Christopher Morrell has traversed the entirety of the Atlantic Ocean and half the country to make it here this weekend from the United Kingdom. Not only did he travel that far, but he has managed to start the tournament 4-0 with Lightsworn! He has a ton of awesome combos with Performages and Elder Entity Norden, even going as far as Xyz Summoning Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn. Calvin Tahan has taken a much more normal path, Dueling his way to 4-0 with Nekroz but showing a depth of knowledge while doing so. Will this unique Lightsworn Deck manage to defeat the Ritual menace?

Morrell won the roll and chose for Tahan to go first.

Duel One:

Tahan Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands and used its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac to his hand.

Morrell opened with a hand of Charge of the Light Brigade, Instant Fusion, Reinforcement of the Army, Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn, Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades, and drew Wulf, Lightsworn Beast for turn. He activated Charge of the Light Brigade , sending Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn, Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress, and Solar Recharge to add Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner to his hand. He Normal Summoned Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner , used its effect ditching Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades to Special Summon Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn, and then used the effect to send Galaxy Cyclone along with Judgment Dragon to the Graveyard. He activated Instant Fusion next to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden from his Extra Deck, using its effect to Special Summon Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades. He overlayed the Elder Entity Norden along with Thousand Blades to Xyz Summon Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn using its effect to mill three but didn’t hit any Lightsworn Monsters. He attacked over Senju of the Thousand Hands and then directly with the rest of his Lightsworn putting Tahan down to 4700 Life Points. During the End Phase he milled five cards including a couple Lightsworn.

Tahan Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands, used its effect to add Nekroz of Unicore, and then ditched Nekroz of Clausolas to add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. He activated the Nekroz Kaleidoscope, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard, to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore from his hand. The Herald of the Arc Light triggered, letting Tahan add Nekroz Mirror from his Deck. He overlayed the two Monsters for Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight and then activated Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Trishula to his hand. He used the Nekroz Mirror to Special Summon the Nekroz of Trishula, using its effect to banish Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn from the Field, Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn from the hand, and Heroic Challenger – Thousand Blades from the Graveyard. He went to Battle Phase and attacked with Nekroz of Trishula over Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner, and then an attack over Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn with Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight.

Morrell drew a second copy of Wulf, Lightsworn Beast, but Tahan preemptively used Maxx “C” which prompted Morrell to concede.

After some unfortunate mills, Tahan manages to make quick work of Morrell’s Lightsworns. Can Morrell manage to get a little luckier and pull out the next two games?

Morrell chose to go second

Duel Two:

Tahan Normal Summoned Senju of the Thousand Hands, used its effect to add Nekroz of Brionac, and then ditched Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Valkyrus before ending.

Morrell opened with Breakthrough Skill, Foolish Burial, Instant Fusion, Judgment Dragon, and Solar Recharge before drawing another Judgment Dragon. He started off by sending Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior with Foolish Burial, and then used Instant Fusion to Special Summon Elder Entity Norden and bring back the Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior. He overlayed both for Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn, and sent three cards to his Graveyard but no Lightsworn! Luckily, he did send a Performage Damage Juggler which he banished to add Performage Hat Tricker. He tried to attack over Senju of the Thousand Hands but lost out to Nekroz of Valkyrus, and Set Breakthrough Skill before he ended.

Tahan drew and activated Nekroz of Clausolas which let him add Nekroz Kaleidoscope to his hand. He used the Ritual Spell to Special Summon Nekroz of Unicore, sending Herald of the Arc Light to the Graveyard, which let him add Nekroz of Brionac thanks to the Herald effect. He overlayed both of his Monsters for Cairngorgon, Antiluminescent Knight and then Normal Summoned Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands and used it to add Nekroz Mirror, then activated Nekroz of Brionac to add Nekroz of Trishula. He activated the Nekroz Mirror, banishing Nekroz of Brionac and Nekroz of Clausolas to Special Summon Nekroz of Trishula! He used its effect to banish Garoth, Lightsworn Warrior from the Graveyard, Minerva, the Exalted Lightsworn from the Field, and Solar Recharge from the hand. He declared attacks with everyone, putting Morrell down to 450 Life Points, and ended his turn.

Morrell drew Reinforcement of the Army for turn, a glimmer of hope. He used it to add Raiden, Hand of the Lightsworn and used it to send two Monsters to his Graveyard, but neither were Lightsworn. He declared an attack over Manju of the Ten Thousand Hands before he moved to Main Phase 2. He Special Summoned Performage Hat Tricker, overlayed the two Monsters for Tellarknight Ptolemaeus, and during the End Phase he put Stellarknight Delteros under it as a material.

Tahan drew for turn and after a lot of consideration, slammed Raigeki which was enough for Morrell!

So close yet so far! Christopher Morrell could not manage to mill enough Lightsworn Monsters, and with Calvin Tahan’s solid hand he was able to capitalize on the situation and move on 5-0!