Four Rounds remained in the 250^th YCS here in Los Angeles, and for the handful of surviving Duelists still in contention it was do-or-die. The winner here would move on to the Top 8, while the defeated Duelist would be cast into the shadow realm. (Not really. They’d probably just go back to their hotel.)

Both Duelists exchanged a handshake and Jawhari opened with a hand of Spright Starter, Nimble Beaver, PSY-Frame Driver, Tri-Brigade Kitt, and Tri-Brigade Kerass. He used Starter in his Draw Phase to Special Summon Spright Blue, took 1100 damage, and used Blue to search his Deck for Spright Jet. Jawhari Special Summoned it to search another Starter, then Link Summoned Spright Sprind to send Nimble Angler to the Graveyard. 

That got him two copies of Nimble Beaver on the field, and he overlaid one with Sprind to Xyz Summon Gigantic Spright. He detached a Beaver from it, then Summoned Spright Carrot. Jawhari Link Summoned I:P Masquerena next, giving up Gigantic Spright, and Normal Summoned Tri-Brigade Kitt, banishing both Beavers for Kitt’s effect. It resolved to Summon Tri-Brigade Ferrijit the Barren Blossom, Jawhari Summoned Kerass and brought out Tri-Brigade Bearbrumm the Rampant Rampager. He made Ferrijit’s effect Chain Link 1, Kitt’s effect Chain Link 2, and sent Tri-Brigade Nervall to the Graveyard.

Nervall’s effect got Jawhari another copy of Kitt, and he banished Ferrijit and Nervall from his Graveyard to Link Summon Ancient Warriors Oath – Double Dragon Lords. He Summoned Pitknight Earlie next with Bearbrumm, searched Tri-Brigade Revolt, Set it and ended.

Kotton drew for turn and activated Book of Moon, targeting Spright Carrot. It went face-down. Kotton Summoned Kashtira Unicorn, revealed Kashtira Riseheart, Summoned it, and used Riseheart’s effect to banish Kashtira Fenrir from his Deck, as well as three cards off the top of Jawhari’s Deck. Jawhari activated I:P Masquerena and Chained Erlaie’s effect targeting Kashtira Unicorn. He Link Summoned Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess and Kotton took a moment to double check the text of Double Dragon Lords. 

“I will… Attempt to… Enter the Battle Phase.” Jawhari nodded. Kotton sent Riseheart to attack Apollousa: “Yeah, that’s fine.” In the Damage Step Kotton played Forbidden Lance, targeting the Apollousa and taking it down in battle! Jawhari took 700 damage. Kotton moved to Main Phase 2, activated Kashtira Birth, and Jawhari responded with Tri-Brigade Revolt, bringing back a bunch of material to Link Summon Tri-Brigade Shuraig the Ominous Omen. He searched another Kitt with Nervall, and before Jawhari could finish resolving the Chain Kotton had conceded.

Jesse Kotton manages to Lance his way through his opponent’s Apollousa, but Hisam Jawhari’s amassed forces are just too strong, and Jawhari wins the Duel on the following turn! He was now just one win away from defeating one of the most decorated Duelists in the world, and making the Top 8 here at YCS Los Angeles.

But Kotton wasn’t going to make it easy. He opened Game 2 with Dimension Shifter, and Jawhari fired back with PSY-Framegear Gamma! He Special Summoned it, Special Summoned PSY-Frame Driver, and negated the Shifter’s effect. Kotton banished six cards for Pot of Desires, drew two cards, and Jawhari activated Droll & Lock Bird! Kotton still had five cards, but with no ability to search this turn was going to be a challenge. 

He Special Summoned Kashtira Unicorn, revealed Kashtira Riseheart to Special Summon it, and used its effect to banish Kashtira Preparations from his Deck. Jawhari banished three cards face-down. Kotton overlaid his two monsters to Xyz Summon Kashtira Shangri-Ira, Set a card to his back row and ended.

Jawhari had Tri-Brigade Kitt, Infinite Impermanence, Spright Jet, and Nimble Angler. He used Infinite Impermanence in the Draw Phase to negate the effect of Shangri-Ira, moved to the Main Phase and Normal Summoned Tri-Brigade Kitt. Kotton flipped Book of Eclipse! Shangri-Ira and Kitt went face-down and Jawhari ended his turn, drawing Emergency Teleport when Kitt flipped back face-up.

Kotton Flip Summoned Shangri-Ira, attacked Kitt to take 1000 damage, moved to Main Phase 2 and overlaid it with Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder. He Set a card to his Spell and Trap Card Zone to finish.

Jawhari drew Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. He Special Summoned Spright Jet, searched Spright Smashers, and Link Summoned Spright Sprind. He made Kitt Chain Link 1, Sprind Chain Link 2, and activated Smashers at Chain Link 3. Zeus was banished, and Jawhari sent an Angler and a Nervall to the Graveyard. Kotton blocked Nervall with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Angler resolved to Special Summon two copies of Nimble Beaver to Jawhari’s field, and he used them to Xyz Summon Gigantic Spright. 

Kotton had one card in hand and one card Set in his back row. He flipped Book of Eclipse, but Jawhari negated it by Chaining Ash Blossom! Jawhari used Gigantic Spright to detach a Beaver and Special Summon Tri-Brigade Kerass, then banished Nervall and Kitt to Summon Tri-Brigade Bearbrumm. He tossed cards for Bearbrumm’s effect, Summoned, and used Angler’s effect to Special Summon one more Beaver. 

Jawhari counted damage, figuring out if he could take the win this turn. He Linked the Beaver and Bearbrumm to Link Summon Ferrjit, used Kitt to banish Bearbrumm and Beaver, and brought out Ancient Warriors Oath – Double Dragon Lords. He overlaid Kitt and Ferrjit for Gigantic Spright, and that was enough to win the game unopposed!

Hisam Jawhari takes the Match in a 2-0 sweep, punching his ticket to the Top 8!