History was made this weekend, as Julien Kehon – who qualified for this year’s Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship in Friday’s World Qualifying Points Playoff – made it to the Top 4 in this weekend’s 2025 North America World Championship Qualifier. While making it to the Top 4 would ordinarily allow a Duelist to secure an invitation to the World Championship, a player can’t be invited to the same tournament twice. As a result, Kehon’s second World Championship invitation will be passed down to fifth place, giving a Duelist who lost in the Top 8 another opportunity to make it into the Top 8. A miniature tournament was held among Duelists who lost in the Top 8. Mario De Micco defeated Craig Hayashi in the previous round, and Charley Futch defeated Clifton Land. Now, Mario De Micco and Charley Futch are facing off. The winner will take 5^th place, and inherit Kehon’s second invitation to the World Championship, along with the paid travel and accommodations to Paris, France. The other Duelist will take 6^th place, and fall one place short of the World Championship invitation. Both Duelists have one last chance to qualify for the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship and compete in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TRADING CARD GAME on a global level. It’s time to Duel!

Duel One

Futch started off Duel 1 by activating Mitsurugi Ritual.

He Ritual Summoned Ame no Habakiri no Mitsurugi from his hand by Tributing Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Aramasa and Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Kusanagi from his Deck. He activated their effects to add Futsu no Mitama no Mitsurugi and Mitsurugi Ritual to his hand. He activated the Ritual to Tribute Futsu from his hand and Ritual Summon Ame no Murakumo no Mitsurugi from his Deck. He added Mitsurugi no Mikoto, Saji from his Deck to his hand with Futsu’s effect. Next, he Normal Summoned Saji and used its effect to add Mitsurugi Prayers from his Deck to his hand. He sent Saji and Habakiri to his Graveyard to Link Summon Moon of the Closed Heaven and then used Moon as a Link Material to Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem. He Tributed Requiem to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears from his Deck and used Lacrima’s effect to send a Fiendsmith’s Engraver from his Deck to his Graveyard. He equipped Lacrima with Requiem and then sent Lacrima and Requiem to the Graveyard to Special Summon Necroquip Princess. He then discarded Engraver to add a Fiendsmith’s Tract from his Deck to his hand and drew a card with Necroquip’s effect. He returned Moon to his Deck to Special Summon Engraver and then combined Engraver with Necroquip to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar. Futch activated Mitsurugi Prayers next by Tributing Murakumo. He added Habakiri from his Deck to his hand and Special Summoned Habakiri by taking 800 points of damage. He Special Summoned Murakumo back to the field with its effect. He then used Mitsurugi Mirror to Tribute Habakiri and Special Summon Futsu, and then Special Summoned Habakiri back to his field with its effect. He activated Fiendsmith’s Tract next, and added Fabled Lurrie from his Deck to his hand. He discarded the Lurrie and Special Summoned it to the field with its effect. He used Habakiri and Lurrie to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence. He activated Sequence’s effect to return Lurrie, Engraver, and Requiem from his Graveyard to his Deck and Special Summon Fiendsmith’s Desirae. He sent Sequence and Desirae to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Agnumday and used its effect to Special Summon Desirae equipped with Fiendsmith’s Agnumday. He sent Desirae and Murakumo to the Graveyard to Link Summon I:P Masquerena and then Set 2 cards to his back row.

De Micco drew Droll & Lock Bird and added it to his hand of Bonfire, Dodododo Warrior, Ext Ryzeal, Star Ryzeal, and Ryzeal Cross. Futch activated the effect of Lacrima in the Graveyard in the Standby Phase and Special Summoned Agnumday by returning Lacrima to his Deck. He used Agnumday’s effect to Special Summon Desirae equipped with Agnumday. De Micco activated Bonfire to add Ice Ryzeal from his Deck to his hand and Futch activated the effect of Droll & Lock Bird from his hand. Next, he Special Summoned Ext Ryzeal by sending Mereologic Aggregator from his Extra Deck to his Graveyard. He used Aggregator’s effect to negate the effect of High King Caesar, and Futch used his Futsu’s effect to Special Summon Kusanagi from his Graveyard. He used Kusanagi’s effect to return Prayers from his Graveyard to his hand. De Micco Normal Summoned Ice Ryzeal next and activated its effect to Special Summon Node Ryzeal from his Deck. Futch Special Summon Murakumo from his Graveyard with Futsu’s effect and activated its effect to clear De Micco’s field! Next, De Micco activated the effect of Dodododo Warrior in his hand by sending Dodododwarf Gogogoglove from his Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned the Warrior, and Futch used his Masquerena’s effect to Summon S:P Little Knight by sending Masquerena and Kusanagi to the Graveyard. Futch banished the Warrior with Little Knight’s effect and De Micco conceded.

Charley Futch takes a decisive win in the first Duel and is just one win away from returning to the World Championship!

Duel Two

De Micco opened up Duel 2 with Unbreakable Xyz Barrier, Gagaga Ganbara Knight, Harpie’s Feather Storm, and 2 copies of Onomatopaira.

He activated Onomatopaira by discarding an Onomatopaira from his hand. He added Dodododo Warrior and Gogogo Goblindbergh from his Deck to his hand. He activated his Dodododo Warrior’s effect and Special Summoned it by sending Gogogoglove from his Deck to his Graveyard. He Special Summoned the Gogogoglove and then Futch activated the effect of Mulcharmy Fuwalos. De Micco combined his 2 monsters to Xyz Summon Castel, the Skyblaster Musketeer, allowing Futch to draw a card from Fuwalos’s effect. De Micco Set 2 cards to his back row and then ended his turn.

Futch activated Pre-Preparation of Rites to add Habakiri and Mitsurugi Mirror from his Deck to his hand. He activated Habakiri’s effect in his hand and Special Summon Saji before Tributing it. He activated the effect of Saji, but De Micco Chained Harpie’s Feather Storm to stop it and all other monster effects for the turn. Futch activated Mitsurugi Ritual next, and De Micco flipped Unbreakable Xyz Barrier to negate the Ritual. Futch passed his turn with a clear field.

De Micco drew another Harpie’s Feather Storm and then detached Gogogoglove from Castel to put the Castel face-down with Castel’s effect. He Normal Summoned Gogogo Goblindbergh next and used its effect to Special Summon Gogogoglove from his Graveyard. He combined his 2 face-up monsters to Xyz Summon Infernal Flame Banshee and then detached Goblindbergh to activate its effect. He lost out to Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, but then used the effect of his Goblindbergh to add Dodododo Warrior from his Deck to his hand. He Flip Summoned Castel and then attacked directly with Castel and Infernal Flame Banshee, dropping Futch down to 4300 Life Points. De Micco Set Feather Storm and then ended his turn.

Futch drew a card and then Normal Summoned Fabled Lurrie in his Main Phase. He sent it to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem and Tributed the Requiem to activate its effect; but De Micco flipped another Feather Storm to negate it! Futch Set a card to his back row and then realized he wouldn’t have any opportunity to win. He conceded the Duel.

It all comes down to a third and final Duel!

Duel Three

Futch went first in Duel 3 and De Micco activated the effect of Mulcharmy Purulia in his Standby Phase. Futch activated Fiendsmith’s Tract to add Lurrie from his Deck to his hand, discarded it, and then Special Summoned Lurrie from his Graveyard with its effect. Next, he sent Lurrie to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem and Tributed the Requiem to Special Summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears from his Deck. He activated its effect to send an Engraver from his Deck to his Graveyard and then equipped Lacrima with Requiem. He sent Lacrima and Requiem to the Graveyard to Special Summon Necroquip Princess and then discarded Engraver to add Fiendsmith in Paradise from his Deck to his hand. He activated his Necroquip’s effect to draw a card. Next, he Special Summoned Engraver from his Graveyard by returning Lurrie from his Graveyard to his Deck and activated Pre-Preparation of Rites. He added Futsu and Mirror from his Deck to his hand and then activated Mitsurugi Ritual. He Tributed Futsu from his hand to Special Summon Murakumo and then added Prayers to his hand with Futsu’s effect. He activated the Mirror to Special Summon Futsu by Tributing Murakumo and added Mitsurugi Great Purification from his deck to his hand. He Special Summoned the Murakumo back to his field with its effect. He sent Engraver and Murakumo to the Graveyard to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Sequence and activated its effect. He returned Requiem and 2 Engravers from his Graveyard to his Deck and Special Summoned Fiendsmith’s Desirae. He sent Desirae and Sequence to the Graveyard to Link Summon Agnumday and then used Agnumday’s effect to Special Summon Desirae equipped with Agnumday. He equipped Sequence to the Desirae and then activated Prayers to add Habakiri from his Deck to his hand. He revealed Habakiri to use its effect and Special Summoned Saji from his Deck before Tributing the Saji. He added a Prayers to his hand with Saji’s effect. He Set 3 cards face-down in his back row before ending his turn.

De Micco drew Droll & Lock Bird and added it to his hand of Node Ryzeal, Seventh Tachyon, and 2 copies of Dodododo Warrior. He activated Seventh Tachyon by revealing Number 104: Masquerade from his Deck and Futch flipped Great Purification and Tributed Futsu to negate it. Futch Special Summoned Futsu back to the field, and De Micco offered the handshake in concession.

Charley Futch is returning to the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship!