Round 6 Feature Match: Bobby Du vs. Tekle Yousef
We’re now in Round 6 here at TEAM YCS Las Vegas, and things are getting intense! Only 64 teams will qualify to play Day 2 tomorrow, so teams need to try and finish with at least 6 wins out of 8 rounds on Day 1. For this feature match, Team CWG from Vancouver, British Columbia will be taking on Team Northbound Southbound. We’ll have Bobby Du piloting the ever-popular Fiendsmith Ryzeal strategy, a deck that has proven over the last several months to be one of the best in the game, while Tekle Yousef will be playing the pure Fire King deck, one that has seen a huge surge in popularity since Dinh-Kha Bui piloted the strategy to win YCS Birmingham. These two teams each have 5 wins and 1 loss, so this round will be crucial in determining which team will move on to Day 2. It’s time to Duel!
Duel 1
Yousef started by activating Fire King Island! However, when he activated its effect, Du responded with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Next, Yousef Normal Summoned Fire King Courtier Ulcanix, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn.
Du was left with Bonfire, Fiendsmith Engraver, Triple Tactics Talent, and Mulcharmy Fuwalos in his opening hand, and he drew another Mulcharmy Fuwalos for turn. He started by activating Bonfire, adding Ice Ryzeal to his hand. He Normal Summoned Ice Rzeal, and Yousef responded with Infinite Impermanence! Next, Du activated the effect of Fiendsmith Engraver, discarding it to add Fiendsmith’s Tract to his hand. He then activated Tract, adding and discarding Fabled Lurrie, then Special Summoning it. In response to the summon, Yousef responded with Fire King Sky Burn, destroying Ulcanix and Lurrie. Yousef activated Ulcanix’s effect to Special Summon Fire King High Avatar Garunix from his Deck, which allowed Du to draw into Metaltronus. Du then activated Triple Tactics Talent, looking at his opponent’s hand and returning Yousef’s Fuwalos to the Deck.
Next, Du Special Summoned Engraver from the Graveyard by returning Lurrie to the Deck. He then used Engraver to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, and activated Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears from the Deck and send Fiendsmith in Paradise to the Graveyard. He used Lacrima and Ice to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Duo Drive, then activated Duo Drive’s effect to search for Ryzeal Cross and Sword Ryzeal. He Special Summoned Sword and searched for Ext Ryzeal, then Special Summoned by Ext sending Eclipse Twins to the Graveyard and searched for Node Ryzeal. He used Ext and Sword to Xyz Summon Abyss Dweller, detaching a material from it to use its effect. Du then Special Summoned Node Ryzeal, sending Duo Drive to the Graveyard to Special Summon back Sword from the Graveyard, then used Node and Sword to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Detonator and attach it with Eclipse Twins as Xyz Material. Du entered the Battle Phase, using Detonator to destroy Garunix and attacking directly with Abyss Dweller. He Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn.
Yousef started by activating the effect of Fire King Island. Du responded with Ryzeal Detonator, then Chained the effect of Abyss Dweller. Yousef banished Fire King Sky Burn from his Graveyard to prevent his Island from being destroyed, but realized he wasn’t able to search for anything that would swing the momentum of the game back in his favour, and conceded the first Duel.
Duel 2
Du’s opening hand consisted of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Mulcharmy Fuwalos, Mulcharmy Meowls, Droll & Lock Bird, and Ice Ryzeal.
Yousef began his turn by Normal Summoning Legendary Fire King Ponix, adding Fire King Sanctuary to his hand. On resolution, Du activated Droll & Lock Bird! Yousef Set two cards to his backrow and ended his turn. Du didn’t have an opportunity to use either of the Mulcharmies he opened with!
Du drew another Meowls for turn! He Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal, but when he activated its effect, Yousef responded by activating Skill Drain! Du entered the Battle Phase and attacked Ponix with Ice, then ended his turn.
Yousef Normal Summoned Effect Veiler, then used it to Link Summon Salamangreat Almiraj! Next, he activated Sanctuary, placing Fire King Island in his Field Spell Zone, then activated Island’s effect, but Du responded with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Yousef then ended his turn.
Du drew another Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring for turn! He Normal Summoned Fuwalos, then used Fuwalos and Ice to try and Xyz Summon Evilswarm Exciton Knight, but Yousef negated the summon with Solemn Judgment! Du then ended his turn.
Yousef attempted to activate the effect of Fire King Island again, but was met by Du’s third copy of Ash Blossom! He Normal Summoned Droll & Lock Bird, then used Droll and Almiraj to Link Summon Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze. He then Set a card to his backrow and ended his turn.
Du drew Crossout Designator for turn and passed.
Yousef activated the effect of Fire King Island, and was finally able to resolve its effect to destroy Ponix from his hand and search for Sacred Fire King Garunix Special Summon it. He attacked Du’s Life Points directly and ended his turn.
Du drew Harpie’s Feather Duster for turn. He activated it, but Yousef responded with another Solemn Judgment! With that, Du conceded the Duel, and we’re onto the all-important game three!
Duel 3
Du’s opening hand consisted of Solemn Judgment, Infinite Impermanence, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Droll & Lock Bird, and Node Ryzeal. During the Draw Phase, Yousef activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia! Du Set a monster in face-down Defense Position, Set two cards to his backrow, and ended his turn.
Yousef began his turn by activating Pot of Prosperity, revealing Effect Veiler, Terraforming, and Kashtira Riseheart, and chose to add Terraforming to his hand. Du responded with Droll & Lock Bird, but Yousef Chained Called by the Grave! Yousef activated Terraforming, but it was met by Du’s Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. He then Normal Summoned Legendary Fire King Phoenix, but Du Chained Infinite Impermanence. Finally, Yousef activated Fire King Island, but Du negated it with Solemn Judgment! Yousef attacked Du’s Set Node Ryzeal with Ponix, Set a card to his backrow, and ended his turn.
Du drew Fiendsmith Engraver for turn! He activated its effect, discarding it to search for Fiendsmith’s Tract, activated Tract to search for and discard Fabled Lurrie, then Special Summoned Lurrie from the Graveyard and used it to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem! However, when Du attempted to activate Requiem’s effect, Yousef responded with Dominus Impulse! Du Special Summoned Engraver from the Graveyard by returning Lurrie to the Deck, equipped Engraver with Requiem, then used Engraver’s effect to send Requiem and Ponix to the Graveyard. He attacked Yousef’s Life Points directly with Node and Engraver, then ended his turn.
Yousef drew a card and passed turn.
Du went straight to the Battle Phase and attacked directly with Engraver and Node. He then used the two monsters to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven, Special Summoned Engraver by returning Requiem to the Extra Deck, used Moon to Link Summon Requiem, then used Requiem’s effect to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears and send another Engraver to the Graveyard. He equipped Requiem to Lacrima, then used Lacrima to Fusion Summon Necroquip Princess! He used Necroquip and Engraver to Xyz Summon D/D/D High Wave King Caesar, then ended his turn.
Yousef Normal Summoned Fire King Courtier Ulcanix and activated its effect, destroying the Sacred Fire King Garunix in his hand to search for Fire King High Avatar Kirin. He attempted to activate Kirin’s effect from hand, but Du responded with Caesar to negate and destroy Kirin. Afterwards, Yousef activated the effect of Kirin as Chain Link 1 and Garunix as Chain Link 2. Du responded with Caesar as Chain Link 3, but Yousef was still able to resolve Kirin, Special Summoning Garunix from the Graveyard and destroying Du’s Caesar. Finally, Yousef activated Garunix’s effect to destroy Fire King Avatar Arvata from the Deck, activated Arvata’s effect to Special Summon Kirin, and attacked Du’s Life Points directly to win the Match!
Du and Yousef’s Match was the final result needed to determine who would win the round. Yousef and the rest of Team Northbound Southbound move on with a 5-1 record!
