Dale has made Top 8 three times this year, and in Top 4 he’s always played against burn. Those matches didn’t go very well, but perhaps his third time was the charm. Louis Raimondo was certainly hoping that that wouldn’t be the case; he was the last burn duelist left in the tournament.

He won the roll and opened with a set monster, then set three cards to his back row. Dale activated Nobleman of Crossout but Raimondo blocked it with Solemn Judgment. Dale proceeded to set all five of his remaining cards to his back row! No monsters whatsoever.

Raimondo set another card to each zone and play was back to Dale. Dust Tornado destroyed Raimondo’s set Skill Drain and Dale summoned Zombie Master. It attacked the monster Raimondo had set first, Morphing Jar, and both players got new hands, a huge play for Dale who got a clean five new cards! In main phase 2 he activated Card of Safe Return and discarded Zombie Master, but Raimondo chained a second Skill Drain! He had opened with three in his first six cards.

Another set monster hit Raimondo’s field. He set another spell or trap, and then activated Wave-Motion Cannon. Dale flipped Premature Burial next turn, brought back Zombie Master and drew for Card of Safe Return. He summoned Pyramid Turtle, attacked, and Raimondo responded with Ceasefire for 2500 damage. Dale was down to 3700 life points. Raimondo lost his Dark Mimic LV3, then his Card Trooper, and Zombie Master attacked directly.

The duel stood at 4700 to 1200 in Dale’s favor. He was close, but Raimondo wasn’t going to make this easy.

Wave-Motion Cannon charged up with 1000 damage and Raimondo activated Swords of Revealing Light. He just needed to hold Dale off for four more turns. He set another card to his back row, set a monster, and ended.

Dale flipped Heavy Storm! Raimondo responded with Dark Bribe, negating it and giving Dale a draw. After perusing his hand Dale decided to end his turn, no clear progress in sight. Raimondo drew and added another 1000 damage to Wave-Motion Cannon. He passed his turn and play was back to Dale.

He discarded Spirit Reaper for Zombie Master, knowing it wouldn’t resolve because of Skill Drain but wanting that card in the graveyard. It was a legal play. He then dumped Il Blud with the effect of the other Zombie Master, clearly setting himself up for Book of Life. Sure enough that was his next move, and Raimondo debated flipping his one set spell or trap card, Solemn Judgment. He did it, and Dale was deprived of his Blud. Raimondo went to 600 life points.

He set another card to each zone, building a wall of monsters for when Swords of Revealing Light would inevitably disappear. Dale played another Book of Life, bringing back Il Blud and removing his opponent’s Card Trooper from play! He drew with Card of Safe Return, set a monster, and ended. Swords was destroyed.

Wave-Motion Cannon moved to 4000 damage, threatening Dale’s 4700 life points. Hammer Shot destroyed Il Blud, and Raimondo activated Different Dimension Capsule. “Go ahead.”

Dale needed to end the game this turn. He flip summoned Card Trooper, activated Creature Swap, and Raimondo debated his options. He had Scapegoat and Dimension Wall set, with three monsters on the field. He sent Dale his face down Mystic Tomato, and when Dale attacked the Card Trooper for game Dimension Wall kept Raimondo in the game. With Scapegoat down it was all over.

Zombie Master attacked, destroying Dark Mimic LV3, and after a few moments of consideration Dale scooped. Raimondo revealed the Scapegoat and Dale reeled. He’d need to win two games straight to move onto the finals. Both duelists took the maximum amount of time allotted for side decking.

Dale opened with a set spell or trap card and nothing else. He shook his head as he perused his hand and Raimondo was up. He summoned Dark Mimic LV3, attacked, and scored 1000 damage before setting two cards to his back row.

Cyber Dragon came down for Dale, followed by Breaker the Magical Warrior. Breaker targeted Mystical Space Typhoon and Raimondo chained it to destroy Dale’s set Royal Decree! His jaw literally dropped. Cyber Dragon attacked Mimic, Breaker swung direct, and play was to Raimondo.

Smashing Ground destroyed Cyber Dragon, Raimondo set a card to each zone and play was back to Dale. He tributed Breaker for Jinzo, forcing Raimondo to activate Solemn Judgment. He dropped to 2650, and Dale special summoned another Cyber Dragon! Raimondo had to Solemn it too, but that left Dale to activate Nobleman of Crossout, clear the field, and activate Premature Burial for game! Jinzo came up and nailed Raimondo to finish the duel. We were going to game 3!

As Dale pile shuffled his deck he almost never took his eyes off of Raimondo’s cards, subtly watching Raimondo as he sorted his main and side deck into piles. If Dale could track the face down cards as Raimondo made his rotations he’d gain a bit of information about the third and final game. Smart.

“Man, you know how sad I was when you Mystical Space Typhoon’d my Decree?” Dale was still feeling the impact of that move. Raimondo drew his hand and the third duel began.

He set a monster, activated Level Limit - Area B, set two cards to his back row and ended. Dale summoned Card Trooper, activated its effect with priority, and sent Royal Decree, Spirit Reaper, and Zombie Master to the graveyard. He set three cards to his back row in case of Morphing Jar, attacked with Trooper, and hit Mystic Tomato. Raimondo special summoned Sangan. “Go ahead.”

Sangan attacked Card Trooper and Dale drew for its effect. Raimondo set a monster, Dale flipped Card of Safe Return, and activated Premature Burial to bring back Card Trooper. He drew with Card of Safe Return as a result. Trooper activated, Raimondo chained Skill Drain, and Dale sent Book of Life, Pulling the Rug, and his second Decree to the graveyard for its cost. Not good. He tributed for a face down monster, set a third spell or trap card, and ended. That last Trooper activation could be the final nail in Dale’s coffin.

Raimondo passed, Dale set another monster and activated Creature Swap. Raimondo got Giant Rat, gave over Sangan, and lost his set Solemn Judgment to Dust Tornado. Dale then flipped his set Heavy Storm, clearing the field! He flip summoned Cyber Dragon, attacked Giant Rat, and special summoned Pyramid Turtle. Turtle attacked Raimondo’s last set monster, Dark Mimic LV3, giving him a draw. “Go ahead.” It was a huge turn.

Still, Raimondo drew and was back to having five cards. He activated Wave-Motion Cannon, set three cards to his back row, and ended. Dale turned Sangan to attack, attacked with Pyramid Turtle, and Raimondo flipped Scapegoat. Dale’s three monsters reduced him to just one Token, Dale set a card to his back row, and play was back to Raimondo.

The duel stood at 6600 to 7000. Raimondo activated Swords of Revealing Light, Dale set another back row card, and Raimondo activated another Cannon. Dale face-palmed. He set another spell or trap and ended, with one turn remaining on Swords.

Raimondo set a monster. Dale removed it with Nobleman of Crossout, and then activated Card of Safe Return. He summoned Zombie Master, thought about whether or not he would use its effect with priority, and passed — Raimondo flipped Torrential Tribute! Dale lost all his monsters, Raimondo’s Sangan was destroyed, and he searched out Mystic Tomato. Next turn he could deal a combined 6000 damage with the Cannons, making Tomato a big threat. Dale ended.

He activated Mystical Space Typhoon to try and destroy the older Cannon, but Solemn Judgment kept it alive. Raimondo set Mystic Tomato, set a spell or trap, and ended. Dale drew.

He special summoned Cyber Dragon, activated Creature Swap, and tributed for Jinzo. The android wasn’t enough since he couldn’t stop the Wave-Motion Cannon. A turn later Raimondo would launch it for game, and Bellido offered a somber handshake.

Louis Raimondo moves on to the finals, Gold Sarcophagus guaranteed! Dale will have to duke it out in the playoffs for the third place prize card.