Brooke Mason from Minneapolis, Minnesota and Courtney Hostler from Little Rock, Arkansas are both currently undefeated in the North America Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Championship, and now they’re facing off against one another in a Match that pits Mason’s Swordsoul Tenyi Deck against Hostler’s Branded Despia Deck. One of these Duelists will advance with a perfect 7-0 record and a strong position going into Day 2 of the event. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Mason opened up Duel 1 with Swordsoul of Taia, Swordsoul of Mo Ye, Swordsoul Emergence, Effect Veiler, and Heavenly Dragon Circle.

She Normal Summoned Mo Ye and used its effect to Special Summon a Swordsoul Token by revealing Taia. She used Emergence to add Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan to her hand next and Special Summoned it by discarding Taia. She Special Summoned another Token to her field and then Synchro Summoned Baronne de Fleur. She inflicted 1200 points of damage to Hostler with Longyuan’s effect and then Synchro Summoned Swordsoul Grandmaster – Chixiao. She used the effects of Chixiao and Mo Ye to draw a card and add Swordsoul Blackout to her hand and then Set two cards to her back row.

Hostler activated Pot of Desires by banishing the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down and Mason let it resolve.

Next, he activated Branded Opening. He Chained Forbidden Droplet and sent his face-up Opening and an Edge Imp Chain from his hand to his Graveyard. Next, he used Branded in Red. He Special Summoned Aluber from his Deck and negated the effects of Baronne and Chixiao with Forbidden Droplet. He activated Aluber’s effect, but it was negated by Mason’s Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill. Hostler added Frightfur Patchwork to his hand with the effect of his Edge Imp Chain and activated the Patchwork to add Edge Imp Chain and Polymerization to his hand. Next, he used the effect of the Eldlich the Golden Lord in his hand to send it to the Graveyard along with a Polymerization and send Mason’s face-down Swordsoul Blackout to the Graveyard. Hostler then activated Branded Fusion and sent Fallen of Albaz and Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous from his Deck to his Graveyard with its effect. He Fusion Summoned Albion the Branded Dragon and activated its effect, but lost out to Effect Veiler. Next, Hostler activated Polymerization and fused the two monsters on his field with a monster in his hand to Summon Guardian Chimera. He lost 1800 Life Points in the process due to the effect of Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill. He activated his Chimera’s effect, and Mason Chained Heavenly Dragon Circle to Tribute Chixiao and add Swordsoul of Taia to his hand. Guardian Chimera destroyed Mason’s remaining card with its effect. Hostler attacked directly with Guardian Chimera. In the End Phase, he used Incredible Ecclesia’s effect to return it to his hand from his Graveyard and used Albion’s effect to Set Branded in Red to his field.

Mason drew a card and then Summoned Swordsoul of Taia. Hostler flipped Branded in Red and returned Fallen of Albaz to his hand. He then fused it with his Chimera and a Dramaturge of Despia in his hand to Summon Guardian Chimera and activated the effects of his Chimera and Dramaturge, destroying Swordsoul of Taia and Special Summoning Dramaturge to the field. Mason conceded, unable to make a follow-up play.

Courtney Hostler wins Duel 1 with his Branded Despia Deck!

Duel Two

Mason opened up Duel 2 with Heavenly Dragon Circle, Swordsoul Emergence, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and 2 copies of Incredible Ecclesia, the Virtuous. She Summoned Incredible Ecclesia and used its effect to Special Summon Mo Ye in its place. She revealed Emergence from her hand to Special Summon a Swordsoul Token with its effect and then Synchro Summon Chixiao. She used the effects of Mo Ye and Chixiao to draw a card and add Swordsoul Blackout from her Deck to her hand. Next, she used Swordsoul Emergence to add Longyuan to her hand and Hostler activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird. Mason Special Summoned Longyuan with a Token alongside it next, and Hostler activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being! All monsters on the field were Tributed, and Hostler Special Summoned Nibiru to his own field, and a Primal Being Token to Mason’s field with 4000 ATK and 3300 DEF. Mason Set 2 cards to her back row and then passed her turn.

Hostler used Foolish Burial to send Despian Tragedy to his Graveyard and used its effect to add Aluber to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and then used its effect to add Branded Fusion to his hand. He activated the Branded Fusion, but lost out to Mason’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Next, Hostler activated Pot of Desires. He banished the top 10 cards of his Deck face-down to draw 2 cards. He activated Branded in Red to return Despian Tragedy to his hand and then Fusion Summoned Guardian Chimera by fusing the Tragedy with Aluber and Nibiru. He used his Chimera’s effect to destroy the Primal Being Token and a face-down Blackout and draw a card. He Set a card and then passed his turn.

Mason Special Summoned Incredible Ecclesia and used its effect, but lost out to Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. She Set a card her back row before passing her turn. In the End Phase, Mason activated Branded Opening to Special Summon Aluber, prompting Mason to concede.

Courtney Hostler takes a 2-0 win with his Branded Despia Deck and advances with a 7-0 record!