Top 4 Feature Match: Mario De Micco vs. Landon Oliver
Mario De Micco from Montreal, Canada took third place at YCS Lille a few weeks ago, and he’s one win away from doing even better in this weekend’s YCS with his Tenpai Dragon Deck. Now, he’s up against one of this year’s Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME World Championship competitors – Landon Oliver from Aurora, Colorado. Oliver is using a Fire King Snake-Eye Azamina Deck this weekend. Both of these Decks were expected to do well this weekend, and these two Duelists have successfully piloted them to the Top 4. But only one of them can advance to the Finals. It’s time to Duel!
Duel One
De Micco won the die roll and chose to go second.
Oliver started off the first Duel by Normal Summoned Snake-Eye Ash and using its effect to add Snake-Eyes Poplar from his Deck to his hand.
He activated its effect in his hand to Special Summon it and then used its effect on the field to add an Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye by sending Poplar to the Graveyard, and De Micco activated Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to negate it! Oliver used his Poplar’s effect to put it into his back row and then used his Ash’s effect to send it to the Graveyard along with Poplar and Special Summon a Snake-Eye Oak from his Deck. He used Oak and Poplar as Link Materials to Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze and then used its effect to Special Summon Ash Blossom. He sent Hiita and Ash Blossom to the Graveyard to Link Summon Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames and then used the Promethean Princess’s effect to Special Summon Oak. Next, he used Oak’s effect and sent his Oak and Promethean Princess to the Graveyard to Special Summon Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon from his Deck. He used its effect to move Ash Blossom from De Micco’s Graveyard into his back row and then ended his turn with only a Flamberge Dragon on his field in Defense Position.
De Micco drew Terraforming for his turn and added it to his hand of Tenpai Dragon Chundra, Lightning Storm, Tenpai Dragon Paidra, and Tenpai Dragon Genroku. He activated Terraforming to add Sangen Summoning from his Deck to his hand, prompting Oliver to activate the effect of Droll & Lock Bird. De Micco activated the Sangen Summoning and then Normal Summoned Paidra. He activated its effect to Set Sangen Kaimen from his deck to his field and then used the effect of Chundra in his hand to Special Summon it. He entered his Battle Phase and then attacked Flamberge Dragon with Chundra. He used its effect in the Damage Step and Special Summoned Tenpai Dragon Fadra from his Deck. Fadra attacked the Flamberge Dragon and then De Micco used Chundra’s Quick Effect to Tune it with Fadra and Summon Sangenpai Bident Dragion. He used its effect to Special Summon Fadra back from his Graveyard. He activated Fadra’s effect to Special Summon Chundra back to his field and Chained his own Fadra’s effect to Tune it with Bident Dragion and Synchro Summon Sangenpai Transcendent Dragion. Chundra hit the field after the Transcendent Dragion and then De Micco activated the effect of his Transcendent Dragion. Oliver immediately conceded, no longer able to activate any effects in the Battle Phase due to the effect of Sangenpai Transcendent Dragion and realizing that he was moments away from defeat.
Mario De Micco wins the first Duel in a single Battle Phase with his Tenpai Dragon Deck! Landon Oliver chose to go first in Duel 2.
Duel Two
Oliver started off Duel 2 by Normal Summoning Legendary Fire King Ponix and using its effect to add Fire King Sanctuary from his Deck to his hand. He activated it and used its effect to place a Fire King Island from his Deck into his Field Spell Zone. He activated the Island’s effect to destroy Ponix and add a Sacred Fire King Garunix from his Deck to his hand. He activated the Garunix’s effect in his hand to Special Summon it and then activated its effect on the field to destroy Fire King Courtier Ulcanix from his Deck and increase Garunix’s Attack Points. He used Ulcanix’s effect to Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from his Deck in Defense Position and then activated WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils. He added Diabellstar the Black Witch to his hand and then activated Deception of the Sinful Spoils from his hand. He used its effect by Tributing Diabellstar and added The Hallowed Azamina from his Deck to his hand. He activated it and sent Deception to the Graveyard to Special Summon Azamina Mu Rcielago and used its effect to add a WANTED from his Deck to his hand. He combined his two Garunix to Xyz Summon The Zombie Vampire and used its effect to send 4 cards from the top of each Deck to the Graveyard, including a copy of Fire King Avatar Arvata from his Deck. He Special Summoned it and then used The Zombie Vampire and Mu Rcielago to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy. He used Dharc’s effect to Special Summon a Dimension Shifter from De Micco’s Graveyard that was sent there by The Zombie Vampire. Next, he activated Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye by sending Shifter to the Graveyard. He Special Summoned Snake-Eye Ash and used its effect to add a Poplar to his hand. He Special Summoned it with its effect and then used Poplar’s effect to add Dramatic Snake-Eye Chase from his Deck to his hand. He activated Ash’s effect by sending the Ash and Poplar to his Graveyard and Special Summoned Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon. He used its effect to put a Dimension Shifter from De Micco’s Graveyard into his back row and then used Flamberge Dragon and Dharc as Link Materials to Summon Promethean Princess. He used Flamberge Dragon’s effect to Special Summon Ash and Poplar and then used Promethean Princess’s effect to Special Summon Ulcanix from the Graveyard. He used Ulcanix’s effect to destroy Promethean Princess and add Fire King High Avatar Kirin to his hand. Next, he sent Ulcanix and Poplar to the Graveyard to Link Summon Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf. He activated Dramatic Snake-Eye Chase to place a Diabellstar from his Graveyard into his Spell & Trap Card Zone and then banished WANTED from his Graveyard and returned a Deception to his Deck to draw a card with the effect of WANTED. Next, he returned The Hallowed Azamina from his Graveyard to his hand with its effect and activated it. He sent WANTED from his hand to his Graveyard and Special Summoned Azamina Ilia Silvia linked to Sunlight Wolf. He used Sunlight Wolf’s effect to add Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring from his Graveyard to his hand. He Set 2 cards to his back row and then entered his End Phase. In the End Phase, he banished Dramatic Snake-Eye Chase from his Graveyard to Special Summon Diabellstar from his Spell & Trap Card Zone and Set Deception from his Deck to his field.
De Micco drew Sangen Kaimen and added it to his hand of Sangen Summoning, Raigeki, Infinite Impermanence, Tenpai Dragon Paidra, and Dora Dora. In the Standby Phase, Oliver returned Ponix from his Graveyard to his hand. De Micco activated Sangan Summoning and Oliver Chained the effect of Ilia Silvia. Unfortunately for him, since no effect was activated, the negation of Sangen Summoning’s activation was of no consequence. Next, Oliver flipped Sinful Spoils of Betrayal. He sent Diabellstar to the Graveyard to negate Sangen Summoning. Next, De Micco Normal Summoned Dora Dora and activated its effect. Oliver Chained Arvata’s effect, and when De Micco Chained Sangen Kaimen’s effect, Oliver Chained Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. As the Chain resolved, Arvata destroyed Kirin from the hand and Dora Dora’s effect was negated. De Micco promptly conceded, realizing he had no way to win.
An impressive start for Landon Oliver makes it impossible for De Micco to turn the Duel around! The Match is going to a third and final Duel that will determine which Duelist advances to the Finals! De Micco chose to go first in Duel 3.
Duel Three
De Micco opened up Duel 3 with Pot of Prosperity, Cosmic Cyclone, Terraforming, Sangen Kaimen, and Solemn Judgment.
He activated Terraforming, prompting Oliver to use Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to negate its effect. Next, De Micco activated Sangen Kaimen to add Dora Dora from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and activated its effect to add Tenpai Dragon Genroku from his Deck to his hand. He used its effect to Special Summon it and boost its Level to 4. Next, he Tributed it to Special Summon Tenpai Dragon Paidra and used Paidra’s effect to add Sangen Kaimen to his hand. He sent Dora Dora and Paidra to the Graveyard to Link Summon Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres and then banished 6 cards from his Extra Deck face-down to activate Pot of Prosperity. He excavated the top 6 cards of his Deck – Dimension Shifter, Ash Blossom, Infinite Impermanence, Fadra, Dominus Impulse, and Solemn Judgment – and added the Solemn Judgment to his hand before returning the other 5 cards to his Deck. He Set 4 cards to his back row and then ended his turn.
Oliver sent Dramatic Snake-Eye Chase from his hand to his Graveyard to Special Summon Diabellstar the Black Witch and used its effect to Set Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck to his field. Oliver sent Diabellstar to the Graveyard to activate it and De Micco flipped Solemn Judgment and gave up half of his Life Points to negate it. Next, Oliver Normal Summoned Ulcanix from his hand and activated its effect. He destroyed Fire King Avatar Arvata from his hand and added Sacred Fire King Garunix from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated the Garunix’s effect in his hand to Special Summon it. He used its on-field effect to destroy Fire King High Avatar Kirin from his Deck and increase Garunix’s ATK. He activated Kirin’s effect and De Micco Chained the effect of his Seal. He Chained Sangen Kaimen next, and added Genroku from his Deck to his hand. The Seal returned Ulcanix to Oliver’s hand and Oliver Special Summoned Arvata with Kirin’s effect before destroying De Micco’s face-down Solemn Judgment. In a new Chain, De Micco activated the effects of his Seal and his Genroku. He Special Summoned Genroku from his hand and then Special Summoned Grandtusk Dragon from his Deck with the Seal’s effect. He activated its effect, and Oliver Chained the effect of Arvata. He destroyed Ulcanix’s from his hand to negate the effect of Grandtusk Dragon and then used Ulcanix’s effect in a new Chain to Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from his Deck. Oliver combined his two Garunix to Xyz Summon The Zombie Vampire and activated its effect to send the top 4 cards of each Deck to the Graveyard. He Special Summoned a Poplar that he sent to the Graveyard. He banished WANTED from his Graveyard and returned Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Graveyard to his Deck to draw a card. Next, he used Poplar and The Zombie Vampire to Link Summon Knightmare Phoenix. He activated its effect by discarding Snake-Eye Oak and destroyed De Micco’s face-down Cosmic Cyclone. He also used Poplar’s effect to put an Ash Blossom from his Graveyard into his back row. Next, he Link Summoned Promethean Princess and used the effect to Special Summon Oak. He used Oak’s effect to Special Summon Poplar and used Poplar’s effect to add Original Sinful Spoils – Snake-Eye from his Deck to his hand. He used Oak’s effect to send Oak to the Graveyard along with Ash Blossom and Summon Flamberge Dragon. He used the Flamberge Dragon’s effect by targeting Genroku. De Micco Chained Genroku’s effect to Special Summon Chundra from his Deck, but it was over moments later! Oliver Link Summoned Salamangreat Raging Phoenix, sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Worldsea Dragon Zealantis, and De Micco offered the handshake!
Landon Oliver is moving on to the Finals!
