Galileo Mauricio De Obaldia Soza won the World Championship in 2010 and took third place in 2011.  After a string of WCQ and YCS tops, he’s now back in the hunt for another trip to Worlds with Nekroz.  If you’ve been following the coverage you already saw his opponent Jose Felix Maldonado Garrido in action last round with Burning Abyss, where he utterly dismantled his Nekroz Duelist opponent.  Were we in for a repeat of that performance, or was De Obaldia headed to another Finals table?

Maldonado started with Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; Tour Guide from the Underworld; Foolish Burial; Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  He Special Summoned Barbar, then Libic, and overlaid for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in defense mode.  He sent Mask Change II, Solemn Warning, and Absolute King Back Jack to his Graveyard, rearranging the top of his Deck with Back Jack’s ability.  He activated Foolish to send Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck to his Graveyard, then Special Summoned Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his Deck with Graff’s effect.

He Special Summoned Farfa next, overlaying it with Cir for another Dante, and Normal Summoned Tour Guide to Special Summon Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  He Xyz Summoned a third Dante and didn’t activate its effect.

De Obaldia took a moment to examine the Xyz Materials attached to each Dante, verified that Maldonado was out of cards in hand, and Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to search his Deck for Nekroz Kaleidoscope.  He activated it to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Unicore with Herald of the Arc Light, then grabbed Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck with the Herald’s ability.  He pitched it for Nekroz of Clausolas, then discarded that to search Nekroz Cycle.

He activated Cycle, Tributed Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz, and Ritual Summoned Brionac from his Graveyard.  That got him another Brionac with Shurit, and he overlaid Unicore and Manju to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller!  He detached Manju for Dweller’s effect, bounced away two of the Dantes with Brionac’s ability, and left just the Dante with Libic as its Xyz Material.  All the triggered Malebranche effects were negated by Dweller.

De Obaldia got Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck and Nekroz Kaleidoscope from his Graveyard with Preparation of Rites, and he attacked for 2200 Battle Damage.  Maldonado conceded next turn.

Jose Felix Maldonado Garrido makes a huge triple Dante opening on Turn 1, but Galileo Mauricio De Obaldia Soza does an expert job cleaning up the field with Abyss Dweller and Nekroz of Brionac!  De Obaldia takes the first Duel.

Maldonado chose to play first.  De Obaldia wished Maldonado good luck, shook his hand, and the second Duel began.

Maldonado had Peropero Cerperus; Fiend Griefing; Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; Phoenix Wing Wind Blast; and Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  He Summoned Cir and Scarm, and overlaid for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss.  He detached Scarm to send Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and another Scarm from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard.  He Special Summoned another Scarm from his Deck with Graff’s ability, then Set Fiend Griefing and Wind Blast with one card left in hand.  He got a Graff from his Deck with Scarm in the End Phase.

De Obaldia Set a monster, then Set three cards to his back row.

Maldonado drew Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, then detached from Dante again.  He Special Summoned Graff to Xyz Summon another Dante, then detached Graff to send Mind Crush, Vanity’s Fiend, and Tour Guide from his Deck to the Graveyard!  Some big dodged bullets there for De Obaldia.  Maldonado Special Summoned Cir with Graff, attacked into De Obaldia’s Ice Hand, and lost his Fiend Griefing!  De Obaldia Summoned Fire Hand from his Deck in Attack Position, but Maldonado spun it away with Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, discarding Peropero Cerperus.  Maldonado made two direct attacks to drop De Obaldia to 3900 Life Points.  The Dantes went to defense mode.

Maldonado Special Summoned Libic from his hand, then Xyz Summoned a third Dante, overlaying both it and the other Dante that had Xyz Materials with Downerd Magicians.

De Obaldia examined the Xyz Materials under each Downerd Magician, then Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to get Nekroz of Brionac, which in turn searched him Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz.  He activated Nekroz Cycle to Tribute Shurit, again Ritual Summoning Nekroz of Brionac!  He searched Nekroz of Trishula with Shurit’s ability, then bounced away a Dante and a Downerd Magician with Brionac’s effect.  Maldonado Special Summoned back a Dante and returned a Scarm to his hand, with Cir and Dante’s effects respectively.

De Obaldia attacked with Brionac, running it into Downerd Magician to force the detach of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  De Obaldia ran Manju into it next, detaching Dante.  Maldonado got back his Cir.

De Obaldia banished Nekroz Cycle and Brionac in Main Phase 2 to get Nekroz Kaleidoscope, then activated it, banishing Shurit to Ritual Summon Nekroz of Trishula!  He banished Scarm from the Graveyard; Dante from the field; and stripped Maldonado’s hand of Cir.

Maldonado drew Mistake and started considering his limited options.  He Normal Summoned Graff alongside Downerd Magician, destroying Graff to Special Summon Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss.  That was destroyed as well, since Downerd Magician isn’t a “Burning Abyss” monster, and Maldonado revived Dante in Attack Position.  He attacked Trishula with Downerd Magician, taking 1500 Battle Damage to trigger Peropero Cerperus!  He destroyed Trishula with its effect, then made a direct attack for 1000 Battle Damage with Dante.  De Obaldia was down to 1800 Life Points.  Maldonado Set Mistake and De Obaldia destroyed it with Mystical Space Typhoon.

De Obaldia banished Trishula and Mirror to search Nekroz Cycle, then Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands to get Nekroz of Brionac.  He discarded it for Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz.  He activated Cycle to Tribute Shurit and Ritual Summon Brionac, then searched Nekroz of Clausolas with Shurit’s effect.  He tried to bounce away the Dante with Brionac, but was reminded that it had been Summoned from the Graveyard, not the Extra Deck!  “Wow, big misplay,” groaned De Obaldia.  He ended his turn.

Maldonado drew Divine Wrath holding Scarm, with that Dante still on the field.  He Set Wrath.

De Obaldia drew to three cards in hand, with two more Set in his Spell and Trap Card Zone, controlling Manju and Brionac.  He discarded Clausolas to search his Deck for Nekroz Mirror.  He banished Shurit for it, Ritual Summoning Nekroz of Valkyrus.  He Summoned Fire Hand, attacked with Valkyrus and smashed through the Dante!  Maldonado took back his Cir, and then took direct attacks from Manju, Fire Hand, and Brionac.  Maldonado had 2100 Life Points left.

De Obaldia Tributed Brionac to draw one card with Valkyrus, then Set the card he drew.  Maldonado drew Artifact Lancea a bit too late, and thumbed through his Graveyard looking for plays.  He Set Cir, and lost his Divine Wrath to Space Typhoon in the End Phase.

De Obaldia overlaid Manju and Fire Hand for Abyss Dweller, detached Manju for Dweller’s effect, attacked to destroy Cir, and then won the Match with an attack from Valkyrus!

2010 World Champion Galileo Mauricio De Obaldia Soza           is one Match away from heading to the World Championship for a third time!