THOMAS MAK WINS YCS CHICAGO 2014!!! (& Coverage Highlights)

Congratulations to Thomas Mak, who just won YCS Chicago! Although he was originally playing Bujin throughout the majority of the tournament, players had to switch to Battle Pack 2 Draft format after winning their Top 32 matches. Also, congrats to Benedikt Junk for coming in second place; he was originally playing Dark World.

The last premier event of the January 2014 format, Chicago is immediately notable for its upswing in Bujin and Geargia players. Bujin, just coming off a win at ARGCS Las Vegas, have faced less siding in recent weeks which adds to their success in the post-Legacy of the Valiant meta. Meanwhile, Geargia are seeing a resurgence due to a somewhat recent "pure" build cropping up that doesn't rely on the previously standard Karakuri Tuners or Synchros.

Continue reading for highlights of the coverage collected from Konami's website! And if you have a moment, check out this music. Thanks!

A. Top Cut

Top 4 - (Not posted yet)

Top 8 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16628

Top 16 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16624
(Note that beginning this round, players switched from their Advanced Format decks to Battle Pack 2 Draft Format decks. I've still listed the Top 16 AF decks since players had to win their Top 32 matches with them.)

3 Fire Fist
3 Geargia
2 Infernity
2 Bujin
2 Mermail
1 Prophecy
1 Dark World
1 Fire King
1 Ghostrick Madolche

Top 32 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16604

7 Fire Fist
7 Geargia
5 Mermail
4 Bujin
2 Prophecy
2 Infernity
2 Fire King
1 Dark World
1 Chain Gadget
1 Ghostrick Madolche

B. Feature Matches

Round 1 - Astral Force Ghostricks defeat Lavals
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16389

Round 1 - Astral Force Ghostricks defeat Hero Fusion
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16401

Round 2 - Infernities defeat Spirits
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16416

Round 2 - Gladiator Beasts defeat Cyber Dragons
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16423

Round 3 - Onomatopoeia (Gogogo, Gagaga, & Dododo) defeats Mermails
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16438

Round 4 - Fire Kings defeat Mermails
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16457

Round 5 - Fire Fist defeats Frog Monarchs
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16471

Round 6 - Fire Fist defeats Heroes
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16483

Round 7 - Infernity defeats Dark World
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16508

Round 8 - Chain Summoning Gadgets defeat Infernity
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16527

Round 9 - Spirits defeat Mixed Fire Fist
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16550

Round 10 - Fire Fist defeats Bujin
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16560

Round 10 - Bujin defeats Mermails
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16567

Round 11 - Ghostrick Madolche defeats Bujin
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16591

Round 11 - Dark World defeats Fire Fist
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16582

-

Top 32 - Ghostrick Madolche defeats Fire Kings
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16606

Top 32 - Prophecy defeats Geargia
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16614

Top 16 - Marcus Carisse defeats James Valentino
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16731

Top 16 - Joe Bogli defeats Harison Perinpanayagam
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16723

Top 8 - Thomas Mak defeats Alejandro Ahearn
https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16750

Finals - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16776

C. Standings Updates

After Round 1 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16410

After Round 2 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16434

After Round 3 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16444

After Round 4 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16466

Um... is that a girl's name at the top of the Standings???

After Round 5 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16481

After Round 6 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16504

After Round 7 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16525

After Round 8 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16541

After Round 9 (End of Day 1) - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16557

After Round 10 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16578

After Round 11 (End of Swiss) - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16601

D. Top Tables Updates

Round 4 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16455

4 Mermail
4 Fire Fist
3 Geargia
2 Hieratic
2 Fire King
2 Infernity
1 Evilswarm
1 Bujin
1 Dark World

Round 5 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16486

6 Geargia (4 Pure, 2 Karakuri)
4 Bujin
4 Fire Fist
2 Mermails
1 Prophecy
1 Inzektor
1 Hieratic
1 Dragon

Round 6 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16514

7 Fire Fist
2 Bujin
2 Geargia
2 Hieratic
1 Onomatopoeia
1 Hero
1 Dragon
1 Inzektor
1 Infernity
1 Mermail
1 Prophecy

Round 7 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16516

5 Bujin
4 Fire Fist
3 Geargia
2 Mermail
1 Hieratic
1 Prophecy
1 Inzektor
1 Infernity
1 Dark World
1 Machina Gadget

Round 9 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16546

6 Bujin
4 Geargia
3 Fire Fist
2 Hieratic
2 Mermail
1 Gadget
1 Inzektor
1 Infernity

Round 10 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16576

5 Fire Fist
4 Bujin
3 Infernity
3 Geargia
3 Mermail
1 Gadget
1 Prophecy

Round 11 - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16580

5 Fire Fist
4 Geargia
3 Bujin
1 Infernity
1 Mermail
1 Gadget
1 Prophecy
1 Hieratic
1 Fire King
1 Harpie
1 Evilswarm

E. Miscellaneous Articles

Welcome - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16387

Which deck will do best? - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16436

What are you looking forward to in PG? - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16452

New Cyber Dragon Mat - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16468

What are you hoping for in DOL? - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16506

Drafting with Marcus Carisse - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16630

Drafting with Joe Bogli - https://yugiohblog.konami.com/?p=16759