Home > 2018/04 - Memphis, TN, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series > Top 4 Feature Match: James Rutherford vs. Kamal Crooks

Top 4 Feature Match: James Rutherford vs. Kamal Crooks

April 22nd, 2018

Only 4 Duelists remain! James Rutherford from Orlando, Florida is Dueling against Kamal Crooks from Miami, Florida in a Match that will determine which of these 2 Duelists will advance to the finals. Rutherford is the last remaining Metalfoes Duelist in the tournament, while Crooks is one of 2 Pendulum Magician Duelists remaining. For one of these Duelists, the dream of becoming a YCS winner is about to end. The other will be participating in the Finals of YCS Memphis. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Crooks started off Duel 1 by activating Foolish Burial to send Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm from his Deck to his Graveyard.

He activated its effect to Special Summon it and then add Supreme King Gate Zero from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned Purple Poison Magician next and combined both monsters to Link Summon Heavymetalfoes Electrumite. He used its effect to send Chronograph Sorcerer from his Main Deck to his Extra Deck. Then he activated Gate Zero in his Pendulum Zone and used Electrumite’s effect to destroy Gate Zero. He added Chronograph Sorcerer to his hand with Electrumite’s effect and Special Summoned an Astrograph Sorcerer from his hand. He used Astrograph’s effect to add Gate Zero to his hand and then drew a card with Electrumite’s effect. He activated Chronograph Sorcerer and Gate Zero in his Pendulum Zones and then Pendulum Summoned Purple Poison and Gate Zero from his Extra Deck and Harmonizing Magician from his hand. He used the effect of Harmonizing to Special Summon Black Fang Magician from his Deck and then fused Black Fang and Astrograph to Summon Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom. He then used his Dragon’s effect to copy the effect of Electrumite. With the copied effect, he destroyed a Chronograph from his Pendulum Zone and then added a copy of Chronograph from his Deck to his hand. He combined Astrograph and Gate Zero to Xyz Summon Odd-Eyes Absolute Dragon and then combined Absolute Dragon with Electrumite to Link Summon Zefra Metaltron. He Special Summoned Odd-Eyes Vortex Dragon Linked to Metaltron with Absolute Dragon’s effect and then combined Black Fang and Harmonizing to Summon another Supreme King Dragon Starving Venom Linked to Metaltron. He copied the effect of the Electrumite in his Graveyard with the new Starving Venom and then used its effect to destroy Gate Zero and add a Chronograph to his hand. Then, he used the effect of Chronograph in his hand to Special Summon it along with another Chronograph from his hand. He combined both Starving Venoms for Number 38: Hope Harbinger Dragon Titanic Galaxy, and combined both Chronographs to Xyz Summon Norito the Moral Leader.

Rutherford opened up with Metalfoes Volflame, Metalfoes Steelen, Rescue Hamster, Dragonic Diagram, Metalfoes Goldriver, and Metalfoes Combination. He activated Metalfoes Goldriver in his Pendulum Zone and then activated Dragonic Diagram. Crooks allowed both of them to resolve. Next, Rutherford Set Metalfoes Combination. He activated the effect of Diagram, and when Crooks discarded Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from his hand to destroy it, Rutherford immediately conceded.

An incredible opening for Kamal Crooks allows him to take a quick win in Duel 1! Rutherford will be going first in Duel 2!

Duel Two

Rutherford opened up with Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King; Dragonic Diagram; Rescue Rabbit; Effect Veiler; and True Draco Heritage.

He activated the Diagram and Set Heritage. Next, he activated Diagram’s effect; but Crooks discarded Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from his hand to destroy it! Rutherford Normal Summoned Rescue Rabbit and banished it to activate its effect; but Crooks Chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to stop that too! He passed his turn with no other play to make!

Crooks Normal Summoned Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm and then used its effect to add Supreme King Gate Zero to his hand. He activated Gate Zero and Harmonizing in his Pendulum Zones and then Pendulum Summoned 2 Gate Zero and Mythical Beast Jackal King from his hand. He combined Darkwurm with Jackal King to Link Summon Heavymetalfoes Electrumite. He tried using its effect but lost out to Effect Veiler. Electrumite attacked directly, dropping Rutherford down to 6200 Life Points.

Rutherford drew Metalfoes Goldriver. He Normal Summoned it and then flipped his face-down True Draco Heritage. He activated Heritage’s effect to gain a Tribute Summon and Tributed Goldriver and Heritage for Master Peace, the True Dracoslaying King! He used Heritage’s effect to destroy Crooks’s Harmonizing Magician in the Pendulum Zone, sending it to the Extra Deck. Crooks drew a card from his Deck thanks to the effect of Electrumite. Master Peace attacked and destroyed Electrumite, and then Rutherford passed his turn.

Crooks drew a card and then passed without making a play.

Rutherford drew Metalfoes Steelen and then attacked Gate Zero to destroy it, sending it to Crooks’s Extra Deck.

Crooks activated Pendulum Call, discarding Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from his hand to add Harmonizing Magician and Purple Poison Magician from his Deck to his hand. He activated Black Fang Magician in his Pendulum Zone and then Pendulum Summoned Jackal King from his Extra Deck and Harmonizing Magician and Purple Poison Magician from his hand. He used the effect of Harmonizing Magician to Special Summon Black Fang Magician from his Deck and then he used all 4 monsters to Link Summon Borreload Dragon! He attacked Master Peace with Borreload, prompting Rutherford to use Master Peace’s effect to banish Heritage from his Graveyard and destroy Gate Zero. Borreload destroyed Master Peace in battle!

Rutherford drew Mythical Beast Master Cerberus and activated it in his Pendulum Zone. He used its effect to destroy it and add Jackal King to his hand and then passed his turn.

Crooks attacked directly with Borreload, dropping Rutherford down to 3150 Life Points, and then ended his turn.

Rutherford drew Metalfoes Steelen. He activated it in one Pendulum Zone and then activated Metalfoes Silverd in his other Pendulum Zone. He Pendulum Summoned Goldriver from his Extra Deck and Jackal King from his hand. He used Steelen’s effect to destroy Silverd and Set Metalfoes Fusion from his Deck. Next, he used Jackal King and Goldriver to Link Summon Electrumite. He used its effect, and Crooks Chained Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit to destroy it! Rutherford sent Astrograph Sorcerer from his Main Deck to his Extra Deck and then ended his turn.

Crooks attacked directly with Borreload, dropping Rutherford down to 150 Life Points!

Rutherford drew Metalfoes Goldriver and then activated it in his Pendulum Zone. He Pendulum Summoned Goldriver in Defense Position and then used the effect of the Goldriver in his Pendulum Zone to destroy his Steelen and Set Metalfoes Combination from his Deck.

Crooks drew Pot of Desires! He activated it by banishing the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down and drew 2 cards. He activated Pendulum Call, discarding Evenly Matched to add Timegazer Magician and Purple Poison Magician from his Deck to his hand. He placed Purple Poison in his Pendulum Zone and then Pendulum Summoned 2 monsters from his Extra Deck and 2 from his hand! Attacks from Crooks’s monsters finished Rutherford off!

Kamal Crooks goes all-in on Borreload Dragon against Master Peace in Duel 2 and takes the win as a result! Crooks is moving on to the Finals!