We’re approaching the end of Day 1 here at YCS Indianapolis. Andy Bazzi and Christopher Brooker each have 6 wins and 1 loss, leaving them with 18 points. Players need 19 points to advance to Day 2, so either player would be able to secure their Day 2 spot with a win this round, though both players will want as many points as possible in order to try and make the top 32. It’s time to Duel! 

Duel One

Brooker’s opening hand consisted of Snake-Eye Ash, Diabellstar the Black Witch, Forbidden Droplet, Tenpai Dragon Chundra, and Bonfire. Before he could start, however, Bazzi activated Dimension Shifter in the Draw Phase! Brooker started by Normal Summoning Ash and activating its effect, but Bazzi responded with Infinite Impermanence. Next, Brooker activated Bonfire, adding a Snake-Eyes Poplar to his hand, and using Poplar’s effects to Special Summon it and search for Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye. Then he activated Divine Temple, placing another Ash to his Spell/Trap Zone. Finally, Brooker used Ash and Poplar to Link Summon I:P Masquerena, Set a card face-down, and ended his turn. 

Bazzi started by activating Terraforming, adding Pressured Planet Wraitsoth to his hand. He then activated Wraitsoth, searching for Kashtira Fenrir. He Special Summoned Fenrir, and Brooker used his Divine Temple to Special Summon the Ash in his Spell/Trap Zone! He activated Ash’s effect, adding another Poplar from his Deck to hand, then Special Summoned it and searched for Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye. Bazzi activated the effect of Fenrir, targeting Brooker’s I:P, but Brooker used the effect of I:P to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, and used S:P to banish Bazzi’s Fenrir! Next, Bazzi activated Kashtira Birth, and used it to Special Summon back Fenrir! He proceeded to the Battle Phase and attacked S:P with Fenrir. In Main Phase 2, Bazzi activated Fenrir’s effect to search for Kashtira Unicorn, then Normal Summoned Unicorn without Tributing due to the effect of Birth. He used Unicorn to add Kashtiratheosis from Deck to hand, then activated Kashtiratheosis, Special Summoning Kashtira Riseheart from Deck. Then he activated Riseheart’s effect, banishing another Unicorn from his Deck to banish the top 3 cards of Brooker’s Deck. He used Unicorn and Riseheart to Xyz Summon Kashtira Shangri-Ira, and then ended his turn. 

Brooker drew another Forbidden Droplet for turn, and activated it in the Draw Phase, sending his face-up Poplar and other copy of Droplet to negate the effects of Fenrir and Shangri-Ira, and then placed Poplar to the Spell/Trap Zone. Bazzi attempted to activate Shangri-Ira’s effect during the Standby Phase, even though it was negated, allowing him to use Wraitsoth to destroy Brooker’s Poplar! Brooker activated Original, sending Divine Temple to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eye Oak. Bazzi activated the effect of Birth to banish Divine Temple, Poplar, and Original from Brooker’s Graveyard, while Brooker used Oak to Special Summon Ash, which searched for another Ash from the deck. Brooker then discarded the Ash to Special Summon Diabellstar and Set a WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils. He used Ash and Diabellstar to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy, and attempted to Special Summon Dimension Shifter from Bazzi’s Graveyard, but Bazzi responded with Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion, negating Dharc’s effect. Brooker then used Oak’s effect, sending it and Dharc to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from the Deck. 

Since Brooker now controls a FIRE Dragon monster, he Special Summoned Tenpai Dragon Chundra from hand. He then entered the Battle Phase. Brooker had Chundra attack Fenrir, and in the Damage Step used Chundra to Special Summon Tenpai Dragon Paidra from the Deck, who searched for Sangen Kaimen. He then attacked Bazzi’s Life Points directly with Paidra and Flamberge, then activated Chundra’s effect to Synchro Summon Sangenpai Bident Dragion. Bident Dragion Special Summoned Paidra from the Graveyard, and with those two monsters attacking, Brooker won the first Duel. 

Duel Two

Bazzi chose to go first, and started by activating Pot of Prosperity, and chose to add Pressured Planet Wraitsoth to hand. Upon resolution, Brooker activated Droll & Lock Bird, preventing Bazzi from adding cards from his Deck to hand for the rest of the turn. Bazzi Set two cards and passed. 

Brooker looked down at an opening hand of Triple Tactics Talent, two copies of Snake-Eye Ash, and Harpie’s Feather Duster, then drew WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils for turn. Brooker started by activating Feather Duster, destroying Bazzi’s Solemn Judgment and Cosmic Cyclone. Brooker Normal Summoned Ash, searched for Snake-Eyes Poplar and Summoned it, searching for Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye, then activated Divine Temple and placed Snake-Eyes Diabellstar in the Spell/Trap Zone. He activated WANTED to search for Diabellstar the Black Witch, and then activated the effect of Ash, sending itself and Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from the Deck. He Link Summoned Relinquished Anima with Poplar, then used Poplar to place Snake-Eyes Diabellstar back to the Spell/Trap Zone. 

Brooker used Anima and Flamberge to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze, and attempted to use Flamberge Dragon to Special Summon two Level 1 FIRE monsters from the Graveyard, but Bazzi negated it with Ghost Belle & Haunted Mansion. This allowed Brooker to activate his Talents, looking at Bazzi’s hand of Wraitsoth and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, and he chose to send Ash Blossom back into the Deck. No longer fearing any disruptions from Bazzi’s hand, Brooker used Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to place Flamberge Dragon in the Spell/Trap Zone and Summon out Snake-Eyes Diabellstar, then sent Flamberge Dragon to the Graveyard to Special Summon Diabellstar the Black Witch. Brooker used Diabellstar to Set Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from the Deck, and then activated Original, sending Divine Temple to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eye Oak, who Booker used to Special Summon Snake-Eye Ash. He used Hiita and Ash to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames, and used Princess to Special Summon back Flamberge Dragon. 

With several power monsters on the field, Brooker attacked directly and reduced Bazzi’s Life Points to zero. 

With the win, Brooker secures himself a spot on Day 2, while Bazzi will need a win or draw in round 9 in order to advance. Best of luck to both of our Duelists!