YCS Sydney 2025 Coverage Round 8 Feature

YCS Sydney 2025 Coverage - Round 8 Feature

It’s the last round of Swiss for day 1. The players are tired, the nerves and fatigue are kicking in and it will really be a test of skill for players to be able to make it through the round. This time we’re going further up North with Brad Delphin from the Sunshine Coast playing at The Card House, and then all the way to the West with Harrison Kneeshaw from Perth who hones his skills from Good Games Morley. Harrison has made a name for himself among the community having won the 2022 Western Australian State Championships, but more importantly being someone that people often go to for advice (especially on Dragon Decks). Will it be enough or will Brad be able to make his mark?

Game 1

Brad opens a hand of Fiendsmith Engraver, Fiendsmith in Paradise, Nibiru the Primal Being, Crossout Designator, Infinite Impermanence. Harrison has Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, 2 copies of Infinite Impermanence, Nibiru the Primal Being and Pot of Prosperity.

Harrison wins the die roll and will start. With no active plays, he is forced to activate Pot of Prosperity, banishing 6 monsters from his Extra Deck to reveal 3 Primite Dragon Ether Beryl, Effect Veiler, Sage with Eyes of Blue and Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. He shakes his head and adds Primite Dragon Ether Beryl. He Normal Summons Primite Dragon Ether Bery,l but its effect is stopped by Infinite Impermanence. He Link Summons Spirit with Eyes of Blue and adds Mausoleum of White and activates it to send a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from Deck to Graveyard, before using Spirit with Eyes of Blue to tribute itself to summon back the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Harrison sets 2 and ends his turn.

Brad draws Ice Ryzeal. He starts off by discarding Fiendsmith Engraver to add Fiendsmith’s Tract - and Harrison will stop Fiendsmith’s Tract with Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. However, Brad uses Crossout Designator, banishing his own Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring so Fiendsmith’s Tract will resolve, adding and discarding Fabled Lurrie, which Special Summons itself. Fabled Lurrie is used to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem, which tributes itself to summon Lacrima the Crimson Tears which sends Fiendsmith Engraver from Deck to Graveyard. Fiendsmith’s Requiem equips itself to Lacrima the Crimson Tears and then both are sent to the Graveyard to Special Summon Necroquip Princess. Fiendsmith Engraver Special Summons itself by shuffling Fabled Lurrie into the Deck. Fiendsmith Engraver and Necroquip Princess are used to Xyz Summon D/D/D Wave High King Caesar. Brad proceeds to Normal Summon Ice Ryzeal - but Harrison has Infinite Impermanence . Brad sets Fiendsmith in Paradise and ends his turn.

Harrison draws Maiden of White for turn and in the Standby Phase adds back Primite Dragon Ether Beryl from Graveyard. He Normal Summons Primite Dragon Ether Beryl using its effect to set then activate Primite Lordly Lode to add Primite Drillbeam. He activates Primite Drillbeam to banish the D/D/D Wave High King Caesar before setting that same Primite Drillbeam. Harrison uses Mausoleum of White to additional Normal Summon Maiden of White, and then uses it and Blue-Eyes White Dragon to Synchro Summon Lightstorm Dragon - destroying Brad’s set Fiendsmith in Paradise. Harrison makes a mention of how unhappy he is with his incorrect read of what the set card was. Nonetheless, he uses Primite Dragon Ether Beryl to Link Summon Spirit with Eyes of Blue, at which point Brad banishes the Fiendsmith in Paradise, sending Fiendsmith’s Desirae. Fiendsmith’s Desirae shuffles back Fiendsmith Engraver to send Lightstorm Dragon to the Graveyard. Harrison uses Spirit with Eyes of Blue to tribute itself to Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard and then the Maiden of White from the Graveyard. With that done, Brad activates his Nibiru the Primal Being - tributing all monsters and summoning a 4700/2500 Primal Being Token to Harrison’s field. Harrison follows up by using Primite Lordly Lode to Special Summon a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his Deck. At the end of Main Phase 1, Brad uses Lacrima the Crimson Tears to shuffle itself into the Deck from the Graveyard to Special Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem from the Graveyard, which is then tributed to Special Summon the recently shuffled back Lacrima the Crimson Tears, sending Fiendsmith Engraver from Deck to Graveyard.

Brad draws Node Ryzeal. He starts by using Fiendsmith Engraver to shuffle back Fiendsmith’s Requiem to Special Summon itself. Harrison activates Primite Drillbeam to banish the Lacrima the Crimson Tears. Brad uses Fiendsmith Engraver to Link Summon Fiendsmith’s Requiem then tributes off the Fiendsmith’s Requiem to Special Summon another copy of Fiendsmith Engraver and then equips the Fiendsmith’s Requiem to the Fiendsmith Engraver. Brad uses another effect of Fiendsmith Engraver to send both the equipped Fiendsmith’s Requiem and the Primal Being Token to the Graveyard. Brad Normal Summons Node Ryzeal and uses its effect to send Fiendsmith Engraver as cost, but has its effect stopped by Infinite Impermanence. In the Battle Phase, Brad attacks over Blue-Eyes White Dragon with Nibiru the Primal Being and directly with Node Ryzeal.

Harrison draws True Light and in Standby Phase adds back Primite Dragon Ether Beryl - which he Normal Summons, setting Primite Lordly Lode before activating it to add another Primite Dragon Ether Beryl. He also sets Primite Drillbeam from the Graveyard. Primite Lordly Lode is used to Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard and allowing Maiden of White to also Special Summon itself. The two are used to Synchro Summon Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Primite Dragon Ether Beryl attacks over Node Ryzeal before Harrison sets True Light and ends his turn.Brad draws Bonfire. He attempts to use Fiendsmith Engraver to shuffle back his Fiendsmith’s Desirae, but the effect is negated by Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Brad activates Bonfire, but Harrison is able to stop that with Primite Drillbeam. Nibiru the Primal Being attacks over Primite Dragon Ether Beryl - but when Harrison activates True Light, Brad decides to concede Game 1.

Game 2

Game 2 begins with Brad having a hand of Sword Ryzeal, Bystial Magnamhut, Nibiru the Primal Being, Solemn Strike and Called by the Grave. Harrison will have to play second with Effect Veiler, Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring, Dominus Purge, Pot of Prosperity and Primite Dragon Ether Beryl.

Brad starts with a Normal Summon of Sword Ryzeal. Although Harry has Effect Veiler, Brad is able to stop it with Called by the Grave. Sword Ryzeal adds Ext Ryzeal, which is Special Summoned by sending Eclipse Twins from the Extra Deck to the Graveyard. Ext Ryzeal adds Node Ryzeal, and then Ext Ryzeal and Sword Ryzeal are used to Xyz Summon Ryzeal Duo Drive. The effect to search is stopped by Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring. Brad sets Solemn Strike and ends his turn.

Harrison draws Mulcharmy Fuwalos and will normal summon Primite Dragon Ether Beryl. Not wasting any time, Brad uses Solemn Strike. Harrison then uses Pot of Prosperity to banish 6 cards: revealing Nibiru the Primal Being, Primite Drillbeam, 2 Infinite Impermanence, Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Mulcharmy Fuwalos. He shakes his head; he had no plays and needed something proactive. He takes one of the Infinite Impermanence and ends his turn

Brad draws Metaltronus. In Standby Phase, Harrison uses Mulcharmy Fuwalos. Brad goes to use Ryzeal Duo Drive, but Harrison stops it with the Infinite Impermanence he just added. Brad Special Summons Bystial Magnamhut, banishing his Eclipse Twins. On effect, Harrison has Dominus Purge. Ryzeal Duo Drive is able to attack for 2500, before Brad sets Metaltronus and ends his turn.

Harrison draws Maiden of White and sends it to his Graveyard to place True Light from his Deck to his Spell and Trap Zone, and uses its effect to set Roar of the Blue-Eyed Dragons. He activates Roar of the Blue-Eyed Dragons to Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon and then Maiden of White from his Graveyard. Maiden of White is used to Link Summon Spirit with Eyes of Blue to add Mausoleum of White. Harrison uses Spirit with Eyes of Blue and Blue-Eyes White Dragon to Link Summon Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres. Harrison ends his turn.Brad draws Bonfire for turn. In the Draw Phase, Brad has a think but decides to just go to the Main Phase. He activates Ryzeal Duo Drive, but Harrison uses Hieratic Seal of the Heavenly Spheres to return Ryzeal Duo Drive to the Extra Deck and then Special Summon from Deck Bystial Magnamhut. As he previously activated Dominus Purge from hand, he won’t be able to use Bystial Magnamhut’s effect to search. Brad activates Bonfire and Harrison concedes.

Game 3

Game 3, we will see Harrison start with a hand of Primite Dragon Ether Beryl, Wishes for Eyes of Blue, Called by the Grave, Dominus Purge and Mausoleum of White. Brad has Node Ryzeal, Ext Ryzeal, Fiendsmith Engraver, Bonfire and Crossout Designator. While Brad’s hand would be very good had he been going first, the lack of any form of interaction going second is not great.

Harrison starts with a Normal Summon of Primite Dragon Ether Beryl using its effect to set then activate Primite Lordly Lode to add Primite Drillbeam. Activates Wishes for Eyes of Blue, discarding Primite Drillbeam to add Sage with Eyes of Blue and Majesty of the White Dragons and Primite Drillbeam sets itself. Activates Mausoleum of White and uses his additional Normal Summon on Sage with Eyes of Blue to add Maiden of White, sending that to place a True Light in his Spell/Trap Zone. Mausoleum of White then sends a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from Deck to the Graveyard. Primite Dragon Ether Beryl is used to Link Summon Spirit with Eyes of Blue, which tributes itself to Special Summon back Blue-Eyes White Dragon. Wishes for Eyes of Blue is banished to equip Neo Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon to Blue-Eyes White Dragon before its used with Sage with Eyes of Blue to Synchro Summon Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Primite Lordly Lode then Special Summons Blue-Eyes White Dragon from Deck and Maiden of White Special Summons itself back and the two are used to Synchro Summon a second Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Harrison sets 2 cards and ends his turn.

Brad draws Droll & Lock Bird – visibly wishing he had it earlier. In the Draw Phase, Harrison uses True Light to Special Summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard, as well as Maiden of White to follow. He tributes his first Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon to Special summon Blue-Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon. In Main Phase 1, Brad discards Fiendsmith Engraver, but Harrison activates a set Called by the Grave - Brad responds with Crossout Designator, but Harrison stops that with his Blue-Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon. Brad uses Bonfire, but Harrison has Dominus Purge. Brad Special Summons Ext Ryzeal, sending Mereologic Aggregator. A new chain link is formed with Ext Ryzeal to search and Mereologic Aggregator targeting Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon, which is Chain Link 3 to negate the effect, as well as Chain Link 4 of Primite Drillbeam to negate Ext Ryzeal. Brad Special Summons Node Ryzeal and attacks Maiden of White - which has an effect when attacked to Special Summon back a Blue-Eyes White Dragon from the Graveyard. In the End Phase, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Spirit Dragon is destroyed - summoning back a Blue-Eyes Spirit Dragon. Brad extends the handshake and Harrison will end the day with a 7-1 record. Brad is still sitting on 6-2 and will need to win both games on Sunday morning to make a top cut spot.

As always, we wish both players the best of luck.