And we’re down to 4! We’ve featured Dave Hayes from Liverpool, New York and his Majespecter before, but this is James Kim of Toronto Canada’s first feature today, and he’s running Xyz Monarchs. A win here will ensure the player a Minerva, The Exalted Lightsworn.

Kim won the roll and elected to have Hayes start.

Game 1

Hayes started off with Normal Summoning Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, searching for Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer. Next, Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata were activated in the Pendulum Zones. Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer’s effect was used to destroy Majespecter Cat – Nekomata and search another one. He activated that copy, then Pendulum Summoned Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata. Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer popped the scales and searched for Performapal Lizardraw and Performapal Guitartle. Guitartle was activated, followed by Performapal Lizardraw, drawing one card then Performapal Lizardraw destroyed itself for another draw. In the End Phase, another Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku were searched from the Deck with Majester Paladin, the Ascending Dracoslayer and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata’s effects.

Kim started with 2 copies of Erebus the Underworld Monarch, 2 copies of Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, Super Quantum Red Layer and Twin Twisters. He made no plays and opted to go straight to game 2. (Faced with a formidable field and no real way to deal with it with the cards available, Kim wanted to conceal the Deck he was playing by not revealing any cards.)

Game 2

Kim elected for Hayes to go first.

Hayes started off with Majespecter Toad – Ogama and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata in the Pendulum Zones. Kim activated Maxx “C”, but Hayes pressed through by Pendulum Summoning Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata. Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer popped the scales, searching for Performapal Guitartle and Performapal Lizardraw. Both were played, giving Hayes a draw then Performapal Lizardraw destroyed itself for another draw. Majespecter Fox – Kyubi was Normal Summoned, searching for Majespecter Tempest. Hayes set 2 Spell/Traps, then in the End Phase, Majespecter Cat – Nekomata searched for another Majespecter Cat – Nekomata.

Kim drew, activated Tenacity of the Monarchs, revealing Ehther the Heavenly Monarch to get Pantheism of the Monarchs, which was activated, discarding Tenacity of the Monarchs to draw 2. Pantheism was banished, adding The Prime Monarch to the hand from a choice of 2 Primes and a Pantheism of the Monarchs. Pantheism of the Monarchs was activated again, discarding The Prime Monarch for another 2 draws. Super Quantum Red Layer was Special Summoned, then Tenacity of the Monarchs was banished to Special Summon The Prime Monarch. Both were used to Xyz Summon Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger! It attacked into Majespecter Fox – Kyubi, destroying it for 1100 damage. Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger attempted to use its effect to destroy Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, but Hayes activated Majespecter Tempest to negate and destroy Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger. Super Quantum Red Layer’s effect activated, Special Summoning back the Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger. In Main Phase 2, Instant Fusion was used to Special Summoned Panzer Dragon. Kim attempted to Summon Edea the Heavenly Squire but its Summon was negated by Forced Back! Edea the Heavenly Squire returned to the hand. Kim set a card and went to the End Phase. Panzer Dragon was destroyed and Performapal Guitartle was destroyed in turn by Panzer Dragon’s effect.

Hayes Normal Summoned Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku, using its effect to add Majespecter Toad – Ogama to hand. Majespecter Toad – Ogama was activated as a Pendulum Scale, followed by Majespecter Cat – Nekomata. Kim activated The Monarchs Stormforth, then Kim activated Ehther the Heavenly Monarch by Tributing Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger and Hayes’s Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku. Ehther the Heavenly Monarch used its effect to send Domain of the True Monarchs and The Prime Monarch to the Graveyard to Special Summon Kuraz the Light Monarch from the deck, destroying itself and the Majespecter Cat – Nekomata in Hayes’s Pendulum Zone. Hayes replaced Majespecter Cat – Nekomata with Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer in the Pendulum Zone and Kim activated Maxx “C”. Hayes Pendulum Summoned 4 monsters: Majespecter Toad – Ogama, Majespecter Fox – Kyubi, Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku and Majespecter Cat – Nekomata. Majespecter Tornado was set with Majespecter Toad – Ogama’s ability and Majespecter Fox – Kyubi searched for Majespecter Tempest. Hayes set a Spell/Trap and went to the End Phase. Kim Special Summoned The Prime Monarch by banishing Tenacity of the Monarchs.

During Kim’s turn, he activated a second The Prime Monarch by banishing Domain of the True Monarchs from the Graveyard. Both Primes were used to Xyz Summon Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon. Its effect was activated, destroying the Majespecter Toad – Ogama in a Pendulum Zone. Kim Normal Summoned Edea the Heavenly Squire, Special Summoning Eidos the Underworld Squire from the Deck. Pantheism of the Monarchs was banished from the Graveyard, revealing Pantheism of the Monarchs, Return of the Monarchs and Tenacity of the Monarchs. Pantheism of the Monarchs was selected, which was activated, discarding The Monarchs Stormforth for 2 new cards. Return of the Monarchs was then activated, followed by Eidos and Edea being Tributed for a second Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, sending Tenacity of the Monarchs and The Monarchs Stormforth to Special Summon the third Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. Ehther the Heavenly Monarch attacked into Majespecter Toad – Ogama, Adreus attacked into Fox, taking 1100 damage. Another Ehther attacked into Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, but Hayes activated Majespecter Tornado, Tributing Majespecter Raccoon – Bunbuku to banish the attacking Ehther the Heavenly Monarch. The Special Summoned Ehther the Heavenly Monarch attacked into Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer. Kim set 2 Spell/Traps and ended returned Ehther the Heavenly Monarch to his hand before passing.

Hayes Normal Summoned Performapal Skullcrobat Joker, searching for Performapal Silver Claw. Silver Claw was activated, but Kim chained Twin Twisters targeting both Pendulum Scales. With no monsters on the field and no Pendulum Scales to Summon with, Hayes scooped up his cards and we’re going to game 3!

Game 3

Hayes elected to go first and started off with Performapal Silver Claw and Performapal Lizardraw in the Pendulum Zones. Performapal Lizardraw was used to draw a card. 3 face-down Spell/Traps followed before passing.

Kim started off with Pantheism of the Monarchs, discarding The Prime Monarch for 2 cards. Pantheism of the Monarchs was banished to reveal 3 copies of Tenacity of the Monarchs, one of them being added to hand, then being activated revealing a Monarch to search for Pantheism of the Monarchs which was activated, discarding The Monarchs Stormforth for 2 draws. Kim Special Summoned Super Quantum Red Layer then banished The Monarchs Stormforth for The Prime Monarch, then both monsters were used to Xyz Summon Super Quantal Mech Beast Magnaliger whose Summon was negated by Solemn Strike! Twin Twisters came down next, discarding Kuraz the Light Monarch to destroy the remaining sets: Chaos Trap Hole and Majespecter Tempest. Edea the Heavenly Squire was Normal Summoned, getting Eidos the Underworld Squire, then Summoning Erebus the Underworld Monarch, sending a card in Hayes’s back to the deck.

Hayes drew but had nothing but 5-Scales in his hand. He extended the handshake.

James Kim is moving on to the finals!