Top 8 Feature Match: Aditya Shirish Dharap vs. Mark Solis
We’re almost there! Both Mark Solis and Aditya Shirish Dharap have played against the best players in North America, and are among the top 8 players left standing here at the NAWCQ. Both of these players are piloting the Fiendsmith Snake-Eye strategy, which has been nothing short of dominant all weekend long. This will be a game with extremely high stakes, as the winner will earn an invitation to compete at the 2024 World Championship, while the other Duelist will be eliminated. It’s time to Duel!
Duel One
Dharap won the dice roll and chose to go first! His opening hand contained Infinite Impermanence, WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils, Snake-Eyes Poplar, Fiendsmith Engraver, and Ghost Ogre & Snow Rabbit. He started by activating WANTED in the Draw Phase, adding Diabellstar the Black Witch from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned Poplar and activated its effect, adding Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye to his hand, then activated Divine Temple, placing Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to his Spell/Trap Zone. He sent Diabellstar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Diabellstar the Black Witch from his hand and Set Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck. He used Poplar and Diabellstar to Link Summon I:P Masquerena, then activated Poplar’s effect to place Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to the Spell/Trap Zone. He activated the effect of Snake-Eyes Diabellstar, placing Poplar to his Spell/Trap Zone and Summoning Diabellstar. He used I:P and Diabellstar to Link Summon Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians, then activated Selene’s effect to Special Summon back Diabellstar. However, here, Solis activated Nibiru the Primal Being, Tributing all monsters on the field and Special Summoning a Primal Being Token to Dharap’s side of the field.
Next, Dharap activated Original, sending Poplar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eye Ash from his Deck. He activated its effect, adding another Poplar from his Deck to his hand and activating its effect to Special Summon it. Next, he activated Fiendsmith Engraver, discarding it to add Fiendsmith’s Tract to his hand. He activated Tract to search for and discard Fabled Lurrie, then Special Summoned Lurrie and used it to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem. He activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Engraver from the Deck, then activated Requiem’s effect in the Graveyard, equipping it to Engraver. He activated Engraver’s effect, sending Nibiru and Requiem to the Graveyard, then activated Ash’s effect, sending it and Poplar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from the Deck. He used Flamberge to place I:P to the Spell/Trap Zone, then used Engraver and the Primal Being Token to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence. He activated Sequence’s effect, returning Requiem, Lurrie, and Engraver to the Deck to Fusion Summon Fiendsmith’s Desirae. Dharap used Sequence and Flamberge to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames and used Princess to Special Summon Princess. Finally, he activated the effect of Desirae to negate Princess’ effect, and used Princess and Ash to Link Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess. He banished WANTED from his Graveyard, returning Original to the bottom of his Deck and drawing a card, Set a card to his backrow, and ended his turn.
Solis started by activating WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils in the Draw Phase, adding Diabellstar the Black Witch from his Deck to his hand. He Special Summoned Diabellstar by discarding Snake-Eyes Diabellstar, but when he activated Diabellstar’s effect, Dharap activated Apollousa’s effect to negate it! Solis entered the Battle Phase, and attacked Apollousa with Diabellstar. In Main Phase 2, Solis Normal Summoned Snake-Eyes Poplar and activated its effect, Dharap responded by activating the effect of his Divine Temple to Special Summon I:P from the Spell/Trap Zone, as well as activating Infinite Impermanence to negate Poplar’s effect! Dharap then used I:P’s effect, using it and Poplar to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, and activated S:P’s effect to banish Poplar while his own Poplar placed Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to the Spell/Trap Zone. Solis then activated Fiendsmith’s Tract, and Dharap responded by activating S:P’s effect, banishing it and Diabellstar until the End Phase. Solid added Fabled Lurrie to his hand and discarded it, then activated its effect to Special Summon it to the field. In response, Dharap activated the effect of Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames in his Graveyard, destroying Fabled Lurrie and Flamberge Dragon. He activated Flamberge Dragon’s effect to Special Summon Snake-Eye Ash and Snake-Eyes Poplar from the Graveyard, and activated their effects to add Snake-Eye Oak and Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from the Deck to the hand. During the End Phase, S:P and Diabellstar returned to their respective fields.
Dharap drew Ghost Mourner & Haunted Mansion for turn! He used Snake-Eye Ash and Poplar to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze, then activated Princess’ effect to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from the Graveyard and used Flamberge Dragon to place Solis’ Diabellstar to the Spell/Trap Zone. With a ton of monsters on the field, Dharap attacked Solis’ Life Points directly to win the first Duel!
Duel Two
Dharap’s opening hand contained Effect Veiler, Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay, Mulcharmy Purulia, and two copies of Snake-Eye Ash. Solis chose to go first, and during his Draw Phase, Dharap activated the effect of Purulia, but Solis responded with Called by the Grave, negating Purulia’s effect!
Solis Normal Summoned Snake-Eye Ash, but Dharap responded by activating Effect Veiler, negating its effect. Solis then activated Bonfire, adding Snake-Eyes Poplar to his hand, and then activated Poplar’s effect to Special Summon it and add Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye to his hand. He activated Divine Temple, placing Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to his Spell/Trap Zone. Next, he used Ash and Poplar to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven. Dharap chose to activate the effect of Phantazmay, Special Summoning it to his side of the field. He drew Bystial Magnamhut and WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils, and chose to return one of his Snake-Eye Ash to the Deck. Solis used Moon to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver from his Deck. He activated Snake-Eyes Diabellstar’s effect, placing Poplar to his Spell/Trap Zone and then Special Summoning Snake-Eyes Diabellstar, then used it and Engraver to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence. He activated Sequence’s effect, returning Moon and Requiem to the Extra Deck to Special Summon Fiendsmith’s Lacrima. Here, Solis activated Lacrima’s effect, targeting the Engraver in his Graveyard, but Dharap Chained the effect of Magnamhut, banishing Engraver! Solis used Sequence and Lacrima to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames, and activated Lacrima’s effect to return Sequence to the Extra Deck and inflict 1200 damage to Dharap’s Life Points. Solis activated Princess’ effect to Special Summon back Snake-Eye Ash, then activated Ash’s effect, sending it and Poplar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon. He used Flamberge’s effect to place Magnamhut to the Spell/Trap Zone, then used Princess and Flamberge to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze. He activated Flamberge’s effect to Special Summon Poplar and Ash, then used Hiita and Ash to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, banishing Dharap’s Phantazmay. Finally, he Set a card to his backrow. During the End Phase, Dharap resolved Magnamhut’s effect, adding Bystial Druiswurm to his hand.
Dharap drew Snake-Eyes Poplar for turn. During the Draw Phase, he activated WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils, adding Diabellstar the Black Witch from his Deck to his hand. He Special Summoned Diabellstar by sending his Magnamhut to the Graveyard and activated its effect, and Solis responded by activating his Set Metaltronus! He Special Summoned his own Diabellstar and banished both of them, and their effects were negated. Dharap entered the Battle Phase and activated the effect of his Bystial Druiswurm, banishing Lacrima from Solis’ Graveyard. In response to the summon, Solis activated the effect of the Princess in his Graveyard, destroying his Poplar and Dharap’s Druiswurm. Dharap activated Druiswurm’s effect, attempting to send Solis’ S:P to the Graveyard, but Solis responded by activating S:P’s effect, banishing it and his Princess. During Main Phase 2, Dharap Normal Summoned Snake-Eye Ash, adding Snake-Eyes Poplar to his hand and activating its effect, Special Summoning Poplar and searching for Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye. He used Poplar and Ash to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven, and used Poplar’s effect to place it to the Spell/Trap Zone. He used Moon to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver from his Deck. Dharap activated the Graveyard effect of Requiem, equipping it to Engraver, then activated Original, sending Poplar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eye Oak from his Deck. He activated Oak’s effect, Special Summoning back Ash from the Graveyard, then activated Oak’s second effect, sending it and Requiem to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon!
Dharap banished WANTED from his Graveyard, returned Original to the bottom of his Deck, and drew Infinite Impermanence. He used Ash and Engraver to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence, then activated Sequence’s effect, returning Moon, Requiem, and Engraver to the Deck to Fusion Summon Fiendsmith’s Desirae. Next, he used Sequence and Flamberge Dragon to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames, and activated Flamberge Dragon’s effect to Special Summon Oak and Ash from the Graveyard. He activated Princess’ effect to Special Summon Flamberge Dragon back to the field, then activated Sequence’s effect in the Graveyard, equipping it to Desirae, then activated Desirae’s effect to negate the effects of Solis’ Divine Temple and his own Princess. No longer restricted into only summoning FIRE monsters, he used Princess and Snake-Eye Ash to Link Summon Silhouhatte Rabbit. He activated Flamberge Dragon’s effect to place Magnamhut to the Spell/Trap Zone, then used Rabbit and Oak to Link Summon S:P Little Knight, and activated its effect to banish the Flamberge Dragon in Solis’ Graveyard. He Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn. During the End Phase, Solis’ Promethean Princess and S:P returned to the field.
Solis started his turn by going straight to the Battle Phase, using Princess to attack S:P. At the end of the Battle Phase, Dharap activated Infinite Impermanence, negating the effect of Solis’ Princess. During Main Phase 2, Solis Normal Summoned Snake-Eyes Poplar, and activated its effect to add Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck to his hand. He used Poplar as a material to Link Summon Relinquished Anima, then activated Poplar’s effect to place Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to the Spell/Trap Zone. Dharap activated the effect of the Princess in his Graveyard, targeting his own Flamberge and Solis’ S:P. Dharap Chained the effect of Flamberge, targeting the Bystial Magnamhut in his Graveyard, then Solis responded by activating S:P’s effect, banishing it and Flamberge. Since both monsters targeted by Princess were no longer on the field, it was not able to be Special Summoned.
Solis used Anima and Princess to Link Summon Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess! He activated Snake-Eyes Diabellstar’s effect, Special Summoning it and placing Poplar in the Spell/Trap Zone. Next, he activated Original, sending Poplar to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eye Oak, and activated Oak’s effect to Special Summon back Poplar. He used Snake-Eyes Diabellstar and Poplar to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Sky, used Moon to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver. Solis used Oak and Engraver to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence, then activated Sequence’s effect, returning Requiem, Moon, and Engraver to the Deck to Fusion Summon Fiendsmith’s Desirae. He used Sequence and Desirae to Link Summon Knightmare Phoenix, discarding Snake-Eye Ash to destroy the equipped Sequence, and activated Desirae’s effect, returning Sequence to the Extra Deck to send Magnamhut to the Graveyard. During the End Phase, Dharap resolved Magnamhut’s effect, adding Bystial Druiswurm from the Graveyard back to his hand; Flamberge Dragon and S:P returned to their respective sides of the field; and Dharap activated Druiswurm’s effect, banishing Desirae from Solis’ Graveyard.
Dharap drew Cosmic Cyclone for turn! He switched Flamberge Dragon to Attack Position and attacked Apollousa with Druiswurm, Desirae, and Flamberge, leaving Solis at 2100 Life Points; however, Apollousa was not destroyed because it was co-linked with Knightmare Phoenix. In Main Phase 2, Dharap activated Flamberge’s effect, placing Solis’ Princess from the Graveyard into the Spell/Trap Zone. Solis Chained S:P’s effect, banishing it and Dharap’s Desirae. Dharap used Flamberge and Druiswurm to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze, then activated Flamberge as Chain Link 1 and Druiswurm as Chain Link 2. Solis used Apollousa to negate Druiswurm’s effect, but Dharap was able to resolve Flamberge’s effect, Special Summoning Oak and Ash from the Graveyard. Dharap activated Oak as Chain Link 1 and Ash as Chain Link 2; Solis tried to activate Temple as Chain Link 3, but Dharap responded by activating Cosmic Cyclone as Chain Link 4, banishing the Temple. On resolution, Dharap used Oak to Special Summon Poplar and Ash to search for another Ash, then in a separate Chain, activated Poplar’s effect to add Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from Deck to hand. Dharap used Poplar and Ash to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven, used Moon to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then activated Hiita’s effect, Special Summoning Solis’ Snake-Eyes Diabellstar. Dharap activated Requiem’s effect, but Solis responded with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring! Dharap used Hiita and Oak to Link Summon Selene, Queen of the Master Magicians, activated Selene’s effect to Special Summon Effect Veiler from the Graveyard, then used Selene and Veiler to Link Summon Accesscode Talker. Finally, Dharap banished Selene to destroy Apollousa and Hiita to destroy Knightmare Phoenix, and ended his turn. During the End Phase, Desirae and S:P returned to the field.
Solis started his turn by activating Fiendsmith’s Tract, adding Fabled Lurrie to his hand and discarding it, then activating its effect to Special Summon Lurrie to the field. He used Lurrie as material to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, then activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Fiendsmith Engraver from his Deck. Solis activated Requiem’s effect in the Graveyard, equipping it to Engraver, then activated Engraver’s effect, sending Requiem and Snake-Eyes Diabellstar to the Graveyard. Solis banished Original from his Graveyard, returning Poplar to the bottom of his Deck and adding Snake-Eye Ash from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned Ash, activated its effect to Special Summon Poplar. However, at this point, Solis realized that he did not have the resources available to push through Dharap’s field, and conceded.
Dharap takes a 2-0 victory and advances to the Top 4, earning his invitation to the 2024 Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG World Championship!