Moises Serrano Zamora is from right here in Mexico, and is competing in his first ever WCQ with Qliphorts, powered by Card of Demise.  His opponent is former World Champion Galileo Mauricio De Obaldia Soza, hailing from Panama and playing an innovative and surprising anti-meta Deck.  Watch and see how this one unfolds; if the rest of today is as cool as this, we’re in for one heckuva ride.

Zamora opened with Qliphort Carrier and Set four cards to his backrow – against most strategies that would be a threatening opening, since those backrow cards tend to be powerful and disruptive “floodgate” traps that keep opponents from making key game actions.

De Obaldia had a hand of Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo; Dark Bribe; Macro Cosmos; Pot of Duality; Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds; and Book of Moon.  Yes, Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds.  This is happening.  He activated Pot of Duality, revealing Card of Demise, Solemn Strike, and another Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, adding Card of Demise to his hand.  De Obaldia paused a moment, holding Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, then Normal Summoned it.  He attacked with it, and Zamora flipped Skill Drain!  De Obaldia reeled, then responded with Book of Moon to turn Carrier face-down, destroying it and sending it to the Extra Deck!  He Set Macro Cosmos and Dark Bribe.  That Skill Drain was going to be a problem to a monster-driven floodgate Deck like De Obaldia’s.

Zamora drew and activated Pot of Duality, revealing Rivalry of Warlords, Card of Demise, and another Duality: he too took Card of Demise.  He activated it, and De Obaldia Chained Dark Bribe to negate it!  Zamora drew one card to resolve Dark Bribe’s effect and ended his turn.

De Obaldia drew Chaos Trap Hole and Normal Summoned Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, set Chaos Trap Hole, and drew three with Card of Demise: Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer; Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade; and Moon Mirror Shield.  What on earth was the Champion playing.  He made two direct attacks with Barrier Statue and Fossil Dyna, losing Kycoo to Card of Demise’s discard in the End Phase.

Zamora drew and passed.

De Obaldia drew Bottomless Trap Hole, Set it, and attacked again with Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo and Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds.  Even with their effects negated, De Obaldia’s monsters were getting in for damage.  But he needed to close this out as quickly as possible; the Duel stood at 2600 Life Points to 8000 with De Obaldia leading.

Zamora drew and Set another backrow.

De Obaldia drew another Solemn Strike and attacked into Quaking Mirror Force.  This might be Zamora’s chance, turning the Fossil Dyna and Barrier Statue face-down.

Zamora flipped The Monarchs Stormforth on his turn, then activated Necrovalley.  He Set one card to his back row, then played his last one: Card of Demise!  He drew three cards looking for a Tribute monster… And found none!  He Set one to his backrow, then lost Rivalry of Warlords and Re-Qliate.  His Spell and Trap Card Zones were all full.

De Obaldia drew and Summoned another Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo!  He attacked, and Zamora was down to 1400 Life Points.

Zamora Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone and passed.

De Obaldia pressed again, seeing another Quaking Mirror Force!  “Oh my god!  That’s… highly annoying.”  De Obaldia laughed.  “Go.”

Zamora passed again.  De Obaldia drew Banisher of the Radiance and swung for game on the following turn!  “Usually when someone flips Skill Drain, I lose,” laughed De Obaldia, his nerves clearly settling.  Both Duelists dove for their Side Decks to prep for Game 2.

A clutch Book of Moon lets De Obaldia take control of the first Duel, and he plays through Skill Drain to take a quick win on the back of a few key trap cards.  Play moved to the second Duel.

This time Zamora started with two Set cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

De Obaldia had System Down; two Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo; Solemn Warning; Pot of Duality; and Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds.  He Normal Summoned Fossil Dyna and made a direct attack, connecting for 1200 Battle Damage.  He followed up with Pot of Duality, revealing Full House, Book of Moon, and Moon Mirror Shield; he added Full House to his hand, a powerful anti-Qliphort card.  De Obaldia finished out by Setting Solemn Warning.

Zamora activated Pot of Duality himself, revealing Skill Drain, Limiter Removal, and Qliphort Helix.  He took Helix, and activated The Monarchs Stormforth to Tribute Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo for it.  De Obaldia considered his Solemn Warning, let the Helix go, and took 2400 damage from its attack.  Zamora finished his turn with Necrovalley.

De Obaldia drew Macro Cosmos.  He activated System Down to banish Helix, then Summoned his second Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo for a direct attack.  He Set three cards to his backrow – everything but Barrier Statue.

Zamora tried to Normal Summon Qliphort Stealth, and De Obaldia negated it with Solemn Warning.

De Obaldia drew Card of Demise!  He Summoned Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, dropped Zamora to 3400 Life Points with two attacks, and got Book of Moon, Mirror Force, and another Card of Demise with his first copy!  He Set all three cards for that quick and brutal plus.

Zamora Normal Summoned Qliphort Helix and attacked Barrier Statue; De Obaldia repelled it with Mirror Force, then Chained Macro Cosmos to banish the Qliphort, keeping it out of the Extra Deck!

De Obaldia drew and Set Solemn Strike, then flipped his Card of Demise for Mystical Space Typhoon, Kycoo the Ghost Destroyer, and Banisher of the Radiance!  He flipped Full House, destroying his own Macro Cosmos, his opponent’s Necrovalley, Rivalry of Warlords, Chaos Trap Hole, and his own Solemn Strike!  De Obaldia Summoned Kycoo for game damage, and with no cards left whatsoever Zamora extended the handshake.

Galileo Mauricio De Obaldia Soza captures his first win of the tournament, off to a great start with a surprising strategy here at the WCQ!