This round of Day 2 of the DuelistGrounz.com Grand Prix Championship Sydney Day 2 event pits Grant McKinney against Mike Steinman. Both players wish each other good luck and roll to start the game, with McKinney winning out 3 to 1, electing to start the match.
Game 1
McKinney drew to six cards, and quickly activated Pot of Duality revealing Cyber Dragon, Mystical Space Typhoon, and Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 "Nishipachi", eventually settling on Mystical Space Typhoon. He Set one Spell or Trap Card and a Monster, and passed over to Steinman.
Likewise, Steinman mimicked McKinney's play, activating Pot of Duality, revealing Gravekeeper's Spy, Gravekeeper's Descendant, and Solemn Warning. He picked Gravekeeper's Spy and finished up by Setting one of each. McKinney activated Mystical Space Typhoon on Steinman's Spell or Trap.
McKinney then activated his freshly drawn Foolish Burial, sending Dandylion and Special Summoning two Fluff Tokens! He Flip Summoned Glow-Up Bulb, hastily tuning his Bulb and a Fluff for Formula Synchron, drawing a card. He then summoned Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi," using its effect to Normal Summon Karakuri Muso mdl 818 "Haipa"! Haipa and Ninishi tuned together to summon Karakuri Shogun mdl 000 "Burei," whose effect brought out Karakuri Soldier mdl 236 "Nisamu"! Burei's effect targeted Steinman's face-down Monster, revealing Gravekeeper's Spy. Steinman Summoned Gravekeeper's Recruiter from his Deck in Defense Position with Spy's effect!
Glow-Up Bulb's effect was then activated, Special Summoning itself and immediately tuning with Burei into Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X "Bureido"! Bureido's effect brought out Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 "Kuick". Formula Synchron and Nisamu were tuned together to Summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier, whose effect was activated targeting Gravekeeper's Recruiter. McKinney declared an attack on the Attack Position Spy with Kuick!
McKinney: 8000
Steinman: 7500
Kuick's effect activated, and McKinney selected the Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 "Nishipachi" that was milled by Glow-Up Bulb's effect and Special Summoned it in Defense Position! Nishipachi's effect targeted itself, letting McKinney draw a card from Bureido, and Nishipachi, Brionac, and Bureido made direct attacks, and Steinman was quick to concede the first game!
Game 2
Steinman started off game 2 by Setting 4 Spell or Trap Cards and Normal Summoning Fossil Dyna Pachycephalo, a devastating opening!
McKinney drew, attempted to Normal Summon Machina Gearframe, but was met by Steinman's Solemn Warning!
McKinney: 8000
Steinman: 6000
McKinney quickly recouped by activating Pot of Duality, revealing a Solemn Warning of his own, a Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 "Kuick," and Mystical Space Typhoon! McKinney deliberated for a period, and decided on adding Mystical Space Typhoon to his hand, shuffling the other cards back into his Deck.
McKinney Set 3 Spell or Trap Cards of his own, and sent the game back into Steinman's hands.
Steinman attacked with Fossil Dyna immediately!
McKinney: 6800
Steinman: 6000
Steinman followed up just as quickly by activating Necrovalley, but McKinney chained one of his Set cards, Mystical Space Typhoon! Steinman Set a Spell or Trap, back to four, and passed.
McKinney activated Pot of Duality, revealing Malevolent Catastrophe, Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi," and Pot of Avarice, deciding without a second of hesitation on Malevolent Catastrophe! He Set one Monster and one Spell or Trap and ended.
Steinman attacked McKinney's face-down Monster with Dyna, revealing Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 "Nishipachi," who dealt 400 damage to Steinman's Life Points! It wasn't much, but it was the first crack McKinney was able to make in Steinman's massive defense!
McKinney: 6800
Steinman: 5600
Steinman passed quickly afterwards, and all McKinney could muster was to Set a second Monster. Steinman switched his Pachycephalo to Defense, and sent it right back to McKinney! For the next four turns, the only action both players made was drawing a card at the start of each turn.
Steinman was the first to break the stalemate, Summoning Gravekeeper's Descendant, who met McKinney's Solemn Warning.
McKinney: 4800
Steinman: 5600
McKinney Summoned Karakuri Ninja mdl 919 Kuick, flipped Mystical Space Typhoon hitting Steinman's Seven Tools of the Bandit, and attacked with Kuick into Dimensional Prison!
Steinman began what seemed to be a new chain of drawing and passing, but McKinney Summoned Machina Gearframe. Steinman's lack of response let McKinney search out Machina Force, and Gearframe attempted an attack on Dyna...but met a second Dimensional Prison!
Steinman was up, drawing and activating Pot of Duality, revealing Gravekeeper's Spy, a second Pot of Duality, and Gravekeeper's Recruiter. Steinman selected the second Duality, activated Book of Moon on Dyna, and flipped it, triggering his own Set Torrential Tribute! McKinney's Nishipachi and Set Lonefire Blossom were destroyed, along with Steinman's elusive Dyna. Steinman Set a Monster to replace Dyna, activated Necrovalley, and then activated Royal Tribute! McKinney discarded Machina Fortress, Machina Force, Karakuri Watchdog mdl 313 "Saizan," and Dandylion, leaving him with only a single card in hand, Dark Hole! McKinney Summoned two Fluff Tokens, and Steinman ended after a massive turn.
McKinney took the bait, activating Dark Hole after drawing, and Steinman's Gravekeeper's Spy was destroyed! All McKinney could do was pass back.
Steinman activated Pot of Duality, revealing another Dyna, Gravekeeper's Recruiter, and Fiendish Chain, eventually settling on Recruiter. He Set a Monster, and passed back to McKinney.
Seemingly at a loss for options, the only play McKinney made for a second turn was a Set card, this time a Spell or Trap!
Steinman was quick to capitalize, activating Mystical Space Typhoon on what he knew to be Malevolent Catastrophe! He then Flip Summoned Recruiter, and after no response from McKinney, declared a direct attack...and McKinney had the second Catastrophe! Steinman's Mirror Force and Necrovalley were destroyed, and McKinney took battle damage.
McKinney: 3600
Steinman: 5600
Steinman ended after setting a Spell or Trap, and McKinney activated his Pot of Avarice! He drew two, Special Summoned Cyber Dragon, Normal Summoned Karakuri Komachi mdl 224 "Ninishi," and tuned them together to Summon Karakuri Steel Shogun mdl 00X "Bureido"! McKinney Special Summoned Karakuri Strategist mdl 248 "Nishipachi" from his Deck in Attack Position, whose effect switched it to Defense Position, letting McKinney draw a card. Bureido attacked Recruiter, dealing some quick damage to Steinman.
McKinney: 3600
Steinman: 4000
Steinman searched Commandant with Recruiter, and McKinney finished by Setting a Spell or Trap. Steinman drew, flipped his Set Dark Hole. He followed up by Summoning Commandant and attacked directly!
McKinney: 2000
Steinman: 4000
Steinman passed to McKinney after Setting a Spell or Trap. McKinney Summoned Lonefire Blossom, Tributed it to Special Summon Lonefire Blossom from his Deck, and that Lonefire Blossom was traded out for Spore in Defense Position! McKinney activated Foolish Burial, sending Dandylion, and Special Summoned two Fluff Tokens! A Token and Spore were immediately tuned into Formula Synchron, drawing McKinney a card. McKinney removed Lonefire Blossom from play to Special Summon Spore, who tuned with the Fluff Token that was left hanging around for Ally of Justice Catastor! Catastor and Formula tuned together for Karakuri Shogun mdl 000 "Burei," but Steinman revealed his face-down Fiendish Chain, shutting McKinney's turn down completely! McKinney finished out by Setting a Spell or Trap.
Steinman's Commandant switched to Defense Position, and Set his own Spell or Trap, passing back to McKinney...who couldn't help but pass right back! Steinman Set another Spell or Trap, passed, and McKinney mimicked the turn verbatim.
Steinman broke the second standstill by Summoning Descendant, but McKinney was quick to flip Solemn Judgment!
McKinney: 1000
Steinman: 4000
McKinney Set a Spell or Trap, passed, and Steinman Set a Monster and passed!
McKinney activated Giant Trunade...and Steinman scooped!
