Darius Wilson from Baltimore, Maryland and Bruce Menard from Kansas City, Missouri are both currently 9-2 at the 2025 North America WCQ. Now, they’re Dueling against one another in a Feature Match that may determine which one of them makes it into the Top Cut! Darius Wilson is using an Onomat Ryzeal Deck with a bunch of new cards from Duelist’s Advance, while Bruce Menard is using a Bystial @Ignister Maliss Deck. A victory will guarantee one of these Duelists a spot in the Top Cut, while a loss is likely to mean elimination. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Menard started off the Match by Normal Summoning Maliss <P> Chessy Cat and activating its effect.

Wilson Chained the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Menard banished Maliss <P> White Rabbit from his hand to draw 2 cards, then paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon the White Rabbit. He used its effect to Set Maliss <C> MTP-07 from his Deck to his field. Next, he activated Gold Sarcophagus to banish Maliss <P> Dormouse from his Deck and paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon it. He activated its effect to banish Maliss <P> March Hare from his Deck and paid another 300 Life Points to add March Hare to his hand. He sent all 3 of his monsters to the Graveyard to Link Summon Maliss <Q> White Binder, allowing Wilson to draw a card. He used White Binder’s effect to banish Chessy Cat and Dormouse from his Graveyard and then paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon Chessy Cat. He activated the effect of March Hare in his hand to Special Summon it by banishing White Rabbit from his Graveyard, then Link Summoned Allied Code Talker @Ignister, allowing Wilson to draw a card from the effect of Fuwalos. He activated Allied Code Talker’s effect to Special Summon White Binder from his Graveyard and then Set a card to his back row before ending his turn.

Wilson drew Infinite Impermanence and added it to his hand of Ice Ryzeal, Ext Ryzeal, Star Ryzeal, Droll & Lock Bird, and 2 copies of Dodododo Warrior. He activated Infinite Impermanence in his Main Phase to negate the Allied Code Talker @Ignister’s effect and then Special Summoned Dodododo Warrior from his hand by sending Dodododwarf Gogogoglove from his Deck to his Graveyard. He used the Gogogoglove’s effect to Special Summon it from his Graveyard and then Menard flipped MTP-07 to add Dormouse from his Deck to his hand and banish the Gogogoglove. Menard Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal and activated its effect, but lost out to a Set Dominus Impulse. Next, Wilson Special Summoned Ext Ryzeal from his hand by sending a Ryzeal Duo Drive from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He added a Sword Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand with Ext’s effect and then combined Ext with Warrior to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Duo Drive. He used its effect to give it another Xyz Material and then used its other effect to detach 2 Xyz Materials and add Ryzeal Cross and Node Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand. He activated the Cross and then Special Summoned Sword from his hand. He activated Sword’s effect to add Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand and then Special Summoned Ice from his hand by sending a Droll & Lock Bird from his hand to the Graveyard. He combined Ice with Sword to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Detonator and used the Detonator’s effect to attach Dodododo Warrior from his Graveyard to it as an Xyz Material. Next, he Special Summoned Node Ryzeal from his hand. He activated its effect by sending a Dodododo Warrior from his hand to his Graveyard to try to Special Summon Ice, but Menard Chained Bystial Druiswurm’s effect to banish the Ice and Summon Druiswurm. Wilson Chained Detonator’s effect by detaching Dodododo Warrior to destroy Allied Code Talker. Wilson used Dodododo Warrior’s effect to add Zubababancho Gagagacoat from his Deck to his hand. Next, Wilson Special Summoned Star from his hand by detaching an Xyz Material from Duo Drive and used Star’s effect to Set Ryzeal Plasma Hole from his Deck to his field. Wilson combined Star with Node to Xyz Summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer next. He detached both Xyz Materials from it to return Druiswurm to Menard’s Deck and then entered his Battle Phase. He attacked and destroyed White Binder with Duo Drive and then attacked directly with Detonator and Castel, dropping Menard down to 1600 Life Points.

Menard drew a card and then Normal Summoned Dormouse. Wilson flipped Ryzeal Plasma Hole to destroy it. Next, Menard by activated Maliss in Underground, and Wilson Chained Detonator’s effect to destroy it. Menard tried to use the effect of March Hare in his hand next, and Wilson used his Cross to negate it by giving up his last Xyz Material. Finally, Wilson banished Ryzeal Plasma Hole from his Graveyard and combined Duo Drive with Castel to Xyz Summon Number F0: Utopic Future Zexal.

Wilson drew a card and then used his Cross’s effect to return Node and Sword form his Graveyard to his Deck and draw a card. Next, he Normal Summoned Gogogo Goblindbergh and tried to enter his Battle Phase. Menard used his March Hare’s effect while in the Main Phase to Special Summon it by banishing White Binder from his Graveyard. He paid 900 Life Points to Special Summon White Binder, dropping down to 700 Life Points. But Wilson continued into his Battle Phase, and as his monsters’ attacks began, Menard conceded.

Darius Wilson wins the first Duel of the Match with his Onomat Ryzeal Deck!

Duel Two

Menard started off Duel 2 by activating Maliss in Underground to banish Dormouse from his Deck and paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon it. He activated its effect, but lost out to Infinite Impermanence. Next, Menard sent Dormouse to the Graveyard to Link Summon Linguriboh and then used the effect of Wizard @Ignister to Special Summon the Wizard form his hand and a Dormouse from his Graveyard. He Set a card to his back row and then sent Wizard, Dormouse, and Linguriboh to the Graveyard to Link Summon Maliss <Q> Red Ransom. He used Red Ransom’s effect to add Maliss in the Mirror from his Deck to his hand. Next, he flipped MTP-07 by banishing Red Ransom and added White Rabbit from his Deck to his hand. He paid 900 Life Points to Special Summon his banished Red Ransom and banished a Chessy Cat from his Deck with its effect. He paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon Chessy Cat, and on its Summon, Wilson activated the effect of Nibiru, the Primal Being! He Special Summoned Nibiru to his own field and gave Wilson a Primal Being Token with 3800 ATK and 300 DEF in Defense Position. Next, Menard activated Allure of Darkness to draw 2 cards and banish White Rabbit, then paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon the White Rabbit. He used its effect to Set Maliss <C> GWC-06 and then activated Triple Tactics Talent, revealing Wilson’s hand of Ext Ryzeal, Archnemeses Protos, and Dodododwarf Gogogoglove. He returned Ext to Wilson’s Deck and then used his Primal Being Token to Summon Link Spider. He Special Summoned Backup @Ignister from his hand, and Wilson immediately conceded.

The Match is going to a third and final Duel that will determine which Duelist makes it into the Top Cut!

Duel Three

Wilson opened up Duel 3 with Dodododo Warrior, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Onomatopaira, Bonfire, and Triple Tactics Thrust.

In the Standby Phase, Menard activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia, but lost out to Ash Blossom. Wilson activated Bonfire in Main Phase 1 and used its effect to add Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand. He Normal Summoned it and activated its effect, but Menard Chained the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Wilson Special Summoned Star from his Deck, allowing Menard to draw a card, and used Star’s effect to Set Ryzeal Cross from his Deck. He combined Star with Ice to Summon Duo Drive, giving Menard another card, and then Special Summoned Dodododo Warrior from his hand by sending Gogogoglove from his Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned the Gogogoglove from his Graveyard and then combined Warrior with Gogogoglove to Xyz Summon Gagagaga Girl. He detached Warrior from it to add Onomatopaira from his Deck to his hand. Menard activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird, but Wilson negated it with Cross. Wilson used his Dodododo Warrior’s effect to add Zubababancho Gagagacoat from his Deck to his hand. Next, he activated his Duo Drive’s effect to try to get 2 cards from his Deck, but Menard negated Duo Drive’s effect with Infinite Impermanence. Wilson activated Onomatopaira by discarding another Onomatopaira from his hand and added Gagaga Ganbara Knight and Dodododo Warrior from his Deck to his hand with its effect. He Special Summoned Gagaga Ganbara Knight from his hand and then Special Summoned Gagagacoat from his hand. He combined Gabara Knight with Gagagacoat to Xyz Summon Number 60: Dugares the Timeless, allowing Menard to draw another card from Fuwalos’s effect. Wilson used Number 60’s effect to draw 2 cards including a Harpie’s Feather Storm and discard a card from his hand. Next, Wilson used Gagagagagirl and Dugares as Xyz Materials to Summon Eclipse Twins. He Special Summoned Node Ryzeal from his hand and then used Node’s effect to send Twins to the Graveyard and Special Summon Star Ryzeal. He used the Twins’s effect to Special Summon Number 60 from his Graveyard with Gagagagagirl attached. Next, he combined Star with Ice to Xyz Summon Castel. He activated Triple Tactics Thrust next, and used its effect to Set Ryzeal Plasma Hole from his Deck to his field. He Set the Feather Storm and then ended his turn.

Menard drew a card and Wilson immediately flipped Harpie’s Feather Storm. Menard Set 2 cards to his back row and then ended his turn, unable to use monster effects.

Wilson skipped his Draw Phase and then tried to use Duo Drive’s effect, but lost out to Infinite Impermanence. Next, he used Dugares and Castel as Xyz Materials to Summon Number F0: Utopic Future Zexal. He used Cross’s effect by shuffling Node and Star from his Graveyard into his Deck to draw Sword Ryzeal. Menard activated the effects of two Droll & Lock Birds in his hand, to make sure Wilson couldn’t add any more cards from his Deck to his hand during the turn. Wilson attacked directly with Duo Drive and F0 to drop Menard down to 2800 Life Points.

Menard activated Gold Sarcophagus to banish Dormouse from his Deck and paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon it. He used its effect to banish Chessy Cat from his Deck and Menard activated F0’s effect to take control of Dormouse. Menard paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon Chessy Cat and then used its effect to banish March Hare from his hand and draw 2 cards. He paid 300 Life Points to return March Hare to his hand and then activated Triple Tactics Talent to take control of Duo Drive. He Normal Summoned March Hare and then sent Cat and March Hare to the Graveyard to Link Summon Splash Mage. He used its effect to Special Summon March Hare and then Wilson conceded, realizing he would be defeated that turn.

Bruce Menard completes the Swiss Rounds of the 2025 North America World Championship Qualifier with a 10-2 record to make it into the Top Cut!