Eight Duelists remain in the World Qualifying Points Playoff! This time we’ve got Toronto Duelist John Wilkin and his Maliss Deck. He already attended the World Championship as a Dragon Duelist, and now he’s looking to return. He’s facing Seattle Duelist Jeremy Glassman, using Mitsurugi Ryzeal! Just two more rounds and we’ll know some of our North American World Championship competitors!

Duel 1

Wilkin won the dice roll and played first. Glassman began with a hand of Droll & Lock Bird, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Crossout Designator, and two copies of Pre-Preparation of Rites.

Wilkin Normal Summoned Maliss <P> Chessy Cat and used its effect, prompting Glassman to use Ash Blossom. Wilkin Normal Summoned Linguriboh, then Special Summoned Backup @Ignister. Its effect put Wizard @Ignister in his hand, and he discarded Maliss in the Mirror. Glassman used Droll & Lock Bird. Wilkin continued, Link Summoning Splash Mage, which brought Chessy Cat back to the field. He Link Summoned Maliss <Q> White Binder, banishing Chessy Cat and Backup from his Graveyard. He paid 300 Life Points to Special Summon Chessy Cat. He then used White Binder’s other effect to Set Maliss <C> MTP-07. He used both monsters to Link Summon Cyberse Wicckid, then Special Summoned Wizard @Ignister, bringing Chessy Cat back to the field. He used all his monsters to Link Summon Maliss <Q> Hearts Crypter, then Set another back row card.

Glassman drew Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji. He activated Pre-Preparation of Rites, adding Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi and Maliss in the Mirror to his hand. Wilkin activated a Droll & Lock Bird of his own, but Crossout Designator shut that down. Glassman Normal Summoned Saji and activated its effect, adding Mitsurugi Prayers to his hand. He played Prayers, Tributing Habakiri from his hand to find Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi and took 800 damage to Special Summon it. He then activated the effects of Kusanagi and Habakiri. Wilkin responded with MTP-07, then flipped Called by the Grave to banish and negate Habakiri! Glassman’s plays were shut down, and he conceded the first Duel.

Duel 2

Glassman played first this time, with a starting hand of Mitsurugi Prayers, Artifact Lancea, Bonfire, Droll & Lock Bird, Node Ryzeal. Wilkin activated Mulcharmy Purulia in the Standby Phase. Glassman played Bonfire, adding Ice Ryzeal to his hand, then played Prayers to put Habakiri in his hand. He activated Habakiri’s effect, and Wilkin Chained Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Glassman Special Summoned Saji and Tributed it, putting Mitsurugi Ritual in his hand with its effect. He played Mitsurugi Ritual to Tribute Habakiri and Ritual Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from his Deck. Habakiri’s effect put Mitsurugi Great Purification in his hand, and he Set it.

In Wilkin’s Standby Phase, Glassman activated Artifact Lancea. Wilkin Chained Bystial Druiswurm targeting Saji, and Glassman responded with Murakumo. Wilkin discarded Droll & Lock Bird to make his effect resolve through Murakumo. Saji was banished, and Druiswurm hit the field. Finally, Lancea’s effect was live. Wilkin Normal Summoned Maliss <P> March Hare, using both his monsters to Link Summon Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy. Druiswurm targeted Murakumo, and Glassman flipped Great Purification by Tributing Murakumo. Murakumo’s effect put Prayers in his hand, and then it returned to the field. He then used Murakumo’s other effect to destroy Dharc. Dharc’s effect put Maliss <P> Dormouse in Wilkin’s hand, and Glassman activated Droll & Lock Bird. Wilkin Set a card in his back row.

Glassman drew Triple Tactics Thrust. He Normal Summoned Ice, Wilkin flipped Dominus Impulse, and Murakumo’s effect made him discard Dormouse to make the effect resolve. Glassman played Prayers, Tributing Murakumo to add Kusanagi to his hand and Special Summon it. Kusanagi targeted Mitsurugi Ritual, and he activated Murakumo. Wilkin activated Droll & Lock Bird, keeping Murakumo’s effect from resolving. Glassman sent Ice Ryzeal to attack directly, while Kusanagi couldn’t attack directly due to Prayers. In Main Phase 2, Glassman used Triple Tactics Thrust to Set Harpie’s Feather Storm. He Xyz Summoned Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer, and passed the turn.

Wilkin Normal Summoned Backup @Ignister, and Glassman flipped Harpie’s Feather Storm.

Glassman drew Ext Ryzeal. He used Castel to shuffle away Backup @Ignister. As soon as he played Ext Ryzeal, Wilkin knew it was all over!

Duel 3

Glassman began the final Duel with a hand of Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Mulcharmy Purulia, Mulcharmy Meowls, Artifact Lancea, and Lightning Storm. He activated Purulia right away.

Wilkin Normal Summoned March Hare, and Glassman drew another Purulia. Wilkin Link Summoned Linguriboh. He activated Druiswurm, targeting March Hare, and Glassman activated his second Purulia. Druiswurm hit the field, and Glassman drew Prayers and Nibiru, the Primal Being. Wilkin used March Hare’s effect to return it to his hand. He played Triple Tactics Talent to draw two cards, but Glassman stopped him with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Wilkin Set two back row cards, then Link Summoned Dharc.

Glassman drew Harpie’s Feather Duster, and played it immediately. Wilkin Chained Dimensional Barrier, declaring Xyz Monsters, and lost his Dominus Impulse. Glassman played Prayers to find Habakiri, which he used to Special Summon and Tribute Saji. Saji put Mitsurugi Ritual in his hand. He used Mitsurugi Ritual to Ritual Summon Habakiri, Tributing Night Sword Serpent and Kusanagi from the Deck. Kusanagi returned Mitsurugi Ritual to his hand, and Night Sword Serpent hit the field.  He then used Mitsurugi Ritual to Tribute Habakiri to bring forth Murakumo from the Deck. Habakiri returned to the field, adding a Prayers to Glassman’s hand, and Murakumo destroyed Wilkin’s Dharc. Dharc’s effect activated, and Glassman Chained Murakumo’s effect. Wilkin discarded a March Hare for it, and Dharc’s effect put a new March Hare in his hand. Using Murakumo and Night Sword Serpent, Glassman Tribute Summoned Nibiru! Murakumo returned to the field, adding Futsu no Mitama no Mitsurugi to his hand. Wilkin banished the March Hare in his Graveyard to Special Summon the March Hare in his hand, and he paid 300 Life Points to return the banish March Hare. Glassman’s Habakiri attacked March, and he attacked directly with Murakumo and Nibiru, dropping Wilkin to 1200 Life Points. He used Habakiri and Nibiru to Link Summon I:P Masquerena, then Set Lightning Storm and Prayers to finish.

Wilkin looked at his next card and offered the handshake!

Jeremy Glassman is one round away from the World Championship!