Both Aiden Tiemann and Connor Perrotta have Dueled their hearts out to make it this far. The winner of this match will guarantee their invite to the Dragon Duel World Championship in Orlando, Florida; the other will need to win his 3^rd/4^th place play-off match to get his invitation. Twelve year old Aiden Tiemann traveled from Austin, Texas this weekend, and has brought Performapals to the tournament. The premier Pendulum strategy, Performapals focus on strong combos and powerful Rank 4 plays to overwhelm the opponent. Eleven year old Connor Perrota made the trip from Lee, New York, and has chosen Burning Abyss as his weapon of choice. Can the evil Malebranches best the jovial Performapals? Or will the silly Pendulums reign supreme over the dastardly Fiends?

Perrotta won the roll and chose for Tiemann to go first.

Duel One:

Tiemann opened with a hand of Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, Solemn Strike, Performapal Lizardraw, and Sky Iris. He began with the Field Spell and followed it up with Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer as well as Performapal Lizardraw in his Pendulum Zones. He activated the effect of Performapal Lizardraw and destroyed it so he could draw another Solemn Strike. He followed it up with Sky Iris to destroy his Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer so he could add Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn. He played the new Pendulum as a Scale then declared he would Pendulum Summon his Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer! He activated its effect to destroy both of his Pendulum Scales so he could add Performapal Monkeyboard and Performapal Skullcrobat Joker to his hand. He then Normal Summoned the Performapal Skullcrobat Joker and used its effect to search Performapal Guitartle, following it up with Performapal Guitartle in his Pendulum Zone along with Performapal Monkeyboard. The Performapal Guitartle triggered to let him draw a Twin Twister, then used the effect of Performapal Monkeyboard so he could add Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer to his hand. He Set both copies of Solemn Strike and Twin Twister before ending.

Perrotta drew and activated Allure of Darkness, drawing two and then banishing Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He then Special Summoned both Cir, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss from his hand and tried to overlay them for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, but Tiemann responded with Solemn Strike to negate the summon. The Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss still triggered, letting Perrotta add Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss back to his hand, then pressed forward with the Normal Summon of Crane Crane. Tiemann gave it a little thought, but ultimately chose to Solemn Strike it. Without many other options, Perrotta was forced to pass.

Tiemann drew Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer for turn and took a look at his Extra Deck. He activated the effect of Sky Iris to blow away his Performapal Monkeyboard so he could add Performapal Odd-Eyes Light Phoenix and play it in his Pendulum Zone. This triggered the effect of Performapal Guitartle to let him draw Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, and then he declared a massive Pendulum Summon for three! He Special Summoned Luster Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer from his hand as well as a Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer from his Extra Deck. He overlayed the two Performapals for Performage Trapeze Magician, then used its effect to allow a Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer to attack twice this turn. He Normal Summoned Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer before moving to Battle Phase, and after a flurry of attacks the Duel was over!

Tiemann manages to stifle Perrotta enough to force an opening so he could win the following turn! Can Perrotta best Tiemann in two consecutive Duels? Or will Performapals defeat Burning Abyss?

Perrotta chose to go second once again.

Duel Two:

Tiemann started with a hand of Performapal Lizardraw, Performapal Guitartle, Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer, Terraforming, and Magical Abductor. He activated Performapal Guitartle and followed it up with Performapal Lizardraw, triggering the Performapal Guitartle so he could draw Archfiend Eccentrick. He then used the effect of Performapal Lizardraw to destroy itself and draw another Archfiend Eccentrick. He placed Magical Abductor in his empty Pendulum Zone, then activated Terraforming to find Necrovalley as well as place a Spell Counter on Magical Abductor. He played the Field Spell and got a second counter on his Magical Abductor, then Pendulum Summoned Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer. He Normal Summoned one of his Archfiend Eccentrick next, and used both Pendulums as Fusion Materials for Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer!

Perrotta began with Twin Twister, discarding Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to destroy Tiemann’s Necrovalley. This let Tiemann put a third Spell Counter on his Magical Abductor, before Perrott used the effect of Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to banish the Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer. Perrotta Special Summoned Speedroid Terrortop to add Speedroid Taketomborg to his hand. He Special Summoned the second Speedroid and then overlayed both for Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss, using its effect to send Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss, Mask Change, and Quaking Mirror Force to the Graveyard to boost its attack. He Special Summoned Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss next and tributed it away for Majesty’s Fiend! He declared two huge attacks and left Tiemann with only 3100 Life Points. He Set a card to his back row and ended his turn.

Tiemann drew Sky Iris and activated the effect of Magical Abductor, removing three counters from it so he could add Performapal Monkeyboard to his hand. He then activated the Sky Iris and used it to destroy his Magical Abductor, letting him search Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn. He placed Performapal Monkeyboard in his Pendulum Zone, then triggered the effect of Performapal Guitartle to draw Twin Twister. He activated Performapal Monkeyboard next to add Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer to his hand, then used Twin Twister discarding Performapal Odd-Eyes Unicorn to destroy Perrotta’s Quaking Mirror Force. He declared a Pendulum Summon for four next, Special Summoning Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Magical Abductor from his Extra Deck as well as Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Archfiend Eccentrick from his hand. He overlayed Master Pendulum, the Dracoslayer and Magical Abductor for Number 39: Utopia, then stacked Number S39: Utopia Prime on top, before he finally ranked all the way up to Number S39: Utopia the Lightning! He switched his Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer to Attack Position, and then declared an attack with Number S39: Utopia the Lightning over Majesty’s Fiend. Next, he swung over Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss with Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer, letting Perrotta to trigger the Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss so he could add back Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He declared direct attacks with his Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer and Archfiend Eccentrick, putting Perrotta down to 4600 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he activated the effect of Archfiend Eccentrick to destroy his own Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer before he ended.

Perrotta drew to only two cards. He Special Summoned Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss and then tributed it away for Majesty’s Fiend so he could swing over the Dinoster Power, the Mighty Dracoslayer. Without any other cards, Perrotta ended his turn.

Tiemann drew Vector Pendulum, the Dracoverlord for turn and then Pendulum Summoned Archfiend Eccentrick, Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, Performapal Lizardraw, and Vector Pendulum, the Dracoverlord. He declared an attack over Majesty’s Fiend with Number S39: Utopia the Lightning, then directly with the rest of his Pendulum Monsters to end the Match!

After some impressive back and forth, Aiden Tiemann ends up defeating Connor Perrotta to claim his invite to the Dragon Duel World Championship and move onto the finals of the Dragon Duel North American World Championship Qualifier!