Road to Worlds 2023

Finally, after four years, the Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship will be held at Tokyo, Japan on 5 – 6 August 2023. 28 OCG/TCG duelists from all over the world will converge in Tokyo Big Sight to participate in the most prestigious tournament of the year. Here is a look at how these 28 duelists earned their invitation to the World Championship 2023.

Invitations to the World Championship 2023 were given out at 9 premier tournaments. To participate in these tournaments, duelists have to qualify through a major tournament.

For the OCG, the champions of the Regional Qualifiers, China City Tournaments, Yu-Gi-Oh! Open Tournaments, Rank-Up Leagues, and Area Qualifiers were qualified to play in the respective Duelist Cup 2023 China Mainland, Korea WCQ 2023, Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals or Japan Championship 2023.

For the TCG, the top players of the Regionals, Nationals, Last Chance Qualifiers, OTS Championships, Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series, and Continental Championships 2022 were qualified to play in their respective World Championship Qualifiers (WCQ). In addition, the top 16 players with the most World Qualifying Points in the 2019 – 2022 Extended Season and the top 16 players with the most World Qualifying Points in the 2022 – 2023 Season were also qualified to play in their respective World Qualifying Points Playoff (WQPP).

9 duelists from the OCG and 19 duelists from the TCG for a total of 28 duelists are invited to the World Championship 2023.

Roberto Lopez Arce qualified for “Central America WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season. He went 6-1 with Labrynth and finished 1st in “Central America WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Carlos Jesus Mercado Ramirez went 16-0 with Evil★Twin Spright Runick and finished 1st in “Central America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Carlos Mercado had also participated in last year “Central America Championship 2022” and made Top 64.

Li Zhi, more commonly known by his online handle Yingrong (影融), qualified for “Duelist Cup 2023 China Mainland” by finishing 1st in “China City Tournament Yangzhou 2022 (Simplified Chinese)” with Adventurer Orcust. He went 8-1 with Superheavy Samurai and finished 1st in “Duelist Cup 2023 China Mainland” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Li Zhi had also participated in “Duelist Cup 2022 China Mainland” last year, but fell short to finish 3 – 4th with Ishizu Tearlaments. He is back stronger this year and had achieved his dream of becoming a China National Champion and would also the very first China Mainland representative in the Yu-G-Oh! OCG/TCG World Championship.

Suh Jeong-Hyeon qualified for “Korea WCQ 2023” by making Top 32 in the “Seoul Regional Qualifier 2023” with Tearlaments. He went 10-1 with Tearlaments to finish 1st in “Korea WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had a rocky start at the WCQ after losing his first match, but he managed to win all his following matches.

Juan Mateo Augusto Renteria Pastor qualified for “South America WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season. He went with Adventurer Melffy Spright and finished 1st in “South America WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Despite already having earned his Worlds invite, he continue to play in the “South America WCQ 2023” and finished Top 8 with the same Adventurer Melffy Spright deck.

Santiago Marin Lopez qualified for “South America WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season, but did not make it past the Swiss Rounds. He went 12-1-1 with Kashtira and finished 1st in “South America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Lin You Jyun’s journey started 3 years ago in the “Asia Championship Winter 2020”. He went with Orcust and finished 1st in “Asia Championship Winter 2020”, earning him a seed to the Top 8 in the “Asia Championship 2020”. However, the cancellation of the “World Championship 2020” and “Asia Championship 2020” meant that his invite had to be postponed. With the return of the World Championship this year, he was seeded to the Top 8 of the “Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals”. He went 3-0 with Purrely to finished 1st in “Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals”.

Satanantana Rungnoppakunsi qualified for “Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals” by finishing 1st in “Rank-Up League 2020 First Half”. He went 6-2-1 with Adventurer Synchron and finished 2nd in “Duelist Cup 2023 Asia Finals” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Satanantana Rungnoppakunsi had also finished 2nd with Bystial Dragomaid in last year’s Remote Duel “Duelist Cup 2022 Asia Finals”.

Kunlun Lei qualified for “Oceanic WCQ 2023” through the “Kingsford OTS Championship”. He went 14-0 with Kashtira and finished 1st in “Oceanic WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Poe Jiang qualified for “Oceanic WCQ 2023” through the “Narellan Regional 2022” with Branded Tearlaments. He went 12-2 with Purrely and finished 2nd in “Oceanic WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. This would be Poe Jiang second time at the World Championship, he had previously participated in “World Championship 2018” with Sky Striker Trickstar.

Gabriel Soussi qualified for “European WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of 2019 – 2020 Season. He went 5-1 with Fur Hire Spright Runick and finished 1 – 2nd in “European WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Despite already having earned his Worlds invite, he continue to play in the “European WCQ 2023” and finished Top 32 with the same Fur Hire Spright Runick deck. This would be Gabriel Soussi second time at the World Championship, he had previously participated in “World Championship 2019” with Salamangreat.

Jonas Koschel qualified for “European WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2019 – 2020 Season. He went 5-1 with Evil★Twin Spright Runick and finished 1 – 2nd in “European WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Despite already having earned his Worlds invite, he continue to play in the “European WCQ 2023” and finished Top 8 with Labrynth. This would be Jonas Koschel second time at the World Championship, he had previously participated in “World Championship 2019” with Thunder Dragon.

Dinh-Kha Bui qualified for “European WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season. He went 5-1-1 with Labrynth and finished 3rd in “European WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had also finished 4th with Fur Hire Spright Runick in “YCS London 2023” earlier this year.

Jessica Robinson qualified for “European WCQ 2023” through “Birmingham Regional 2023”. She went 14-2 with Sunavalon Rikka and finished 1st in “European WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Jessica Robinson had been very consistent with Sunavalon Rikka, having finished 4th in “UK National 2023” and Top 64 in “YCS London 2023”.

Christian Thomas qualified for “European WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2019 – 2020 Season, but did not make it past the Swiss Rounds. He went 12-2-2 with Kashtira and finished 2nd in “European WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Christian Thomas had also finished Top 128 with Spright in “European Championship 2022” last year.

Joo-Ho Ahn qualified for “European WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season, but did not make it past the Swiss Rounds. He went 11-3-1 with Labrynth and finished 3 – 4th in “European WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Joo-Ho Ahn had also finished Top 32 with Ishizu Tearlaments in “YCS Lyon 2023” earlier this year.

Oliver Newton went 12-2-2 with Kashtira and finished 3 – 4th in “European WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had also finished Top 128 with ABC in “European Championship 2022” last year.

Steven Santoli qualified for “North America WQPP 2023” by finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season. He went 4-0 with Exosister and finished 1 – 2nd in “North America WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. This would be his second top finish with Exosister after coming in 1st in “Remote Duel YCS North America 2023” earlier in the year.

Paul Aronson qualified for “North America WQPP 2023” finishing in the top of the 2022 – 2023 Season. He went 4-0 with Kashtira and finished 1 – 2nd in “North America WQPP 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had been playing Kashtira for the current format, finishing in Top 64 for “YCS Philadelphia 2023” and 1st in “YCS Los Angeles 2023”.

Jeremy Mitchell went 17-1 and finished 1st with Kashtira in “North America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He has also finished 2nd with Kashtira in “Boca Raton Regional 2023”. Jeremy Mitchell is most well known for his performance with Magician deck, most notably finishing 1st in “YCS Atlanta 2018”.

Lars Bergquist went 14-3-1 and finished 2nd with Kashtira in “North America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had also finished 1st with Kashtira in “Boca Raton Regional 2023”.

Enzo Fiallos went 14-3 and finished 3rd with Kashtira in “North America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. He had been playing Kashtira for the current format, finishing in Top 8 for “Remote Duel YCS North America 2023” and 3rd in “YCS Philadelphia 2023”.

Gerardo Varela went 13-3-1 and finished 4th with Kashtira in “North America WCQ 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Hasegawa Akira qualified for “Japan Championship 2023” by winning his Area Qualifier with Purrely. He continued with Purrely, went 6-0 and finished 1st in “Japan Championship 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. This would be his third time participating in the World Championship, having finished Top 8 with Gouki in “World Championship 2018” and 3rd with Nekroz in “World Championship 2015”.

Sakamoto Kazuya qualified for “Japan Championship 2023” by winning his Area Qualifier with Rescue-ACE. He continued with Rescue-ACE, went 5-1 and finished 2nd in “Japan Championship 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Yamashita Keijiro qualified for “Japan Championship 2023” by winning his Area Qualifier with Purrely. He switched over to Labrynth, went 4-1 and finished 3 – 4th in “Japan Championship 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”. Yamashita Keijiro had also finished 1st with Branded Tri-Brigade in “Japan Championship 2021”.

Higuchi Mizuki went 4-1 with Purrely and finished 3 – 4th in “Japan Championship 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

Kaneko Daiki qualified for “Japan Championship 2023” by winning his Area Qualifier with Ishizu Tearlaments. He continued with Tearlaments, went 5-1 and finished 5th in “Japan Championship 2023” to qualify for “World Championship 2023”.

These are the roads that the 28 duelists have taken on their way to the World Championship 2023.

But their stories have yet to end, for this weekend will decide whose path is the Road of the King.