Here on Day 2 of YCS Vancouver, we’re moving on to the Top 32! Jesse Kotton and Christian Urena are both seasoned Yu-Gi-Oh! veterans, each with multiple YCS victories under their belts, but only one of them will move on to the Top 16. Each of these players are playing Unchained, a powerful strategy that’s become extremely popular with new support released in Duelist Nexus. 

Who’s going to come out on top? Let’s find out!

Kotton won the die roll and chose to go first. His opening hand consisted of Pot of Prosperity, Escape of the Unchained, Unchained Twins – Aruha, Unchained Twins – Rakea, and Abomination’s Prison. He started by Setting Escape, then activating his Aruha’s effect in hand, Summoning it to the field. That triggered the effect of Escape, allowing him to Summon Unchained Twins – Sarama from his Deck. He activated Sarama’s effect to Set Escape back to the field, and then destroyed Rakea, and Rakea allowed him to Special Summon Unchained Soul of Shyama from the Deck. He activated Unchained Soul of Sharvara in his hand, destroying Sarama, and then Link Summoned Unchained Soul Lord of Yama using Sharvara and Shyama. Yama added another copy of Sharvara to Kotton’s hand, while the Sharvara sent to the Graveyard Set an Abominable Chamber of the Unchained from the Deck. 

Next, Kotton activated Shyama’s effect in the Graveyard, destroying the Abominable Chamber and Summoning Shyama to the field. The destroyed Abominable Chamber let Kotton Special Summon another Sharvara from his Deck, and Sharvara and Shyama were used to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar! Kotton then activated Abomination’s Prison, searching for Abominable Unchained Soul. He activated Pot of Prosperity, revealing Triple Tactics Thrust and two copies of Book of Eclipse, adding Book of Eclipse to his hand. He then Normal Summoned Unchained Twins – Rakea, used Rakea and Yama to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Rage, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn. 

Urena began his turn by activating Abomination’s Prison, adding Abominable Chamber of the Unchained to his hand. He then activated his own Book of Eclipse, flipping Kotton’s Wave High King Caesar face-down. Urena then Set Abominable Chamber, and activated Unchained Twins – Aruha in hand to destroy the Chamber and Summon the Aruha, triggering Chamber’s effect to Special Summon Unchained Soul of Sharvara from the Deck. At this point, Jesse activated Book of Eclipse, flipping Urena’s Aruha and Sharvara face-down, to try and prevent Urena from using the two monsters as Link Material. 

ButUrena had Unchained Soul of Sharvara in hand, and activated its effect to destroy his face-down Aruha, Summoning Sharvara and triggering Aruha’s effect to Special Summon Shyama from the Deck! Kotton decided to respond by activating his Unchained Soul of Rage, targeting Urena’s Sharvara, and using the two as Link Material to Special Summon Knightmare Unicorn. Urena’s Sharvara activated as Chain Link 1, while Kotton’s Unicorn was Chain Link 2, discarding Sharvara and targeting Urena’s Shyama. Shyama was returned to the Deck, while Urena’s Sharvara Set Abominable Chamber of the Unchained from his Deck. In a separate Chain, Kotton’s discarded Sharvara activated its effect, Setting Wailing of the Unchained Souls from his Deck. 

Urena activated Pot of Prosperity, revealing Dark Contract with the Gate, Triple Tactics Talent, D/D/D Vice King Requiem, Tour Guide from the Underworld, Abomination’s Prison, and Nibiru the Primal Being. Urena chose to add the Tour Guide to his hand, and immediately after, he Normal Summoned the Tour Guide, and activated its effect to Special Summon Fiendish Rhino Warrior from his Deck. In response, Kotton activated Abominable Chamber of the Unchained, Special Summoning an Unchained Soul of Rage from his Graveyard, and afterwards, he activated Escape of the Unchained, destroying the Soul of Rage and Urena’s Tour Guide. Kotton then activated Yama as Chain Link 1 and Rage as Chain Link 2, adding Sarama back to hand and Summoning Unchained Twins – Rakea to the field. 

Urena activated Triple Tactics Thrust, searching for Triple Tactics Talent, and then activated the Talent to try and take control of one of Kotton’s monsters. Kotton responded with the effect of Rakea, destroying his Set Wailing of the Unchained Souls before Urena took control of Rakea. Kotton activated Wailing to Special Summon Abominable Unchained Soul from the Deck, and activated its effect, discarding Sarama to destroy one of Urena’s cards. Urena responded by activating Rakea’s effect, destroying his Escape of the Unchained before Kotton’s Abominable Unchained Soul destroyed his stolen Rakea. Urena’s Escape activated as Chain Link 1, summoning Unchained Twins – Sarama from the Deck, while Kotton’s Rakea was Chain Link 2, Summoning Unchained Twins – Aruha. 

Urena activated Sarama’s effect to Set Escape of the Unchained to his side of the field, destroying his face-down Sharvara. He then used Fiendish Rhino Warrior and Sarama to Link Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama, activating Yama as Chain Link 1 and Rhino as Chain Link 2, allowing him to send Unchained Soul of Shyama from his Deck to the Graveyard while getting Sharvara from his Graveyard back to his hand. Urena activated the effect of Shyama in the Graveyard to destroy Escape of the Unchained and Summon Shyama to the field, then used Shyama and Yama to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Anguish. Urena activated the effect of Anguish, targeting Kotton’s Aruha and Link Summoning Unchained Abomination!

Urena entered the Battle Phase, and he sent Unchained Abomination to attack Knightmare Unicorn, destroying it in battle and triggering Abomination’s effect to destroy Kotton’s Abominable Unchained Soul. During the End Phase, Unchained Abomination destroyed Kotton’s face-down Wave High King Caesar, allowing Kotton to use its effect to add a Dark Contract with the Gate to his hand, and Urena’s turn ended.

Kotton started his turn by drawing Escape of the Unchained. He activated Dark Contract with the Gate to search for D/D/D Vice King Requiem, placed Requiem into his Pendulum Zone, and then activated Requiem’s Pendulum Effect to destroy the Dark Contract and Special Summon Requiem. Urena decided to respond by activating his Unchained Soul of Sharvara, destroying Unchained Abomination to Special Summon Sharvara to the field. That let him trigger the effect of Unchained Soul Lord of Yama, reviving Unchained Abomination and destroying the newly Summoned Sharvara. In a separate chain, Sharvara allowed Urena to Set Abominable Chamber of the Unchained from his Deck, while Unchained Abomination destroyed Kotton’s Requiem. 

Kotton then Set Escape of the Unchained, and activated Unchained Soul of Shyama in his Graveyard, destroying the Set Escape and Summoning Shyama to the field. That let him use Escape to Special Summon another Sharvara from his Deck. He used the Sharvara and Shyama to Link Summon Yama, with Sharvara Setting Escape of the Unchained from his Deck, while Yama got Sarama back to his hand. Kotton then Normal Summoned Sarama and activated its effect, Setting a Wailing of the Unchained back to his side of the field and then destroying it. The destroyed Wailing was activated, and he Special Summoned Shyama. 

Kotton used Sarama and Yama to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Anguish, and then activated Anguish, targeting Urena’s Unchained Abomination, and using the two monsters as Link Material to Link Summon Kotton’s own Unchained Abomination! Kotton activated Shyama’s Graveyard effect to destroy his own Escape of the Unchained, allowing him to Special Summon Abominable Unchained Soul from the Deck. Staring down a field full of Unchained monsters, Urena conceded the first Duel. 

Urena chose to go first in the second Duel, and started off by activating Dark Contract with the Gate, adding D/D/D Vice King Requiem to his hand. He activated Requiem in his Pendulum Zone, and activated its Pendulum Effect to Special Summon it, destroying the Dark Contract. Requiem was used as Xyz Material to Xyz Summon D/D/D Deviser King Deus Machinex! Urena Set Escape of the Unchained, and then activated Machinex’s effect to shuffle the Dark Contract back into his Deck and destroy Escape of the Unchained. He used Escape to Special Summon Unchained Soul of Sharvara from the Deck, and used Sharvara and Machinex to Link Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama. Sharvara’s effect Set Abominable Chamber of the Unchained from his Deck, while Yama added Unchained Twins – Aruha to his hand. 

Next, Urena activated Aruha, destroying the Set Chamber and Special Summoning Aruha. The Chamber Special Summoned Unchained Twins – Sarama from his Deck. Urena activated Sarama’s effect to Set the Chamber back to his side of the Field and then destroyed Aruha, activating the destroyed Aruha’s effect to Special Summon Unchained Soul of Shyama from the Deck. He used Shyama and Yama to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Rage, then activated his Shyama in the Graveyard, Special Summoning back Shyama while destroying Sarama. Urena used Sarama’s effect to Special Summon another Sharvara from the Deck, used Shyama and Sharvara to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar, and Set a card to his backrow, then ended his turn. 

Kotton started off his turn by placing D/D/D Vice King Requiem in the Pendulum Zone, then activated Dark Contract with the Gate. He activated Requiem’s Pendulum Effect, destroying the Dark Contract and Special Summoning Requiem, then Xyz Summoned D/D/D Deviser King Deus Machinex. Urena activated the effect of his Unchained Soul of Rage, targeting the Machinex and Link Summoning Unchained Soul of Anguish. Then, Kotton activated Triple Tactics Talent to take control of Urena’s King Caesar! 

Kotton followed up by activating Pot of Prosperity, revealing Pot of Prosperity, Escape of the Unchained, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Nibiru the Primal Being, and two copies of Abomination’s Prison. Kotton chose to add Escape to his hand. He then proceeded to the Battle Phase, using King Caesar to attack Urena’s Unchained Soul of Anguish. That let Urena add Unchained Soul of Sharvara back to his hand. In Main Phase 2, Kotton used King Caesar to Xyz Summon Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder! In response to Zeus’ summon, Urena activated Abominable Chamber of the Unchained to Special Summon Unchained Lord of Yama, getting Unchained Soul of Sharvara back to his hand. Kotton then activated Zeus’s effect, sending all other cards on the field to the Graveyard!

Kotton Set Escape of the Unchained to the field, then activated his Sharvara, destroying Escape. In a new chain, he activated Abominable Unchained Soul as Chain Link 1 and Escape as Chain Link 2, with Escape Special Summoning Shyama from the Deck. Urena followed up by activating his Nibiru the Primal Being, tributing all monsters on the field and Special Summoning a token to Kotton’s field. That allowed Kotton’s Sharvara to Set an Abominable Chamber of the Unchained to the field. Kotton used Shyama’s effect to destroy the Chamber and Summon itself to the field, while Chamber let Kotton Special Summon Unchained Twins – Rakea. Urena then activated his Sharvara in hand to destroy his Escape of the Unchained, summoning Sharvara, while Escape let him Special Summon an Abominable Unchained Soul from the Deck! Urena activated the effect of Abominable, discarding Triple Tactics Talent to destroy Kotton’s Shyama, putting it to the bottom of Kotton’s Deck. Kotton ended his turn.

Urena started his turn by Normal Summoning Unchained Twins – Sarama and activating its effect to Set Abominable Chamber of the Unchained to his side of the field, and then destroy it. He used the destroyed Chamber’s effect to Special Summon Rakea from the Deck, then used Sharvara and Abominable Unchained Soul to Link Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama! Sharvara let him Set Escape of the Unchained from his Deck, while Yama got him Unchained Soul of Sharvara. Urena then used Yama and Sarama to Link Summon Knightmare Unicorn, discarding a copy of Chamber to return Kotton’s Unchained Twins – Rakea to the Deck. He activated Sharvara’s effect, destroying his Escape of the Unchained and Special Summoning Abominable Unchained Soul! Urena proceeded to Link Summon Underworld Goddess of the Closed World, using Kotton’s Nibiru token as a Link Material, and Kotton decided to concede the second Duel. 

Kotton chose to go first in the third and final Duel, looking at an opening hand of Tour Guide from the Underworld, Unchained Souls of Sharvara, Abomination’s Prison, Escape of the Unchained, and Abominable Chamber of the Unchained. He Normal Summoned Tour Guide, Special Summoned Fiendish Rhino Warrior from his Deck, and used the two monsters to Link Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama. He activated Yama’s effect as Chain Link 1 and Rhino’s effect as Chain Link 2, sending Unchained Soul of Shyama to the Graveyard and getting Unchained Twins – Rakea from his Deck to hand. He Set an Abominable Chamber of the Unchained, then activated Shyama in his Graveyard, destroying the Chamber and Special Summoning Shyama. He activated the Chamber’s effect to Special Summon Unchained Soul of Sharvara. Kotton used Sharvara and Shyama to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar, and used King Caesar and Yama to Link Summon another copy of Unchained Soul Lord of Yama. 

King Caesar let Kotton add Dark Contract with the Gate to his hand, while Sharvara let him Set Wailing of the Unchained from his Deck. He activated Unchained Soul of Sharvara from his hand, destroying Wailing and Special Summoning Sharvara; that triggered the Wailing and let him Summon another Sharvara from the Deck. Kotton used the two copies of Sharvara to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar!

Kotton activated Dark Contract and searched for D/D/D Vice King Requiem, then activated Requiem in the Pendulum Zone, and used its Pendulum Effect to Special Summon it and destroy the Dark Contract. Kotton Set Escape of the Unchained, and then used Requiem as an Xyz Material to Xyz Summon D/D/D Deviser King Deus Machinex. He used Machinex to destroy Escape of the Unchained, gain 1000 Life Points, and shuffle Dark Contract with the Gate back into the Deck.

Kotton used the destroyed Escape to Special Summon Unchained Twins – Sarama! He then Set Abomination’s Prison to his side of the field and activated Sarama, Setting Escape back to his field and destroying Abomination’s Prison. Kotton used Prison’s effect to Special Summon Rakea, and then used Yama and Machinex to Link Summon Unchained Soul of Rage. Finally, Kotton used Rakea and Sarama to Link Summon Muckraker from the Underworld, and activated Muckraker’s effect, discarding Unchained Twins – Aruha to Special Summon Unchained Soul Lord of Yama from the Graveyard, and then used Yama and Soul of Rage to Link Summon Knightmare Gryphon, Co-Linked with Muckraker! 

At this point time was called, and the two competitors moved to end-of-match procedures. With Kotton leading by 1000 Life Points, he was declared the winner of the third Duel.

With that, Kotton wins the Top 32 match and will be advancing to the Top 16, one step closer to his sixth YCS win here at YCS Vancouver!