We’re back in round 7, the last round of TEAM YCS Las Vegas Day 1! Both of these teams are 4-2, and a single loss kicks them out of the tournament, they’re fighting for their lives here. Johnny Lee hails from California, and Joseph Rothschild lives in Maryland.

Duel 1

Lee, going second, drew a solid hand of Polymerization, The Bystial Lubellion, Branded Retribution, Harpie’s Feather Duster, and Tri-brigade Mercourier! Rothschild revealed Mathmech Sigma for Small World, using Parallel eXceed to get to Mathmech Circular. Circular was used next, sending Mathmech Sigma to the Graveyard, Special Summoning it then adding Mathmech Superfactorial to hand as well. Primathmech Alembertian was Xyz Summoned, detaching both materials to add Mathmech Diameter, which was Summoned and used its effect to Summon back Circular.

“Hey Alex, that line practiced yesterday? Yeah, it’s coming up and I don’t remember it” chortled Rothschild.

Diameter was linked into Salamagreat Almiraj, then used Mathmech Circular and Almiraj to make Cyberse Wicckid, Parallel eXceed was next up from Rothschild’s hand and used in chain with the Wicckid gaining bonus monsters and cards in hand. He then used the level 4 Parallel eXceed to make Link Devotee, then Tributing it for Alembertian to Summon back Circular again and getting 2 Tokens thanks to Link Devotee.

“The problem is the Deck is just too good, there’s too much to do!” Rothschild lamented.

Linguriboh was Summoned next using one of the Tokens, then I:P Masquerena was Summoned using the Circular and the 2nd Token.

With that, Lee was up, drawing Bystial Baldrake for turn and immediately firing off with Harpie’s Feather Duster! Mai Valentine would be proud.

The Bystial Lubellion was discarded next, prompting a chain of I:P Masquerena to Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess using 3 monsters. Lubellion searched Bystial Druiswurm. In the open game state Cyberse Wicckid banished Primathmech Alembertain to grab Mathmech Sigma once more, and Lee activated Bystial Druiswurm targeting I:P Masquerena, Rothschild responded with Apollousa to negate, leaving 2 more negations left. Bystial Baldrake was activated next, and met with Apollousa again! Tri-Brigade Mercourier was Summoned and attacked over Apollousa, ridding the field of her powerful effect.

In Main Phase 2, Lee passed turn and Rothschild was up.

Rothschild started by Summoning Mathmech Circular but was met with Bystial Druiswurm! Small World was once again activated, revealing Mathmech Sigma, then Nibiru, the Primal being, grabbing him… Lava Golem.

That wasn’t ideal.

Triple Tactics Thrust was activated next, grabbing Cynet Mining to add. Pretty nice if you ask me. Cynet Mining discarded the Lava Golem and added Mathmech Circular to Rothschild’s hand. Mathmech Circular then sent Mathmech Diameter to Summon itself, then overlayed Circular and Diameter for Primathmech Alembertian. Detaching 2, he pondered his options!

“Man, I am NOT used to having to play a 3rd turn!”, Rothschild is struggling mightily this game.

He decided to add Mathmech Superfactorial to hand with his search effect, then used Alembertian tributing Linguriboh to Special Summon Mathmech Circular. On its Summon, Lee activated Bystial Baldrake to banish his own Tri-Brigade Mercourier, which triggered Mercourier to search for another card. However, thanks to the Diameter used previously in the turn as a material, Mercourier couldn’t resolve because Primathmech Alembertian had an effect negation. Wicckid and Alembertian were linked into Decode Talker Heatsoul! On the Summon, Baldrake was used tributing Druiswurm, to which Rothschild had to chain his Heatsoul to draw, it was returned, and Druiswurm sent Circular to the Graveyard. He Set 2 in his back row, ended his turn, and Lee was up.

Lee drew Frightfur Patchwork for turn, and Summoned The Bystial Lubellion, Tributing his Baldrake. Mathmech Superfactorial was used to Summon 3 monsters and made a Primathmech Laplacian. Laplacian detached 2 and sent the Lubellion to the Graveyard, and Lee randomly lost his Polymerization in the effect as well. Patchwork was activated and met with negation, and that was enough for Lee to move on.

Duel 2

Lee was up first, opening with a hand of Bystial Bladrake, Aluber the Jester of Despia, Tri-Brigade Mercourier, Branded Fusion, and Branded in High Spirits! He began by Normal Summoning Aluber, adding Branded Lost to hand. Lost was activated, and Branded Fusion followed. Unfortunately, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring stymied that play, but he was not to be stopped! Branded in High Spirits was activated revealing Albion the Branded Dragon and sending Bystial Baldrake to the Graveyard, grabbing Lee Albion the Shrouded Dragon. Albion was activated next, sending Branded Retribution to the Graveyard, putting Albion on the bottom, and getting Lee Harpie’s Feather Duster again! In the End Phase, Albion the Branded Dragon Set a copy of Branded Opening to his field.

Rothschild was up next, and he drew for turn, kicking off with Cynet Mining discarding Mathmech Equation, to add Mathmech Circular. Circular sent Mathmech Sigma to the Graveyard, Summoning itself. Sigma activated next, Summoning itself and that allowed Circular to grab Mathmech Superfactorial as well! On Summon, Lee activated Branded Opening and discarded Tri-Brgade Mercourier to Summon Despian Dramaturge in Defense Position! Rothschild overlaid for Primathmech Alembertian, only for its effect to be shut down by Dramaturge’s negation. Small World then grabbed Mathmech Diameter for Rothschild and it was Normal Summoned bringing back Mathmech Circular, on Circular’s Summon Branded Retribution added back Branded Fusion for Lee, meaning he had follow-up after all of the powerful plays that Rothschild has been doing.

Circular was linked into Salamangreat Almiraj, and Mathmech Diameter was used with Almiraj to make Splash Mage, which brought back a monster to immediately make Update Jammer, which then was used into Accesscode Talker to clear the field for game! Pulling Nekogals ahead 1-0, with the other Duels still to be completed!

With their Match done, both Lee and Rothschild were focused on helping their respective teammates, both matches were neck and neck, but ultimately, the Nekogals managed to pull off the victory, making it to day 2!