Angel Zayren Flores Covarrubias is one of the most decorated Duelists in the tournament today, with not one, not two, but a whopping three YCS wins in his illustrious Dueling career!  He’s 8-2 this weekend with Demise Kozmos, the emerging third variant of the Kozmo theme that first rose to prominence just two weeks ago, at YCS Providence.  His opponent is Mario Andres Enriquez, piloting Extra Deck Monarchs.  This one is anybody’s game, but Majesty’s Fiend could become a big factor if Garcia can get it into play.

Flores won the roll and opted to go first, holding Kozmo Dark Destroyer; Maxx “C”; Kozmo Soartroopers; Emergency Teleport; and Kozmo Tincan.  He opened with Soartroopers, banishing it for Dark Destroyer, destroying it with its own effect to banish it and Special Summon Kozmo Strawman.  He paid LP to Special Summon his Dark Destroyer, Set Teleport, and banished Kozmo Dark Destroyer in the End Phase to Special Summon Kozmo Tincan.  He revealed Kozmoll Dark Lady, Kozmo Forerunner, and Kozmo Dark Destroyer from his Deck, getting Kozmoll Dark Lady off the random roll.

Garcia fired back with Super Quantum Red Layer, and Flores banished his Tincan to Special Summon Kozmoll Dark Lady from his hand.  Garcia activated The Monarchs Stormforth, Tributed Dark Lady and Red Layer for Ehther the Heavenly Monarch, activated its effect, and Flores blasted him with Maxx “C”.  Garcia sent Frost Blast of the Monarchs and Pantheism of the Monarchs to the Graveyard with Ehther’s effect and Special Summoned another Ehther from his Deck.  Flores drew Kozmojo.

Garcia banished the Pantheism he sent to the Graveyard with Ehther to get another, then discarded The Prime Monarch to activate it and draw two cards.  He attacked to destroy Strawman, made a direct attack for Battle Damage, and banished Frost Blast and The Monarchs Stormforth to threaten Flores’ Emergency Teleport.  He Chained it to Special Summon another Tincan.  Garcia took back his Special Summoned Ehther in the End Phase, and Flores Tincan’d for Kozmo Dark Destroyer, Kozmoll Dark Lady, and Kozmotown: he got Dark Destroyer, and the rest were sent to his Graveyard.  He banished Tincan for Kozmo Dark Destroyer.

Flores drew Chaos Trap Hole and attacked with Dark Destroyer, destroying Ehther, then Summoned Tincan.  He Set Kozmojo and Chaos Trap Hole, then got Kozmo Dark Eclipser with Tincan’s effect in the End Phase.

Garcia revealed Return of the Monarchs, Tenacity of the Monarchs, and Tenacity of the Monarchs by banishing another Pantheism, and Flores gave him Return.  Garcia tried to Normal Summon Eidos the Underworld Squire and Flores blew it away with Chaos Trap Hole.  He followed up with Instant Fusion; Flores let it resolve, and Garcia Special Summoned Panzer Dragon.  He Set one card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, ended his turn, and tried to blow away Tincan, but Flores banished it for Kozmo Dark Eclipser.  Flores flipped Kozmojo, destroyed his Dark Destroyer, and banished Garcia’s Set Stormforth.  He banished the Dark Destroyer and Special Summoned Kozmo Farmgirl!  He was attacking for game just moments later.

A so-so start for Mario Andres Enriquez Garcia is met with a quick grind and a clutch Chaos Trap Hole from Angel Zayren Flores Covarrubias, making victory in the first Duel academic for the three-time Champion!  “I’m siding eleven,” he announced with a conspiratorial grin, setting to work with his Side Deck for Game 2.

Garcia opted to make Flores go first.  Flores had a hand of Twin Twisters; Call of the Haunted; Solemn Strike; Effect Veiler; and Kozmo Soartroopers.  He Set Twisters, Call, and Strike.

Garcia revealed Ehther the Heavenly Monarch for Tenacity of the Monarchs, searching Pantheism of the Monarchs.  He activated it, pitching The Prime Monarch to draw two, then banished Pantheism to present two more copies plus The Monarchs Stormforth.  Flores gave him the Stormforth.  Garcia Special Summoned back his Prime Monarch, mysteriously activated Stormforth, and Normal Summoned Eidos the Underworld Squire.  Flores Chained Effect Veiler to negate its ability.

Flores got another Call of the Haunted and Flip Summoned his Kozmo Soartroopers to attack Eidos.  Garcia revealed Ehther the Heavenly Monarch and Flores squashed it with Solemn Strike.

Garcia activated Instant Fusion for Panzer Dragon again, overlaying it with The Prime Monarch to Xyz Summon Wind-Up Arsenal Zenmaioh!  It blew away Flores’ Call of the Haunted and Twin Twisters, then attacked to destroy Flores’ Kozmo Soartroopers!

Flores drew and Summoned Kozmo Tincan, moved to his End Phase, and chose Kozmo Dark Destroyer, Kozmo Forerunner, and Kozmo Sliprider from his Deck, getting Dark Destroyer.

Garcia drew to five cards in hand with Zenmaioh on the field.  He Tributed Zenmaioh for Majesty’s Fiend!  It attacked to destroy Kozmo Tincan.

Flores ripped Kozmotown next turn, activated it, and used it to shuffle away his last in-hand card.  He drew Magic Deflector and scooped immediately.

The Match was tied!  Both Duelists needed this next win: a loss here would mean an end to the competitive season for one of these players, an entire year’s worth of work up in smoke.

Flores chose to go first, and drew Kozmo Strawman; Kozmo Goodwitch; Chaos Trap Hole; Raigeki; and Kozmoll Dark Lady.  He opened with Goodwitch and Set Chaos.

Garcia pitched Kuraz the Light Monarch to activate One for One, Special Summoning Edea the Heavenly Squire to activate its effect.  Flores Chained Goodwitch’s effect, and Garcia Chained Maxx “C”.  He drew a card when Flores Special Summoned Kozmoll Dark Lady, then Special Summoned Eidos the Underworld Squire.  Garcia activated Eidos’ effect and Flores blew it away with Dark Lady.  Garcia Tributed Edea for Majesty’s Fiend, and Flores nailed it with Chaos Trap Hole!  Garcia had three cards left in hand to Flores’ Kozmoll Dark Lady and two cards in hand.  He Set one card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone.

Flores drew Emergency Teleport.  He Summoned Strawman to Special Summon back Kozmo Goodwitch, then Teleported Kozmo Farmgirl in from his Deck.  He attacked with her, searched his Deck for Kozmo Dark Destroyer, attacked with everything else and then banished Kozmo Strawman to Summon the Dark Destroyer and end the Match!

Angel Flores is headed to the Top 32, just five wins away from a seat at the World Championship!