Central America World Qualifying Points Playoff Top 8 Feature Match: Erick Villanueva Priego vs. Jose Carlo Carrillo Toscano
The World Qualifying Points Playoff is a brand-new aspect to this year’s WCQs, where players can earn WCQ points across the Dueling season for a chance to compete for an invite to the World Championship! This is a very prestigious event, where only the top performing players from each region can compete prior to the WCQ. After months of dedication, these 8 Duelists have each earned a Super Rare copy of Chaos Emperor, the Dragon of Armageddon and are competing for a single slot in a single elimination bracket. They will also receive VIP status for tomorrow’s main event!
Our first Feature Match fittingly pits the two top point earners, both representing Mexico: Erick Villanueva Priego and Jose Carlo Carrillo Toscano. Both of them have brought Orcust to the playoff, one of the most powerful combo strategies in the format. Who will advance to the Top 4?
Carrillo won the roll and chose to go first.
Duel One:
Carrillo started by Normal Summoning Glow-Up Bulb, and immediately sent it to the Graveyard to Summon Link Kuriboh. He then activated the effect of Glow-Up Bulb, milling Trickstar Light Stage to bring it back, Link Summoning Knightmare Cerberus. Cerberus turned into Knightmare Mermaid, and from there he began his Orcust combo. After a flurry of Orcust Special Summons, he Link Summoned The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche and used it to send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard and Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He brought back his Galatea, the Orcust Automaton with the effect of Orcust Cymbal Skeleton, and after shuffling back one of his banished monsters, Xyz Summoned Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star. He banished The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots, then used it and Dingirsu to Link Summon another Galatea. He activated Silent Boots to add and Set The Phantom Knights of Shade Brigadine which he immediately Flipped. He used it along with Orcust Harp Horror to Xyz Summon Time Thief Redoer and Set a back row before ending his turn.
Villanueva drew for turn, and Carillo used Time Thief Redoer during the Standby Phase to take the top card of Villanueva’s Deck as an Xyz Material. Villanueva began his turn with Twin Twisters, discarding Danger! Nessie. Carrillo responded with the effect of Orcust Cymbal Skeleton, banishing it to Special Summon back Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star before his Orcustrated Babel was destroyed. Villaneuva searched Danger! Jackalope from Nessie, then used its effect and discarded Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster to Special Summon it and draw a card. He then activated Danger! Tsuchinoko, discarding Twin Twisters to Special Summon it and draw a card. After that, he used both of his Danger! monsters to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus, prompting Carrillo to activate the effect of the Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay in his hand. After it resolved its effect, Villanueva used his Cerberus to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid and discarded Orcust Crescendo, but once Carillo Toscano Flipped his Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to negate it, Villanueva conceded!
After a blistering fast game one, the players quickly dove to their Side Decks. With his back against the wall, Villanueva chose for Carrillo to go first again in the second Duel.
Duel Two:
Carrillo started with Trickstar Corobane, then activated the effect of Danger! Nessie. Nessie discarded itself, grabbing him a Danger! Jackalope. He Normal Summoned Jackalope and used it along with Corobane to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus, following it up with Knightmare Mermaid. He discarded Orcust Knightmare to Special Summon another copy from his Deck, then banished the one he discarded to send Orcust Harp Horror to the Graveyard. When he tried to activate the effect of Harp Horror, Villanueva negated it with his Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. With two monsters still on the field Carrillo Toscano pressed onward, Link Summoning Galatea, the Orcust Automaton and then using it to Set Orcustrated Babel from his Deck which he immediately Flipped. He Xyz summoned over his Galatea for Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star, used its effect to attach the banished Harp Horror as an Xyz Material, and Set a card before ending.
Villanueva started off with Trickstar Light Stage, using its effect to search a copy of Trickstar Corobane. He used the Trickstar Light Stage to lock down the one opposing back row, then Special Summoned Corobane and Normal Summoned Danger! Jackalope to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus which was immediately sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Mermaid. He activated its effect, discarding Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, to Special Summon Orcust Knightmare from his Deck, but Carrillo’s last card in hand was Artifact Lancea! Villanueva did his best to press forward, Link Summoning Galatea, the Orcust Automaton and then Xyz Summoning Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star to blow away the opposing copy. During the End Phase, Carrillo Flipped his Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade on Dingirsu.
Carrillo used the effect of Orcust Harp Horror, banishing it from his Graveyard to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from his Deck before ending his turn.
Villanueva started by banishing Orcustated Knightmare, sending Orcust Harp Horror from his Deck to the Graveyard. He then banished it to Special Summon Orcust Cymbal Skeleton, and followed it up with the card he drew for turn: Foolish Burial! He sent World Legacy – “World Wand” to the Graveyard and banished it to Special Summon Orcust Harp Horror before he sent Dingirsu and Cymbal Skeleton to the Graveyard to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. Galatea shuffled back his banished “World Wand” to Set Orcustrated Babel from his Deck, then he used his Galatea and Harp Hotrro to Link Summon The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche. He banished Cymbal Skeleton to resurrect his Galatea, using the effect of Bardiche to send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to the Graveyard and Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He banished the Ancient Cloak to search The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and Summoned it. He moved to Battle Phase and declared an attack over the one defending monster with Galatea, but when he tried to attack with Silent Boots, Carrillo activated the effect of Orcust Cymbal Skeleto . Villanueva Flipped Orcust Crescendo immediately to stop it, dealing 2300 damage in total with his monsters. In Main Phase 2, Villanueva Link Summoned Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator with Galatea and his Silent Boots, but Carrillo had Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay in his hand to Special Summon and draw some cards! Villanueva banished Silent Boots to search Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade, and Set it before ending his turn.
Carrillo drew and contemplated his next move, but ultimately chose to pass. During the End Phase, Villanueva banished Orcustred Knightmare to send Orcust Harp Horror to the Graveyard, and used its effect to Special Summon Orcustrated Knightmare to the field…but Carrilo had Super Polymerization! He used Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator and Orcust Cymbal Skeleton as Fusion Materials to Summon Starving Venom Fusion Dragon.
Villanueva Priego drew Sky Striker – Mobilize Engage!! He activated it to search Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones, and immediately activated it and used the Token to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari to add back Hornet Drones. He Normal Summoned Orcust Cymbal Skeleton and used it along with Kagari to Link Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, then banished Cymbal Skeleton to revive Longirsu, the Orcust Orchestrator. He used the effect of World Legacy – “World Wand” to Special Summon Cymbal Skeleton, then the effect of Longirsu to shuffle back some banished monsters and get rid of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon. He Xyz Summoned Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star next, destroying Phantazmay, and Carrillo conceded knowing his Life Points were finished.
After a grueling battle back and forth, Villanueva manages to come out on top! Who will claim victory in the final Duel?
Carrillo chose to go first.
Duel Three
Carrillo drew his opening hand and activated Trickstar Light Stage to grab Trickstar Candina, then Special Summoned Trickstar Corobane and Normal Summoned Mathematician. He used the effect of Mathematician to send Glow-Up Bulb to the Graveyard, then used its effect to send Danger! Tsuchinoko off the top of his Deck and Special Summon it from the Graveyard. He Link Summoned Knightmare Cerberus using the Mathematican and Corrobane, then Link Summoned Knightmare Mermaid, and used its effect to discard Orcust Harp Horror and Special Summon Orcustrat Knightmare. Next, he used the Knightmare and Glow-Up Bulb to Synchro Summon Borreload Savage Dragon and equipped Knightmare Cerberus! Villanueva fought back with D.D. Crow, banishing Harp Horror, but Carrillo pressed on and Link Summoned Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. He banished Orcust Knightmare to send World Legacy – “World Wand”, then used “World Wand” to Special Summon the banished Harp Horror. From there, Carrillo Link Summoned The Phantom Knights of Rusty Bardiche and used its effect to send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak and Set Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He then banished The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak to add The Phantom Knights of Silent Boots before he banished Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to bring back Galatea. Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star came down next, attaching the banished Cymbal Skeleton, and then he Normal SummonedThe Phantom Knights of Silent Boots and used both monsters to Link summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton. He used the effect of Galatea to Set Orcustrated Babel, and used Silent Boots to add Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade to his hand, which he Set before ending.
Villanueva started with Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones, and used the Token to Link Summon Sky Striker Ace – Kagari before he added back Hornet Drones to his hand. He used it again to Special summon another Token, using it along with Kagari to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus. He discarded Orcust Harp Horror attempting to destroy Borreload Savage Dragon, but Carrillo stopped it with Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. Villanueva Link summoned Knightmare Mermaid next, activating its effect by discarding Cymbal Skeleton, but Carrillo stopped that with another Phantom Knights’ Fog Blade. He used Cymbal Skeleton to revive Harp Horror, using it and Mermaid to Link summon Galatea, but once it hit the field, Carrillo used Cymbal Skeleton to bring back Dingirsu, prompting Villanueva to concede!
An intense back and forth between the top two point earners for not only Mexico, but all of Central America, results in Jose Carlo Carrillo Toscano advancing to the Top 4!