a back row before ending.

Khan drew Breakthrough Skill for turn and then Normal Summoned Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and overlayed it with Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, detaching the Scarm and sending three cards from his Deck to his Graveyard, which prompted Winder to use Effect Veiler to stop Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss from gaining any ATK. He moved to Main Phase 2, overlayed a Downerd Magician on top of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, and Set Breakthrough Skill to his back row. During the End Phase, he activated the Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss he detached and added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand, but Winder Flipped two Set copies of Mystical Space Typhoon blowing away Khan’s Breakthrough Skill and Phoenix Wing Wind Blast.

Winder drew and activated Qliphort Scout, paying 800 Life Points to add Qliphort Helix to his hand which prompted Khan to Flip his Set Vanity’s Emptiness. Winder tributed away his Qliphort Carrier for Qliphort Helix, bouncing away the Downerd Magician thanks to Qliphort Carrier. Khan added back Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand thanks to Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss before Winder declared an attack for 2400.

Khan drew Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , Set Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and the Trap before ending.

Winder drew and tributed away the Qliphort Helix to Normal Summon for Qliphort Monolith, using the effect of Qliphort Helix to destroy Khan’s Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss which then caused Vanity’s Emptiness to destroy itself. Winder slammed down Raigeki next and that was game!

Duelists dove to their Side Decks to adapt accordingly. Chatter was light between the two as Khan needed to win two Duels back to back to claim the match.

Khan chose for Winder to go first in the second Duel.

Duel Two:

Winder started with Summoner’s Art, using it to add Qliphort Scout to his hand, which he then placed in his Pendulum Zone before he used its effect to add Saqlifice to his hand. He Normal Summoned Qliphort Helix, equipped it with Saqlifice, and Set two to his back row before ending.

Khan had a hand of Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Mind Crush, Vanity’s Emptiness, and Foolish Burial before drawing Raigeki. He tried to activate the effect of Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, but Winder activated Vanity’s Emptiness to keep it in Khan’s hand. He then pushed forward with Raigeki, destroying Qliphort Helix and sending Saqlifice to the Graveyard, which allowed Winder to add Qliphort Scout to his hand but also caused Vanity’s Emptiness to self-destruct. He then activated Foolish Burial, sending Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck before Normal Summoning Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand. He overlayed both of his Malebranches for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending three cards to his Graveyard which included Galaxy Cycleon and declared an attack. He Set two to his back row before ending, adding Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss’s effect.

Winder drew and paid 800 Life Points to activate Qliphort Scout, adding Qliphort Stealth to his hand. He then activated Summoner’s Art to add Qliphort Monolith before placing it in his Pendulum Zone. He then Pendulum Summoned Qliphort Helix from his Extra Dck along with Qliphort Carrier from his hand, but Khan used Mind Crush to rip Qliphort Stealth from Winder’s hand! Winder Chained his Set Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Khan’s Set Vanity’s Emptiness. Winder’s last card in hand was a Qliphort Scout that he had to reveal because of Mind Crush, then tributed away his Qliphort Carrier for the Qliphort Scout to bounce away Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. The Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss that was an Xyz Material triggered, Special Summoning Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from Khan’s Deck. With no further moves Winder ended, drawing a card off of Qliphort Monolith during the End Phase.

Khan drew Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss for turn and then Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and overlayed it with ‘bascamr for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He used the effect of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to send three cards from his Deck to his Graveyard. The effect of Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss activated, Special Summoning Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. Khan moved to Battle Phase, destroying Winder’s Qliphort Helix and crashing his Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss into Qliphort Scout, Special Summoning Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and making a direct attack. In Main Phase 2, he banished Galaxy Cyclone to destroy Qliphort Scout, and Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss before ending.

Winder drew and tried to activate Raigeki, which caused Khan to respond with Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss but Winder activated his Pendulum Impenetrable to save his Qliphort Monolith! But that wasn’t enough as Khan began to trigger all of his Burning Abyss effects, Winder realized that he could not win and conceded.

After a lot of back and forth, Khan manages to take a close game two. Whoever wins this next Duel will move on with a bit of breathing room as the Swiss Rounds come close to finishing, whereas the other will have to sweat it out and try not to lose another match.

Winder chose for Khan to go first in the last Duel.

Duel Three

Khan started off with a hand of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss, Foolish Burial, and Fiend Griefing. He activated Foolish Burial, sending Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his Graveyard to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and then Special Summoned Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand overlaying for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He sent three to his Graveyard including Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Special Summoning another Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand which he then overlayed into a second copy of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. He used it to mill some more cards and Set Fiend Griefing before ending. During the End Phase, he Tour Guide from the Underworld to his hand thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Winder drew, Normal Summoned Qliphort Shell and equipped it with Saqlifice before Setting the rest of his hand to his back row.

Khan drew Galaxy Cyclone for turn and used Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, detaching Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and sending Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his Graveyard along with two other cards. He Special Summoned Rubic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss form his Deck thanks to Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Graveyard thanks to Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, but when he went to Special Summon Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss Winder Flipped his Set Lose 1 Turn! Khan then used the effect of his other Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, sending Barbar, Malkebranche of the Burning Abyss and two other cards to his Graveyard which he then used to banish three Malebranches to deal some direct damage. Khan activated Galaxy Cyclone to destroy Winder’s Set Pendulum Impenetrable and then went to Battle Phase where he declared some attacks on Qliphort Shell, not destroying it because of Saqlifice, but still dealing some Battle Damage. He added Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand during the End Phase with Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Winder drew and Tribute Summoned Qliphort Helix by tributing his Qliphort Shell, searching Qliphort Scout from the effect of the Saqlifice that hit the Graveyard. Next, he placed Qliphort Scout on his Pendulum Scale and used its effect to add Qliphort Monolith to his hand. He activated it on the opposite end of the scale and then declared an attack over the Defense Mode Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss, allowing Khan to draw Crush Card Virus. He ended his turn, drawing a card off Qliphort Monolith during the End Phase.

Khan drew Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for turn, switched a Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to Attack Mode, but when he went to attack Winder used Fiendish Chain to stop it. He Set Crush Card Virus along with Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. before ending.

Winder drew and activated Pot of Duality, choosing to add Mystical Space Typhoon over two Qliphort Monsters.He activated Mystical Space Typhoon on Khan’s freshly Set back row, but it was Crush Card Virus! Khan used it, tributing his Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and destroying both of Winder’s Qliphorts. Khan used the effect of Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and with only Pot of Duality left in his hand, Winder ended.

Khan drew Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss for turn and Normal Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He overlayed with his Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss and passed play back to Winder.

Winder drew and activated his Pot of Duality to add Raigeki to his hand! He then slammed down the powerful Spell, prompting Khan to Chain his Set Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss tributing away two of his Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to destroy the rest of Winder’s Field. He then triggered all three copies of Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss to add Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand. The Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss that was a material also let him Special Summon Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss. With only one card in hand and 5500 Life Points left, Winder considered his options. He ultimately Normal Summoned Qliphort Carrier and ended, but Khan was able to add Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to his hand during the End Phase thanks to Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.

Khan drew Mind Crush for turn and shuffled his hand furiously as he tried to figure out how to win the game this turn. He used the effect of Virgil, Rock Star of the Burning Abyss, discarding his Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, to spin away Winder’s Qliphort Carrier. The Cir activated which let him Special Summon Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss before he Normal Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand. He overlayed the two Malebranches for Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction and that was it!

On the back of a devastating Crush Card Virus followed up by Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss , Faisal Khan manages to come back from a loss in game one to move on 7-1!