Jonathon Nagel from Colorado is currently 7-1-1 with his Burning Abyss Deck, and is presently the highest ranked Duelist in the tournament. Jarred Randolph from Delaware is 6-2-1 with his Nekroz Deck. This is the last round of the tournament before a cut to the Top 8. Although Nagel is virtually guaranteed to make it to the Top 8 regardless of the outcome of this Match, Randolph is likely facing elimination if Nagel defeats him here. That means Randolph will be giving this Match his all! It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Randolph started off Duel 1 by Summoning Senju of the Thousand Hands to the field and activating its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to his hand and then activated Nekroz Mirror. He Tributed Shurit from his hand to Special Summon Nekroz of Valkyrus to his field and then used his Shurit’s effect to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand. He activated his Valkyrus’s effect next, Tributing Senju from the field and Clausolas from his hand to draw 2 cards before ending his turn.

Nagel opened up Duel 1 with Foolish Burial, Mind Crush, Crush Card Virus, Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and 2 copies of Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Special Summoned Cir from his hand and Randolph Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card. Next, he Normal Summoned Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Set Crush Card Virus and Foolish Burial to his back row.

Randolph attacked Scarm with Nekroz of Valkyrus and Nagel flipped Crush Card Virus! He Tributed Scarm and Randolph Chained the effect of Nekroz of Gungnir from his hand to protect Valkyrus. Next, he Chained Mystical Space Typhoon from his hand to destroy Nagel’s face-down Mind Crush. Mind Crush was destroyed, and Randolph revealed his hand of Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, Nekroz Cycle, and Nekroz Mirror. Next, Randolph Tributed Valkyrus to draw a card with its effect and then Normal Summoned Manju to the field. He activated its effect to add Nekroz of Trishula from his Deck to his hand and then activated Nekroz Mirror to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula from his hand by banishing Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz of Clausolas from his Graveyard. He activated Nekroz of Trishula’s effect to banish Cir from the field, Scarm from the Graveyard, and Foolish Burial from Nagel’s hand.

Nagel drew Fiend Griefing. He Summoned Cir and attacked Manju to destroy it, before Setting Fiend Griefing in Main Phase 2.

Randolph attacked Cir with Nekroz of Trishula and Nagel flipped Fiend Griefing. He shuffled Shurit back into Randolph’s Deck and sent Graff from his own Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned Scarm from his Deck in Defense Position with Graff’s effect. Randolph attacked and destroyed Cir with Trishula, and Nagel dropped down to 6900 Life Points before Special Summoning Graff from his Graveyard in Defense Position with Cir’s effect.

Nagel combined Graff with Cir to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss in Defense Position and detached Graff to send Tour Guide From the Underworld, Ring of Destruction, and Maxx “C” from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. He activated Graff’s effect, and Randolph Chained Maxx “C” to draw a card when Nagel Special Summoned Cir from his Deck in Defense Position. Nagel Set a card to his back row before passing.

Randolph activated Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Nagel’s face-down Breakthrough Skill and then Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands. He activated its effect to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand and then discarded it to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. Next, he discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Nekroz of Unicore to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope by sending Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore. He added Nekroz of Unicore to his hand with the effect of Herald of the Arc Light. Randolph combined Senju with Nekroz of Unicore to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller and detached an Xyz Material to activate its effect. Trishula and Abyss Dweller attacked and destroyed Randolph’s two monsters, while Abyss Dweller’s effect deprived Randolph of his monsters’ effects. Nagel was left with no cards left on his field or in his hand.

Nagel drew a card and conceded, realizing he had no way to fight back against Randolph’s field.

Big plays with Nekroz of Trishula and Abyss Dweller allow Jarred Randolph to take the first victory!

Duel Two

Randolph started off Duel 2 by Summoning Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and activating its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Clausolas from his Deck to his hand and then discarded Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. He activated Nekroz Kaleidoscope to send Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard and Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore from his hand. He activated the effect of his Herald to add Nekroz of Unicore from his Deck to his hand. He discarded Nekroz of Unicore to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Graveyard to his hand and then combined Nekroz of Unicore with Manju to Xyz Summon Daigusto Emeral. He detached Manju from his Emeral and sent Manju, Herald of the Arc Light, and Nekroz of Unicore back to his Deck with Emeral’s effect to draw one card. He ended his turn with only a Daigusto Emeral on the field.

Nagel opened up Duel 2 with Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Bottomless Trap Hole, Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss, 2 copies of Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, and Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He Special Summoned Barbar from his hand and then Normal Summoned Scarm. He combined Barbar with Scarm to Xyz Summon Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss and then detached Scarm to activate Dante’s effect and send Maxx “C”, Phoenix Wing Wind Blast, and Mask Change II from the top of his Deck to his Graveyard. Next, Nagel Special Summoned Scarm and Cir from his hand with the effects. Dante attacked and destroyed Daigusto Emeral, and then Cir and Scarm attacked directly, dropping Randolph down to 4900 Life Points. Dante switched into Defense Position at the end of the Battle Phase and then Nagel combined Scarm with Cir to Xyz Summon another Dante in Defense Position. Nagel Set Bottomless Trap Hole and Fire Lake before passing his turn.

Randolph banished Nekroz Kaleidoscope and Nekroz of Unicore from his Graveyard to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand with the effect of his Kaleidoscope. He activated his Kaleidoscope and Special Summoned Nekroz of Unicore by sending Herald of the Arc Light from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He added Nekroz of Trishula to his hand with the effect of Herald of the Arc Light. Next, Randolph discarded Nekroz of Brionac from his hand to add Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz from his Deck to his hand. He activated Nekroz Cycle next, Tributing Shurit from his hand to Special Summon Nekroz of Decisive Armor. Nagel flipped Bottomless Trap Hole to banish the Nekroz of Decisive Armor, and Randolph Chained Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Nagel’s face-down Fire Lake of the Burning Abyss. Nekroz of Decisive Armor was banished by Bottomless Trap Hole, and Randolph resolved the effect of his Shurit, Strategist of the Nekroz to add Nekroz of Brionac from his Deck to his hand. Randolph Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and activated its effect to add Nekroz Mirror from his Deck to his hand. He combined Nekroz of Unicore and Manju to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller and then activated Nekroz Mirror! He banished Shurit from his Graveyard to Special Summon Brionac to the field. He detached an Xyz Material from Abyss Dweller to activate its effect and then used the effect of Nekroz of Brionac to send both Dantes back to Nagel’s Extra Deck. None of Nagel’s monster effects activated due to the effect of Abyss Dweller! Nekroz of Brionac and Abyss Dweller attacked directly, and Nagel was left with no cards in his hand or on his field!

Nagel drew a monster and Set it.

But it was all over on the next turn! Nagel activated Nekroz Mirror to banish Shurit from his Graveyard and Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula to the field, and Nagel conceded!

Jonathon Nagel and Jarred Randolph are both moving on to the Top 8!