The last round before the Top Cut is the final chance for many Duelists to win their way into the Top Cut here at YCS Philadelphia! With the last Rounds approaching, ever player is feeling the pressure, especially those who need 1 more win earn a place in the Top 64. 

Among those Duelists is Bobby Kenny, who we featured earlier in Round 7. Kenny’s playing a 60-card Gold Pride P.U.N.K. Deck with plenty of Summoning power, aiming to overwhelm the format’s top Decks. His opponent is Alex Mondlak, who recently topped the 250^th YCS and is a Philadelphia local. Mondlak’s playing Kashtira, the most popular Deck at this YCS. Can Kenny pull off another Feature Match win?

Mondlak won the dice roll and went first, kicking off the Duel by Setting 2 cards to his backrow. 

Kenny opened with 2 copies of Noh-P.U.N.K. Ogre Dance, PSY-Framegear Gamma, Joruri-P.U.N.K. Dangerous Gabu, Noh-P.U.N.K. Ze Amin, and Droll & Lock Bird. Kenny discarded Ogre Dance to get Noh-P.U.N.K. Deer Note. He then Normal Summoned Ze Amin, and activated its effect by paying 600 Life Points to search for Foxy Tune. Mondlak responded with Dimensional Shifter. Kenny Set Dangerous Gabu before passing turn.

Mondlak activated Pot of Prosperity, banishing 6 cards to excavate 6 from his Deck. He added Kashtira Unicornfrom among the revealed cards to his hand. He Summoned Unicorn and used its effect, but Kenny activated his Set Dangerous Gabu to negate it. Dangerous Gabu also gave Kenny 2500 Life Points because he controlled a P.U.N.K. Monster. Mondlak attacked Ze Amin with Unicorn and destroyed it. In his Main Phase 2 he activated Kashtira Birthand then passed turn.

Kenny drew for turn, activating another Ogre Dance by sending it from his hand to the Graveyard to add Ze Amin from his Deck to his hand. Kashtira Unicorn activated, and Kenny Chained PSY-Framegear Gamma, and Mondlak Chained Droll & Lock Bird. Gamma Summoned PSY-Frame Driver and destroyed Unicorn. Kenny then discarded Foxy Tune to activate its effect along with Gold Pride – Captain Carrie, Summoning Ukiyoe-P.U.N.K. Sharakusai from the Deck. Mondlak responded with Book of Moon to flip Sharakusai face-down. 

Kenny used Gamma and Driver to Synchro Summon Adamancipator Risen – Dragite. He activated Dragite’s effect to excavate the top 5 cards of his Deck. If he revealed any Rocks he’d be able to bounce cards Mondlak controlled up to the number revealed. Dragite’s effect revealed Nibiru, the Primal Being, and Kenny was able to bounce Mondlak’s backrow card. He attacked directly with Dragite to bring Mondlak to 5000 Life Points. He passed turn.

Mondlak activated Kashtira Birth, but Kenny used Dragite’s effect to negate it because Captain Carrie fulfilled its condition for having a WATER Monster in his Graveyard. Mondlak activated Triple Tactics Thrust next, adding Terraforming to his hand. Kenny responded with Droll & Lock Bird. Mondlak Set a card and passed.

Kenny activated Dragite again, but didn’t hit any Rock-Type Monsters when he excavated the 5 cards. He Flip Summoned Sharakusai and activated its effect paying 800 Life Points, but Mondlak Chained Infinite Impermanence targeting it. Next, Kenny Summoned Ze Amin, paid 600 Life Points, and searched Ogre Dance. He activated Ogre Dance by Tributing Ze Amin, Summoning Ogre Dance. Kenny used the effect of Ze Amin in the Graveyard to give Ogre Dance another 600 ATK. Kenny attacked with all of his monsters to take out Mondlak’s remaining Life Points!

Mondlak attempted to shut down Kenny’s engine with Dimensional Shifter, but he couldn’t hold back the flood of P.U.N.K. monsters. Both Duelists reconsidered their options while siding for the next game, looking for any way to give themselves an advantage.

Mondlak decided to go first in the next game. He activated Pressured Planet Wraitsoth and used its effect to search Kashtira Unicorn. He Summoned Unicorn, then activated and Summoned Kashtira Riseheart from his hand. He searched Kashtiratheosis with Unicorn, and used Kashtiratheosis to Summon Kashtira Fenrir by targeting Unicorn. Fenrir’s ability found him another copy of Unicorn from the Deck. He activated Riseheart, banishing Kashtira Birth from his Deck, then Xyz Summoned Kashtira Arise-Heart with Unicorn, Fenrir, and Riseheart. He Set 2 cards to his backrow and passed his turn.

Kenny started with Noh-P.U.N.K. Ogre Dance, Small World, P.U.N.K. JAM Extreme Session, Kashtira Fenrir, Nibiru, the Primal Being, and Book of Moon. During the Draw Phase Mondlak activated Appointer of the Red Lotus, paying 2000 Life Points to look at Kenny’s hand. Kenny Chained Book of Moon, targeting Kashtira Arise-Heart, and Mondlak responded with Magic Deflector. The Book was negated with Magic Deflector, so Arise-Heart stayed face-up. 

Appointer resolved, letting Mondlak banish Kashtira Fenrir from Kenny’s hand. Arise-Heart attached Fenrir from Kenny’s banished zone. Kenny activated Small World, revealing Nibiru in his hand. He selected Gagaku-P.U.N.K. Wa Gon from his Deck, then added PSY-Framegear Gamma from his Deck to his hand. Wa Gon was banished by Small World, along with Small World itself, and Arise-Heart was activated again. Kenny Chained Gamma to Arise-Heart, destroying it and Summoning both the Gamma and PSY-Frame Driver from the Deck. 

Kenny activated Ogre Dance by discarding it and searched Ze Amin, which he then Normal Summoned. He used Ze Amin to search for Noh-P.U.N.K. Foxy Tune, then activated Foxy Tune by sending it along with  P.U.N.K. JAM Extreme Session to the Graveyard to Summon Deer Note from the Deck. Kenny Synchro Summoned P.U.N.K. JAM Dragon Drive with Ze Amin and Deer Note. JAM Dragon Drive activated, adding Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit from Kenny’s Deck to his hand. Ze Amin gave JAM Dragon Drive a 600 ATK boost, and Deer Note Summoned Ogre Dance from the Graveyard. Kenny entered the Battle Phase and attacked with everything for game!

Mondlak started strong with Appointer of the Red Lotus and Magic Deflector, and it looked like Kenny was about to swiftly lose the last game until Small World resolved! With his combo pieces assembled, Kenny was able to make a comeback and win on the second turn of the Duel!