Only one round of Swiss remains! These two Duelists are on the bubble, each with 8-2 records. A win is needed here for a shot at the Top 32. We have Esteban Vences, from Santa Ana, CA, playing Pendulum Magicians. The Deck was unquestionably the strongest, but once Circuit Break released a SPYRAL Link Monster,  all that went out the window. He’s showing that’s it’s still a consistent and powerful Deck, and so far it’s worked very well for him. His opponent is Edward Schumm, from San Luis Rio Colorado, in Sonora, Mexico. He’s using a Trickstar Deck packing Windwitch cards. This should be a great Match!

Duel 1

Schumm won the dice roll and chose to play first. He drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries, Solemn Strike, and two Trickstar Light Stage. He played a Stage, and it was negated by Vences’s Ash Blossom. Schumm played his second Light Stage to get Trickstar Candina to his hand. Candina put Trickstar Lycoris in his hand. He Set Solemn Strike, then bounced Candina to his hand to Special Summon Lycoris.

Vences drew a card and took 400 damage thanks to Lycoris and Light Stage. He played Pendulum Call, discarding Wisdom-Eye Magician, and Schumm used Ash Blossom. Vences played Pot of Desires next, and took more damage from the Trickstar cards. He used Star Pendulumgraph, then played Performapal Skullcrobat Joker to get Wisdom-Eye Magician in his hand – he took even more burn damage. Vences played Harmonizing Magician and Wisdom-Eye Magician in his back row, and used Wisdom-Eye Magician to get Purple Poison Magician on the field. Since Wisdom-Eye Magician was destroyed, Star Pendulumgraph put a Harmonizing Magician in his hand. He was down to 6200 Life Points now, thanks to all the Trickstar burn effects. Vences Pendulum Summoned Wisdom-Eye Magician from his Extra Deck and Harmonizing Magician from his hand, losing both to Solemn Strike! Skullcrobat Joker attacked Lycoris.

Schumm drew his third Light Stage. He activated it, adding Lycoris to his hand. He took a moment to read Purple Poison, then used Ghost Reaper & Winter Cherries to banish all copies of PSY-Framelord Omega from Vences’s Extra Deck. Schumm Normal Summoned Candina, and Vences used Ash Blossom to negate it. Schumm bounced Candina back to his hand to Special Summon Lycoris in Defense Position.

Vences drew to one card in hand, but still had Star Pendulumgraph and Joker, with Harmonizing Magician and Purple Poison in his Pendulum Zones. He Pendulum Summoned Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer! It destroyed Harmonizing Magician, putting another Skullcrobat Joker in his hand, and Star Pendulumgraph added Black Fang Magician to his hand. He Normal Summoned Skullcrobat Joker, adding Double Iris Magician to his hand, and dropping to 4600 from Trickstar burn. He put Double Iris in his Pendulum Zone, using its effect on a Joker, and added Time Pendulumgraph to his hand. He went to the Battle Phase, having his Sorcerer destroy Lycoris. The two Jokers attacked directly, and Vences boosted one with Purple Poison! Purple Poison was destroyed, and took down Light Stage with it. Schumm dropped to 1500 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, Vences used Sorcerer and a Joker for Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir in Defense Position, put Black Fang in his Pendulum Zone, and Set Time Pendulumgraph, his last card, to the back row.

Schumm drew Windwitch – Ice Bell! He Special Summoned it, and Special Summoned Windwitch – Glass Bell with its effect. He Synchro Summoned Clear Wing Fast Dragon. In the End Phase, Vences used Time Pendulumgraph to wipe it out! He sent Bagooska to attack and end the Duel!

Duel 2

Schumm started with Chain Summoning, Raigeki, Droll & Lock Bird, Trickstar Lycoris, and Trickstar Reincarnation. He Set Reincarnation and played Lycoris. If Vences allows him to trigger Droll, this game might be over immediately.

Vences Set a back row card, and activated Harmonizing Magician and Oafdragon Magician in his Pendulum Zones. He thought a moment, then flipped up Pot of Desires. He drew two cards, Schumm used Trickstar Reincarnation, Vences used Ash Blossom to negate it, and Schumm used Droll to still block any further searches for the turn. Vences Pendulum Summoned Double Iris, Black Fang, and Purple Poison from his hand. Black Fang destroyed Lycoris in battle. Double Iris attacked, and Schumm used Reincarnation in the Graveyard to revive Lycoris. Purple Poison attacked, losing the battle but destroying Lycoris with its effect. In Main Phase 2, Vences used Oafdragon to get Purple Poison back to his hand. He Xyz Summoned Number 41: Bagooska the Terribly Tired Tapir in Defense Position, and Set a card face-down.

Schumm used Raigeki to take out Bagooska. He Set a Chain Summoning.

Vences Pendulum Summoned Performapal Pendulum Sorcerer, using it to destroy his Set Pot of Desires and add Skullcrobat Joker to his hand. He Normal Summoned it, getting Double Iris. He attacked directly with both monsters. In Main Phase 2, he used them to Xyz Summon Tornado Dragon in Defense Position, and had it destroy Chain Summoning.

Schumm drew Trickstar Reincarnation. He Set it and Chain Summoning. In the End Phase, Tornado Dragon destroyed Reincarnation.

Vences played Double Iris and moved Tornado Dragon to Attack Position. He attacked with Double Iris, and Schumm used Reincarnation to revive Lycoris. Vences continued his attack, and when Double Iris was destroyed he searched for Time Pendulumgraph. Tornado Dragon wiped out Lycoris, and in Main Phase 2 Vences used Oafdragon to get Double Iris back again. He Set one to his back row.

Schumm drew Lycoris and Set it. Vences used Time Pendulumgraph to destroy it and his Harmonizing Magician.

Vences played Purple Poison, and attacked to finish the Match!

Esteban Vences is your victor, with Pendulum Magicians!