Home > 2019/09 – Guadalajara, Mexico, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series > Top 16 Feature Match: Esala Sammidha de Alwis Wathuthantrige vs. Salvador Molina Ochoa

Top 16 Feature Match: Esala Sammidha de Alwis Wathuthantrige vs. Salvador Molina Ochoa

September 29th, 2019

Welcome to the Top 16!  Esala Sammidha de Alwis Wathuthantrige is from Los Angeles, California and placed 12th after Swiss with Salamangreat.  This is another YCS Top in a long line of YCS Top Cut appearances.  His opponent is the 28th seed Salvador Molina Ochoa for Mexico and he has what is essentially an Orcust Deck but also uses Trickstar and Sky Striker cards to enable the Orcust combo.  It’s the type of Deck that we saw earlier in the year when Duelists were first starting to figure out how to put two monsters with different names on the field, and the Deck has clearly done well for Salvador Molina Ochoa.  Will it get him to the Top 8, or will Esala get one step closer to his first YCS Championship?  It’s time to Duel!

Duel 1

Wathuthantrige won the roll and elected to go first.  He started with Flame Bufferlo.  He sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Baelynx.  He used the effects of both monsters, adding Salamangreat Sanctuary from his Deck to his hand, then discarding Salamangreat Foxy to draw 2 cards.  Salamangreat Sanctuary was next, then Wathuthantrige discarded Salamangreat Jack Jaguar to Special Summon Salamangreat Foxy from the Graveyard.  Salamangreat Spinny’s effect was next, being discarded, then being Special Summoned form the Graveyard. Salamangreat Spinny and Salamangreat Foxy made Salamangreat Miragestallio.  Its effect Special Summoned Salamangreat Gazelle from the Graveyard, and its on-Summon effect sent Salamangreat Rage from the Deck to the Graveyard.  Gazelle and Salamangreat Baelynx turned into a Salamangreat Sunlight WolfSalamangreat Sunlight Wolf turned into another one thanks to Salamangreat Sanctuary and Wathuthantrige got Salamangreat Rage back from the Graveyard.  Wathuthantrige then activated Cynet Mining, discarding Flame Bufferlo to add Salamangreat Fowl from his Deck to his hand.  Fowl was Special Summoned and Gazelle went from the Graveyard back to his hand.  Fowl and Salamangreat Jack Jaguar turned into Abyss Dweller.  Wathuthantrige Set a card to the back and passed.

Wathuthantrige drew Infinite Impermanence to add to his hand of Orcust Harp Horror, Trickstar Candina, Knightmare Corruptor Iblee, Orcust Crescendo and Orcustrated Babel.  He Normal Summoned Trickstar Candina and used its effect to add Trickstar Light Stage from his Deck to his hand.  Trickstar Light Stage came down and Wathuthantrige activated Salamangreat Rage to destroy Trickstar Light Stage and Trickstar Candina.  Molina Ochoaconceded and we’re off to a quick second Duel.

Duel 2

Molina Ochoaelected to go first.  He started with a hand of Instant Fusion, Nibiru, the Primal Being, Infinite Impermanence, Cosmic Cyclone and Knightmare Corruptor Iblee.  He Normal Summoned Knightmare Corruptor Iblee.  It was sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare MermaidKnightmare Corruptor Iblee and Mermaid’s effects were activated with Molina Ochoadiscarding Cosmic Cyclone to Special Summon Orcust Knightmare form the Deck and Knightmare Corruptor Iblee being Special Summoned to Wathuthantrige’s side of the field.  Both monsters turned into Galatea, the Orcust AutomatonOrcust Knightmare was next, banishing itself to send Orcust Harp Horror from the Deck to the Graveyard.  Molina Ochoatried to use Orcust Harp Horror but Wathuthantrige chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to negate it.  Galatea, the Orcust Automaton’s effect shuffled Orcust Knightmare back into the Deck to Set Orcustrated Babel from the Deck which was immediately activated.  Instant Fusion was next to bring out El Shaddoll WindaDingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star went on top of Galatea, the Orcust Automaton, Molina OchoaSet Infinite Impermanence and in the End Phase, Molina Ochoadetached a material from Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star to keep Winda from being destroyed by Instant Fusion’s effect.

Wathuthantrige activated Mind Control to take control of Winda.  Wathuthantrige sent Knightmare Corruptor Iblee and Winda to Molina Ochoa’s Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Phoenix.  Its effect let Wathuthantrige discard Flame Bufferlo trying to destroy the Set Infinite Impermanence but Molina Ochoaprotected it with Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star’s effect.  Wathuthantrige Normal Summoned Flame Bufferlo and used both it and Phoenix to Link Summon Salamangreat Heatleo.  Its effect attempted to shuffle the Set card back into the Deck and Molina Ochoachained it, Infinite Impermanence on Heatleo, likely to keep it from being a dead draw later.  Wathuthantrige then discarded Salamangreat Foxy to draw 2 cards for Flame Bufferlo’s effect.  Salamangreat Spinny dropped into the Graveyard from Wathuthantrige’s hand then it hopped out of the Graveyard, then 2 monsters turned into Salamangreat Miragestallio (the action was moving so fast I didn’t record what the second Level 3 monster was).  At this point, Molina Ochoaactivated Nibiru, the Primal Being, Tributing everything to Summon itself and give Wathuthantrige a Token with 6900 ATK and 3000 DEF.  Wathuthantrige continued by activating Cynet Mining, discarding Salamangreat Rage to add Salamangreat Gazelle from his Deck to his hand.

Molina Ochoadrew Mind Control, now the only card in his hand along with the Nibiru, the Primal Being on his field facing a huge Primal Being Token on Wathuthantrige’s side.  He banished Orcust Harp Horror from the Graveyard to Special Summon Orcust Knightmare from the Deck.  Orcust Knightmare and Nibiru, the Primal Being turned into a Galatea, the Orcust AutomatonOrcust Knightmare was banished to send Orcust Cymbal Skeleton from the Deck to the Graveyard, then Orcust Cymbal Skeleton was banished to Special Summon Galatea, the Orcust Automaton.  Its effect shuffled back Orcust Cymbal Skeleton to Set Orcust Crescendo from the Deck.  Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star went on top of Galatea, the Orcust Automaton and its effect sent the Token away.  Dingirsu and Galatea attacked directly to leave Wathuthantrige at 3600 LP.  He Set Mind Control and passed.

Wathuthantrige activated Salamangreat Circle to add Salamangreat Fowl from his Deck to his hand.  He Normal Summoned it and used its effect, sending it to the Graveyard to freeze Wathuthantrige’s Set Orcust Crescendo.  Wathuthantrige chained it to negate the effect.  Wathuthantrige activated the Gazelle in his hand, Special Summoning it.  He then activated its other effect, sending Will of the Salamangreat from the Deck to the Graveyard.  Salamangreat Spinny hopped out of the Graveyard, then Gazelle turned into a Salamangreat Baelynx.  Baelynx’s effect got Salamangreat Sanctuary from the Deck.  Salamangreat Baelynx and Spinny turned into a Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Sanctuary came down, then another Salamangreat Sunlight WolfSalamangreat Sunlight Wolf’s effect got back Will of the Salamangreat which Wathuthantrige activated and sent off to get back Salamangreat Foxy and Salamangreat GazelleSalamangreat Sunlight Wolf’s effect sent Salamangreat Miragestallio back to the Extra Deck which was Xyz Summoned using Foxy and Gazelle.   Salamangreat Miragestallio’s effect Special Summoned Salamangreat Jack Jaguar from the Deck.  Salamangreat Miragestallio and Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf turned into Salamangreat Heatleo.  Miragestallio bounced Dingirsu, the Orcust of the Evening Star back to the Extra Deck and Salamangreat Heatleo’s effect spun the Set Mind Control back to Molina Ochoa’s Deck.  Salamangreat Jack Jaguar and Salamangreat Heatleo turned into a Salamangreat Sunlight WolfSalamangreat Jack Jaguar hopped out of the Graveyard putting a Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf back into the Extra Deck.  Salamangreat Jack Jaguar crashed into Galatea, the Orcust Automaton and Wathuthantrige protected it by banishing Salamangreat Baelynx form the Graveyard.  Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf attacked directly leaving Molina Ochoaat 5200 LP.

Molina Ochoadrew and activated Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage!.  Wathuthantrige did a quick double take and Molina Ochoaadded Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones from his Deck to his hand and drew Terraforming.  Molina Ochoaactivated it and added Trickstar Light Stage to his hand.  Sky Striker Mecha – Hornet Drones was next, Special Summoning a Sky Striker Ace Token which turned into Sky Striker Ace – Kagari which brought back Sky Striker Mobilize – Engage! which was activated to add Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster from his Deck to his hand and draw Called by the GraveTrickstar Light Stage was next, and its effect added Trickstar Candina from his Deck to his hand.  It was Normal Summoned and Molina Ochoaadded Trickstar Corobane from his Deck to his hand.  Sky Striker Ace – Kagari attacked over Wathuthantrige’s Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf leaving Wathuthantrige at 3300 LP to Molina Ochoa’s 5200 LP.  Trickstar Candina’s attack was boosted by Corobane in the Damage Step to leave Wathuthantrige at 1300 LP.  He Set Called by the Grave and Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster and passed.

Wathuthantrige drew and conceded and we’re going to a third and final Duel!

Duel 3

Wathuthantrige elected to go first.  He started with Salamangreat Jack Jaguar and it turned into Salamangreat Baelynx.  Its effect and Salamangreat Gazelle went on the chain, with Wathuthantrige adding Salamangreat Sanctuary to his hand and sending Salamangreat Rage from his Deck to the Graveyard.  Salamangreat Spinny went to the Graveyard, then back to the field.  Gazelle and Spinny turned into Salamangreat Miragestallio whose effect Molina Ochoanegated with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring.  Wathuthantrige continued his combos unabated and ended with this field.

Molina Ochoaactivated Cosmic Cyclone to banish Wathuthantrige’s only Set card which was Salamangreat Rage.  Molina Ochoathen Normal Summoned Trickstar Candina and used its effect to add Trickstar Light Stage from his Deck to his hand.  Trickstar Light Stage was activated to add Trickstar Corobane from his Deck to his hand.  Corobane was Special Summoned, then Molina Ochoaactivated Instant Fusion, paying down to 7000 LP to Special Summon Thousand-Eyes RestrictThousand-Eyes Restrict’s effect absorbed Molina Ochoa’s Salamangreat Sunlight WolfThousand-Eyes Restrict and Trickstar Candina were sent to the Graveyard to Link Summon Knightmare Cerberus.  Its effect had Molina Ochoadiscard Knightmare Corruptor Iblee to destroy Wathuthantrige’s Abyss Dweller which Wathuthantrige chained.  Molina Ochoaattacked with both monsters, leaving Wathuthantrige at 4200 LP.  In Main Phase 2, Knightmare Cerberus turned into Knightmare Mermaid whose effect discarded Sky Striker Mecha – Eagle Booster to Special Summon Orcust Knightmare from the Deck.  Wathuthantrige activated Nibiru, the Primal Being, Tributing the field to give Molina Ochoaa Token.

Wathuthantrige Normal Summoned Gazelle to send Salamangreat Falco.  Falco came out of the Graveyard bouncing Gazelle.  Falco turned into Salamangreat Baelynx.  Gazelle came out of the hand and Salamangreat Baelynx got Salamangreat Sanctuary.  Spinny came out of the Graveyard then it and Gazelle turned into Salamangreat MiragestallioSalamangreat Miragestallio Special Summoned Salamangreat Foxy from the Deck.  Salamangreat Miragestallio and Salamangreat Baelynx turned into Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Mirage bounced the Primal Being Token.  Salamangreat Jack Jaguar came out of the Graveyard and Gazelle came back to the hand.  Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf and Salamangreat Jack Jaguar turned into a Heatleo and all of Wathuthantrige’s monsters attacked to end the match!

Esala Wathuthantrige moves on to the Top 8!