RCharley Futch is from Indianapolis, Indiana, and was the winner of the Dragon Duel World Championship in 2018. Since then he’s competed in numerous high profile tournaments, and now he’s X-1 here in Round 7 at YCS Niagara Falls. Another win would clinch his place in Day 2, and leave him with a strong shot at the Top 32 tomorrow. Futch is running Adventure Spright this weekend.

His opponent is a self-professed Taco Bell enthusiast Victor Suarez from Orlando, Florida, piloting what’s still probably the scariest Deck in the format: Floowandereeze. Armed with game-winning floodgates like Dimension Shifter and Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, Floowandereeze can win games out of nowhere and lock out even the best Duelists as early as Turn 1, creating boards that are nigh impossible to overcome. 

One of these competitors was about to lock their spot in Day 2. But which one?

Futch won the roll and opted to go first, opening with a hand of Infinite Impermanence, D.D. Crow, Spright Starter, and two copies of Water Enchantress of the Temple. He fired off a Water Enchantress to search his Deck for Rite of Aramesir, activated it, Special Summoned an Adventurer Token and placed Fateful Adventure onto the field. Futch Special Summoned his second Water Enchantress, used Fateful to get Dracoback, the Rideable Dragon, and searched for Wandering Gryphon Rider. He activated Dracoback, Special Summoned the Rider, and used Spright Starter to Special Summon Spright Blue. 

Spright Blue got Futch Spright Jet, he Summoned it, and he searched Spright Smashers.  Futch overlaid for Gigantic Spright, Summoned Plaguespreader Zombie, and used it with Gigantic Spright to Link Summon Crystron Halqifibrax. He brought back Plaguespreader from the Graveyard, Linked it to Halq and Link Summoned Spright Elf. Futch used it to bring back Spright Jet, then Link Summoned Artifact Dagda. He Set two cards to his backrow and ended. 

Suarez drew for his turn and activated Dark Ruler No More. He activated Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map, used its effect, and drew out Futch’s Smashers: Futch banished Starter and Dagda to blow away Map on the Chain. Suarez Summoned Floowandereeze & Toccan, targeted Map, and Futch shut him down with Infinite Impermanence. Suarez Set one card to his back row to finish out. 

Futch drew another Spright Starter and moved to Main Phase 1. He banished Water Enchantress of the Temple from his Graveyard to get another Rite. When Suarez tried to hit him with Dogmatika Punishment, Futch negated it with Wandering Gryphon Rider. Futch brought back Spright Blue with Spright Elf, and used it to search and summon Spright Red. Fateful Adventure got him another Water Enchantress of the Temple, he pitched Rite to pay for the search, Special Summoned Water Enchantress, Linked her to Spright Elf to Link Summon Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians, made Accesscode Talker and that was game!

Charley Futch has just the right mix of negations to shut out Victor Suarez completely, then follows up with the classic Selene play into Accesscode Talker to win the duel!  Could he adapt to dominate the second Duel going second, or could Suarez keep himself in this long enough to even the score? Both Duelists sided and pile shuffled, hoping to see even draws for Game 2.

The competitors wished eachother good luck and Suarez began. He activated Pot of Duality to reveal Harpie’s Feather Storm, Floowandereeze & Robina and another Duality; Suarez took Robina. Suarez activated Floowandereeze and the Magnificent Map and this time it stuck! He searched his Deck for Robina, and wound up making the classic Chain of Robina and Eglen.  He brought out the Eglen, searched Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds, and Futch hit him with Droll & Lock Bird. Suarez shuffled his hand, clearly needing to adjust his plan under Droll. After a moment’s thought he set two cards to his Spell and Trap Card Zone, Normal Summoned Barrier Statue and ended.

Futch had Wandering Gryphon Rider, Artifact Scythe, Pot of Prosperity, Rite of Aramesir, and Dracoback, the Rideable Dragon. Yeah, that’s a lot of cards he’d rather search than draw. Futch played Prosperity for six cards and dug into his Deck, revealing Spright Starter, Emergency Teleport, Rite, Spright Blue, Fateful Adventure, and Spright Smashers. He took Starter, Special Summoned Rider, and moved to the Battle Phase, immediately losing his Rider to Dogmatika Punishment. Suarez took the opportunity to load his Graveyard with Wind Pegasus @Ignister, prepping its effect. 

It wouldn’t matter. Futch had nothing going on under the Barrier Statue. He moved to Main Phase 2, Set a card and ended. Suarez activated Floowandereeze and the Advent of Adventure in the End Phase and Futch conceded. 

Charley Futch draws a terrible hand for Game 2 and concedes the moment defeat is certain, keeping as much time on the clock as possible. Victor Suarez closes the trap right out of the gates, defending Barrier Statue of the Stormwinds and riding it to victory! Suddenly this was anybody’s Match, though Futch would have the advantage going first in the final Duel.

Futch opened with Pot of Prosperity, Emergency Teleport, Red Resonator, Rite of Aramesir and Spright Jet.  He played Rite to Special Summon his Token, searched Fateful Adventure, and went back into his Deck a moment later to Special Summon Noh-P.U.N.K. Ze Amin with Emergency Teleport. He got Wandering Gryphon Rider and Dracoback, the Rideable Dragon, then searched out Noh-P.U.N.K. Foxy Tune. He pitched it to the Graveyard along with Red Resonator, and Special Summoned Noh-P.U.N.K. Deer Note from his Deck. He Linked it to Amin for Crystron Halqifibrax, brought back Noh-P.U.N.K. Foxy Tune, and Special Summoned Plaguespreader Zombie. 

He Summoned Spright Jet next, searched Spright Smashers, Synchro Summoned Baronne de Fleur, and overlaid for Gigantic Spright to Special Summon Spright Blue, getting Spright Red. Futch Special Summoned that next, Linked Gigantic to Blue and made Spright Elf. He brought back Red Resonator, targeted Baronne to gain 3000 LP, and Linked Spright Red and the Resonator to Link Summon I:P Masquerena. He activated Pot of Prosperity for six cards, revealing Effect Veiler, Infinite Impermanence, Droll & Lock Bird, Emergency Teleport, Rite of Aramesir and Foolish Burial, taking Droll. He Set Smashers and ended.

Suarez drew to six cards and activated Floowandereeze and the Advent of Adventure, banishing Floowandereeze & Eglen. Futch negated it with Wandering Gryphon Rider. Suarez activated another Advent! This time he banished Robina, and Futch negated the second Advent with Baronne de Fleur, leaving Suarez with just two cards in hand. Suarez entered Main Phase 1, activated Mystic Mine, and Normal Summoned Eglen, doing the usual Chain Link 1 Eglen, Chain Link 2 Robina. Futch activated Smashers as Chain link 3, banishing Spright Jet from his Graveyard and Masquerena from his field to blow away Mystic Mine. Suarez searched Floowandereeze & Empen, summoned Robina, and Futch hit him with the Droll. Futch got back Plaguespreader Zombie with Elf and Suarez was out of plays.

Futch drew Water Enchantress of the Temple for his turn, and banished one from his yard to get another Rite of Aramesir. He Summoned Spright Red, then Water Enchantress, and Linked it with Spright Elf to Link Summon Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians. She brought back Water Enchantress, Futch made Accesscode Talker, popped Robina, popped Eglen, and it was all over!

Charley Futch takes a commanding victory in the third Duel, locking in his 6-win record and securing a seat in Day 2!