This is it, the final round of Day 1 here at YCS Mexico City! It just goes to show that Dueling is more than a mental game – the long day has taken a physical toll on everyone in the tournament. And yet, they fight on for the title of YCS Champion! Luis Villalpando is here from Tijuana, packing a Sky Striker Deck. He’s against Oscar Perez, from Guererro, and his Sekka’s Burning Abyss Deck. These Duelists are ready to give it their all – it’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

Villalpando played Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! to get Sky Striker Ace – Raye, then used Raye to play Sky Striker Ace – Kagari. He added Engage back to his hand, then used Kagari to play Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. He Set three cards, and in the End Phase Shizuku added another Engage to his hand.

Perez won the die roll and opened with a hand of Sekka’s Light; Graff, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; Danger!? Jackalope?; Barbar, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss; and Fiendish Rhino Warrior. He drew another Rhino. Sekka’s Light let him draw Danger! Nessie! and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss. He banished Sekka’s Light to return a Rhino and draw Black Luster Soldier – Envoy of the Beginning. He Special Summoned Barbar and Farfa, and Xyz Summoned Dante, Traveler of the Burning Abyss. It detached Barbar to send Rhino, Jackalope, and Libic, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. Libic’s effect Special Summoned Graff with its effect negated. The Rhino then sent Calcab, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard, which bounced one of Villalpando’s back row cards. He used Dante and Graff to play Knightmare Phoenix, both Burning Abyss effects and the Phoenix. Phoenix discarded Nessie to destroy Villalpando’s Set Widow Anchor, and Villalpando Chained it to negate Phoenix. Graff Special Summoned Cir, and Dante added Graff to the hand. Nessie’s effect searched out Danger! Bigfoot!. Cir self-destructed due to its Continuous Effect, and Special Summoned Dante. Perez used Dante and Phoenix to play Knightmare Unicorn. Unicorn discarded Graff but was negated by Infinite Impermanence, and Dante returned Cir to the hand. Perez banished Jackalope and Dante to play Black Luster, then activated Bigfoot. He discarded Bigfoot, so it destroyed Shizuku. Villalpando Special Summoned Raye from the Graveyard. Perez activated Jackalope, and Jackalope was discarded. It Special Summoned Nessie in Defense Position. In the Battle Phase, Black Luster attacked Raye, then attacked directly. Unicorn attacked directly as well, leaving Villalpando with 2800 Life Points. In Main Phase 2, he used Nessie and Black Luster to play Knightmare Cerberus, co-linked to Unicorn.

Villalpando played Engage to search for Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones. His second Engage got Sky Striker Mecha Modules – Multirole. He activated Multirole and used it to send a Twin Twisters to the Graveyard. He played Hornet Drones and Link Summoned Kagari, adding Engage back to his hand. Now with three spells in the Graveyard, he used Engage to get Widow Anchor and draw a card. He played Widow Anchor to negate Cerberus, then used Sky Striker Maneuver – Afterburners! to destroy Unicorn! Kagari attacked and destroyed Cerberus. In Main Phase 2, he Set a card in his back row and Link Summoned Sky Striker Ace – Shizuku. Multirole Set Afterburners, Widow Anchor, and Engage. Shizuku added Sky Striker Mecha – Shark Cannon to his hand.

Perez drew Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He passed the turn.

Villalpando flipped Engage to add Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster to his hand and draw a card. Terraforming came next, getting Sky Striker Airspace – Area Zero. He used Shark Cannon next, banishing Black Luster. He used Shizuku to play Kagari, and added Shark Cannon back to his hand. Kagari attacked directly. In Main Phase 2, he Link Summoned Shizuku and Set one card in his back row. Shizuku added Sky Striker Mecharmory – Hercules Base to his hand.

Perez drew Gallis the Star Beast. He Normal Summoned Rhino Warrior, and Special Summoned Gallis by sending an Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to the Graveyard, dealing 600 damage in the process. He Xyz Summoned Dante, detaching Rhino Warrior to send another Rhino, Sekka’s Light, and Farfa, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. Farfa banished Shizuku, and his Rhino sent Scarm, Malebranche of the Burning Abyss to the Graveyard. Since Shizuku left the field, Villalpando Special Summoned Raye in Defense Position. Perez banished Sekka’s Light from the Graveyard to return Ghost Ogre to his Deck, and he drew Jackalope. He sent Dante to attack, but it had its effect negated by Infinite Impermanence and lost the battle! Perez used Dante and Cir from his hand to play Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal in Defense Position. Cir tried to revive Barbar, but Villalpando had D.D. Crow. In the End Phase, Perez used Scarm to get Tour Guide From the Underworld, and Shizuku returned to the field.

Villalpando activated Hercules Base, sending it to the Graveyard with Multirole. Hercules Base returned three of his Sky Striker spells to the Deck. He used Raye and Shizuku to play Knightmare Phoenix, then stole Beatrice with Widow Anchor! He used Phoenix and Beatrice to play Topologic Trisbaena! He flipped Shark Cannon to banish Cir, then used Engage to get Raye and draw a card. He played Area Zero and Raye. He moved to the Battle Phase and attacked with Trisbaena and Raye, then used Twin Twisters to destroy Area Zero and Special Summon another Raye. That gave him just enough damage to take the first Duel!

Duel 2

Villalpando started off with Terraforming to get Area Zero. He played Raye and used Area Zero’s effect, targeting Raye, then Chained Raye’s effect to Special Summon Sky Striker Ace – Hayate. Area Zero’s effect added Hornet Drones to his hand. He used another Terraforming to get another copy of Area Zero, then used Hayate to play Shizuku. He activated his new copy of Area Zero, and Shizuku was negated by Ash Blossom.

Perez began with another Ash Blossom, Bigfoot, Graff, and Jackalope. He drew Black Luster. He activated Bigfoot, and Bigfoot was discarded. It targeted Shizuku, but Villalpando had Eagle Booster! He used Jackalope next, discarding Graff. He Special Summoned Jackalope and drew Calcab. Graff’s effect Special Summoned Scarm, which self-destructed. Perez Normal Summoned Ash Blossom and Xyz Summoned Dante. It sent Jackalope, Rhino Warrior, and Evenly Matched to the Graveyard. The Rhino’s effect sent Barbar to the Graveyard, banishing Graff to deal a bit of damage. With the round timer nearly up, that damage could mean all the difference in this Duel. Perez discarded Calcab and used Dante to play Beatrice, Lady of the Eternal in Defense Position. In the End Phase, Scarm searched for Tour Guide From the Underworld.

Villalpando Set Hornet Drones, using Area Zero to trade it in for Engage. He activated it immediately, searching for Widow Anchor and drawing a card. He used Shizuku to play Kagari and return Engage to his hand. He played it again, getting Widow Anchor and drawing another card. He played Widow Anchor, and Perez responded by detaching Dante. Dante’s effect added Farfa to his hand, but Beatrice was negated by Ash Blossom! Villalpando Normal Summoned Raye and turned Beatrice to Attack Position. Kagari, Raye, and Beatrice attacked directly to drop Perez to 1800 Life Points! In Main Phase 2, Villalpando used all his monsters to play Knightmare Unicorn. He Set two back row cards.

Perez drew Twin Twisters, immediately playing it by discarding Farfa, but did not use its effect. He played Tour Guide next, but lost it to Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit! Tour Guide’s effect still brought Rhino Warrior to the field. Perez Special Summoned Black Luster and moved to the Battle Phase! That was why he didn’t use Farfa – he wanted a monster for Black Luster to destroy! It wiped out Unicorn, then attacked directly. Rhino Warrior attacked as well, leaving Villalpando with 2300 Life Points.

Villalpando Set Shared Ride, then used Area Zero to send it to the Graveyard and get Engage! He played Engage to get Multirole and draw a card. Multirole then sent Area Zero to the Graveyard, allowing him to Special Summon Raye. Raye was used to play Kagari, and Villalpando got Widow Anchor back. He used Kagari to play Shizuku, then stole Black Luster with Widow Anchor! Perez’s remaining 1800 Life Points couldn’t stand up to the assault!

Luis Villalpando emerges victorious with Sky Strikers!