Mark Garcia and Miguel Flores have each earned a spot at the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championships in Japan, so to a certain extent the pressure was off—or was it? After making it this far, the number-one spot was only two short duels away, and both players wanted it.

Mark mentioned that he would like to call his mom, but said that it was “bad luck.” Miguel and Mark shook hands and Mark said, “Let the best man win.”

Miguel chose to go first. He opened with Graceful Charity, discarding Treeborn Frog and Cyber Dragon. He then set one spell or trap card and 1 monster before ending his turn. Mark used his first turn to Summon Don Zaloog. He then followed with Nobleman of Crossout on Miguel’s face down monster, hitting Magical Merchant. Miguel removed the remaining copy from his Deck and Mark proceeded to the battle phase. He attacked with Don, but Miguel’s Scapegoat sent a herd of sheep in his way. The Don had a nice meal of sheep, after which Mark set one spell or trap and ended his turn.

Miguel brought back his Treeborn Frog to the field and then Tributed it for Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. He used its effect to take out The Don, and then attacked, but ran into Mark’s Scapegoat! Zaborg cooked one Sheep token and Miguel’s turn came to an end.

Mark set one monster and one spell or trap, ending his next turn. Miguel played Nobleman of Crossout on the new face down monster, removing a Spirit Reaper from play. He set one monster and then ended his turn.

Mark summoned D. D. Warrior Lady. He attacked Miguel’s face down monster, revealing Dekoichi. It was destroyed, and with its effect, Miguel drew a card. Miguel used his next turn to bring back the Treeborn Frog, placing it into defense position. He took some time to contemplate his next move, ultimately deciding to Tribute Mr. Treeborn for Cyber Dragon. It attacked Mark’s D.D. Warrior Lady, and in retaliation both monsters were removed from play. Zaborg then squashed another sheep and the turn ended.

Mark set one spell or trap and ended his turn. He now had two set spells or traps and one remaining Sheep token. Miguel used Zaborg to take out the remaining Sheep and afterwards set another monster.

Mark played Reinforcement of the Army, searching his deck for Exiled Force. He then summoned it and wiped out one of Miguel’s remaining Sheep. He entered his second main phase and used the Force’s effect to take out Miguel’s Zaborg.

Miguel flip summoned one of his monsters, revealing Dekoichi. He used its effect to draw a card and then attacked Mark’s life points directly, taking Mark to 6000. He then set one monster and one spell or trap, ending his turn. Mark followed by summoning Mystic Tomato. He then threw the Tomato into Dekoichi’s face, destroying both monsters in the process. With the Tomato’s effect, he special summoned Sangan then used it to munch a sheep, ending his turn.

Miguel flip summoned his face down monster, Magician of Faith, targeting Graceful Charity. He then played it and discarded D. D. Assailant and Call of the Haunted. Mark checked the graveyard. Miguel summoned Breaker the Magical Warrior, but Mark destroyed it with Torrential Tribute. Mark also lost a monster, Sangan, and through its effect he acquired Mystic Swordsman LV2.

Miguel used Confiscation, discarded Don Zaloog from Mark’s hand. He then set 1 spell or trap card and ended his turn. Mark used his next turn to set one spell or trap, with no further actions. Miguel took advantage next turn, removing Breaker and Cyber Dragon from play to special summon Chaos Sorcerer. He attacked with it directly, succeeding in inflicting damage. He tried to follow this offense up by using Return from the Different Dimension, but Mark flipped a face down Royal Decree and shut him down.

Mark began his next turn by flipping a face down Smashing Ground, using it to take out Miguel’s Sorcerer. He then summoned his Mystic Swordsman LV2 and attacked directly, ending his turn. Miguel responded in his next turn by Summoning Tsukuyomi to turn the Swordsman face down. Tsukuyomi easily ran over the defenseless Swordsman, and with the end of Miguel’s turn it returned to the safety of his hand.

Mark’s next turn opened with Graceful Charity, with which he discarded Airknight Parshath and Zaborg the Thunder Monarch. He then summoned Chaos Sorcerer by removing Don Zaloog and Airknight Parshath from play. He normal summoned it, attacking successfully with both monsters. Miguel had no way to prevent the damage, and the duel was done.

Miguel wins duel 1.

Both players silently accessed their side decks, and afterwards Miguel chose to go first. He set one monster and one spell or trap card, ending his opening turn. Mark began his opening turn by playing Graceful Charity, discarding Exiled Force and Dekoichi. He then played Premature Burial, bringing back the Exiled Force. He used its effect to destroy Miguel’s face down Dekoichi. He then normal summoned Spirit Reaper, only to lose it to Miguel’s face down Torrential Tribute. He set a spell or trap card and ended his turn.

Miguel summoned D. D. Warrior Lady and used it to attack Mark’s life points directly. He set one spell or trap and ended his turn. Mark special summoned Cyber Dragon and attacked D. D. Warrior Lady, resulting in both monsters getting removed from play. He then summoned Sangan and set two spells or traps, ending his turn. But Miguel used his face down Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy one of the face down cards, which was Torrential Tribute.

Miguel’s next turn began with a special summoned Cyber Dragon from his hand. He used it to attack Mark’s Sangan, but Mark responded with Mirror Force to destroy the Dragon. Mark used his next turn to play Confiscation, discarding Premature Burial from Miguel’s hand. He then attacked with Sangan and ended his turn.

Miguel removed Dekoichi and Cyber Dragon from play to special summon Chaos Sorcerer. He used its effect to target Mark’s Sangan, but Mark used Enemy Controller to tribute Sangan and take control of the Chaos Sorcerer. He then searched his Deck and retrieved Magician of Faith. The turn ended and the Sorcerer was returned to Miguel.

The Sorcerer did not remain with Miguel for long. Mark’s very next move was Snatch Steal, which he used to claim the Sorcerer once more. He used it to attack Miguel directly. He then set a monster and ended his turn.

Miguel gained 1000 life points from Snatch Steal. He used Nobleman of Crossout on Mark’s face down monster. It was Magician of Faith, and as a result both players lost copies from their respective Decks. Mark used his next turn to set a spell or trap card and then attack Miguel directly with the Sorcerer. Miguel gained another 1000 life points at the start of his next turn, but he had no way to get back the Sorcerer. He set one monster and one spell or trap, ending his turn.

Mark opted out of attacking. He set one spell or trap and ended his turn. Miguel gained another 1000 life points and set one spell or trap, clearing out his hand. In Miguel’s end phase, Mark flipped his face down Royal Decree. Miguel had nothing to stop it.

Mark used his next turn to attack with the Sorcerer. It hit Miguel’s face down Asura Priest, destroying it. Miguel began his next turn with another gain of 1000 life points. He then special summoned Cyber Dragon from his hand into defense position and ended his turn.

Mark used his next turn to take out the Cyber Dragon. Miguel gained another 1000 life points and set a single monster, ending his turn. Mark summoned D. D. Warrior Lady and used his Lady to attack the new face down monster, revealing Sangan. Sangan was promptly removed from play, along with the Lady, and the Sorcerer went in for a direct shot. Mark set one spell or trap and ended his turn.

Miguel gained another 1000 life points, but he ended his turn without action. Matt used his next turn to attack directly with the Sorcerer. Miguel gained another 1000 life points and set one monster, ending his turn. Mark played Nobleman of Crossout on the face down monster, removing Treeborn Frog from play. He then attacked directly with the Sorcerer once more, ending his turn.

Miguel gained another 1000 life points and again he had no actions. Mark took advantage to attack him directly once more and then set one monster. Miguel drew his card and gained another 1000 life points, but it wouldn’t be enough to save him next turn. He conceded the win to Mark with a handshake.

Mark wins the match, 2–0.