Jesse Kotton is a Canadian player and content creator widely regard to be one of the most accomplished players in the game, if not the most.
He is the joint Master Duel World Champion of 2024 (with Ryan Yu and Raymond Dai) and has also won six YCSs (London 2017, Knoxville 2019, San Jose 2022, Sydney 2023 , Vancouver 2023 and Sacramento 2024), one regular UDS (Panama City 2019) as well as the Undisputed UDS Championship in 2024.
Including his win in 2024, he has participated in five total World Championships (TCG/OCG in 2017, 2018 and 2019; Master Duel in 2023 and 2024). In Master Duel, he teamed up with Ryan Yu and Raymond Dai both times. In 2023, it was Raymond who qualified via the Regional Qualifiers. One year later, Ryan earned his team the invite by winning one of the Duelist Cups. In both 2023 and 2024, their team faced the exact same opponents in the finals (Joshua Schmidt, Emre Kizilates and Jack-Rory Steenkamer).
In early 2023, Jesse finished business school and started doing Yu-Gi-Oh! content creation on YouTube and Twitch. His focus is primarily on competitive gameplay and discussions. As of mid 2024, his two channels have over 70,000 subscribers/followers in total. He also has regular guest appearances on TeamSamuraiX1's channel.
He holds several records within competitive Yu-Gi-Oh!:
- Excluding National Championships, he was won the highest amount of TCG premier events, at eight (If Nationals are included, Andres Torres is tied with Jesse).
- He and Chris LeBlanc have won more YCSs than any other player, at six.
- Among North American players, he was the first player to achieve 30 and 40 premier event tops respectively and has held the record for the most tops since late 2019, overtaking Adam Corn.
- He was the first player in the world to top a total of 30 YCSs.
- He currently has the most YCS tops of any player, at 36.
- He has played in eleven total YCS finals, more than any other player.
- Between November 2022 and September 2023, he managed to win three YCSs over the course of just 9 months 14 days. No other player has accomplished this feat so quickly.
- He is the only player who has won YCSs in four different TCG regions (Europe, North America, Central America and Oceania).
TCG/OCG Tournament Decks[]
YCS Niagara Falls 2024 (Top 8)[]
- Diabellstar the Black Witch
- Droll & Lock Bird
- Fire King Avatar Arvata
- Fire King Courtier Ulcanix x3
- Fire King High Avatar Garunix
- Fire King High Avatar Kirin x3
- Legendary Fire King Ponix
- Mulcharmy Fuwalos x3
- Sacred Fire King Garunix
- Snake-Eye Ash
- Snake-Eye Oak
- Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon
- Snake-Eyes Poplar
YCS Cancun 2024 (Top 32)[]
- Archnemeses Protos
- Crystal Beast Rainbow Dragon x2
- Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle
- Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus x3
- Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger
- Diabellstar the Black Witch
- Fiendsmith Engraver x2
- Nemeses Flag
- Rainbow Dragon
- Snake-Eye Ash
- Snake-Eye Oak
- Snake-Eyes Diabellstar
- Snake-Eyes Flamberge Dragon
- Snake-Eyes Poplar
- Awakening of the Crystal Ultimates
- Bonfire x3
- Crystal Bond x3
- Dark Ruler No More x3
- Divine Temple of the Snake-Eye
- Fiendsmith's Sanct
- Foolish Burial Goods x3
- Forbidden Droplet x3
- Golden Rule x3
- One for One
- Original Sinful Spoils - Snake-Eye
- Rainbow Bridge x3
- Rainbow Bridge of the Heart x3
- Triple Tactics Talent x3
- Triple Tactics Thrust x3
- Vaylantz World - Konig Wissen
- Vaylantz World - Shinra Bansho
- WANTED: Seeker of Sinful Spoils x3
YCS Sacramento 2024 (1st place)[]
YCS Rio de Janeiro 2024 (Top 32)[]
Undisputed UDS Championship (1st place)[]
- Amphibious Swarmship Amblowhale
- Apollousa, Bow of the Goddess
- Decode Talker Heatsoul
- Dharc the Dark Charmer, Gloomy
- Hiita the Fire Charmer, Ablaze
- I:P Masquerena
- Knightmare Phoenix
- Linkuriboh
- Promethean Princess, Bestower of Flames x2
- Relinquished Anima
- S:P Little Knight
- Salamangreat Raging Phoenix
- Salamangreat Sunlight Wolf
- Worldsea Dragon Zealantis
YCS Richmond 2023 (Top 32)[]
YCS Dortmund 2023 (Top 16)[]
YCS Cancun 2023 (Top 8)[]
YCS Vancouver 2023 (1st place)[]
TEAM YCS Sao Paulo 2023 (Top 4)[]
YCS Philadelphia 2023 (Top 8)[]
YCS Santiago 2023 (2nd place)[]
YCS Los Angeles 2023 (Top 16)[]
YCS Lima 2023 (Top 16)[]
YCS Sydney 2023 (1st place)[]
- Garura, Wings of Resonant Life
- Mudragon of the Swamp
- Predaplant Dragostapelia
- Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart
- Tearlaments Kitkallos
- Tearlaments Rulkallos
Remote Duel YCS North America III 2022 (Top 32)[]
- Garura, Wings of Resonant Life
- Mudragon of the Swamp
- Predaplant Dragostapelia
- Tearlaments Kaleido-Heart
- Tearlaments Kitkallos
- Tearlaments Rulkallos
YCS San Jose 2022 (1st place)[]
YCS Dortmund 2022 (Top 16)[]
YCS Pasadena 2022 (2nd place)[]
YCS Niagara Falls 2022 (2nd place)[]
- Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Mothman! x3
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger!? Jackalope?
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko?
- Fairy Tail - Snow
- Gizmek Orochi, the Serpentron Sky Slasher x2
- Nibiru, the Primal Being x3
- Spright Jet
- Tearlaments Havnis x3
- Tearlaments Merrli x3
- Tearlaments Reinoheart x3
- Tearlaments Scheiren x3
YCS Rio de Janeiro 2022 (4th place)[]
Remote Duel YCS North America II 2021 (Top 16)[]
UDS Tulsa 2020 (Top 8)[]
Deck unknown (Decklist Unavailable)
TEAM YCS Lima 2019 (Top 16)[]
- Black Dragon Collapserpent
- Chaos Dragon Levianeer x3
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Mothman! x2
- Danger! Nessie! x2
- Danger!? Jackalope? x2
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x2
- Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair
- Draconnet x3
- Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay
- Omni Dragon Brotaur
- Starliege Seyfert x3
- Tenyi Spirit - Vishuda x3
- Thunder Dragon x3
- Thunder Dragondark x2
- Thunder Dragonduo
- Thunder Dragonhawk
- Thunder Dragonroar x2
- White Dragon Wyverburster
- World Chalice Guardragon
- Abyss Dweller
- Artifact Lancea x3
- Dark Ruler No More x3
- Gnomaterial x3
- Red Reboot x3
- Twin Twisters x2
UDS Panama City 2019 (1st place)[]
- Chaos Hunter x3
- Gnomaterial x2
- Mind Control x3
- Nibiru, the Primal Being x2
- Red Reboot x3
- Twin Twisters x3
YCS Niagara Falls 2019 (Top 32)[]
World Championship 2019 (9-28th place)[]
Thunder Dragon (Decklist Unavailable)
WCQ North America 2019 (Top 64)[]
Deck unknown (Decklist Unavailable)
YCS Knoxville 2019 (1st place)[]
- Batteryman Solar x3
- Black Dragon Collapserpent x3
- Chaos Dragon Levianeer x3
- Crusadia Draco
- Crusadia Reclusia x3
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger!? Jackalope? x3
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x3
- Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair
- Eclipse Wyvern
- Fantastical Dragon Phantazmay x2
- Omni Dragon Brotaur
- Thunder Dragon x3
- Thunder Dragondark x2
- Thunder Dragonduo
- Thunder Dragonhawk
- Thunder Dragonroar x2
- White Dragon Wyverburster x3
YCS Guatemala City 2019 (Top 16)[]
- Arkbrave Dragon
- Batteryman Solar x3
- Black Dragon Collapserpent x2
- Chaos Dragon Levianeer x3
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger!? Jackalope? x3
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x3
- Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair
- Defrag Dragon x2
- Eclipse Wyvern
- Phantom Skyblaster x3
- Thunder Dragon x3
- Thunder Dragondark x3
- Thunder Dragonduo
- Thunder Dragonhawk x2
- Thunder Dragonroar x2
- White Dragon Wyverburster x3
TEAM YCS Atlanta 2019 (2nd place)[]
- Arkbrave Dragon
- Batteryman Solar x3
- Black Dragon Collapserpent x2
- Chaos Dragon Levianeer x3
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger!? Jackalope? x3
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x3
- Darkest Diabolos, Lord of the Lair
- Defrag Dragon x2
- Eclipse Wyvern
- Phantom Skyblaster x3
- Thunder Dragon x3
- Thunder Dragondark x3
- Thunder Dragonduo
- Thunder Dragonhawk x2
- Thunder Dragonroar x2
- White Dragon Wyverburster x3
YCS Sydney 2019 (2nd place)[]
- Danger! Chupacabra!
- Danger! Mothman! x2
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger!? Jackalope? x3
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x3
- Dotscaper
- Fairy Tail - Snow
- Gem-Knight Amber
- Grinder Golem
- Mare Mare
- Mathematician x2
- Thunder Dragon x3
- Thunder Dragondark x3
- Thunder Dragonduo
- Thunder Dragonhawk x2
- Thunder Dragonmatrix x2
- Thunder Dragonroar x2
UDS Monterrey 2018 (Top 8)[]
- Armageddon Knight x2
- Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite
- Broww, Huntsman of Dark World x3
- Danger! Bigfoot!
- Danger! Chupacabra! x3
- Danger! Dogman! x3
- Danger! Mothman! x3
- Danger! Nessie! x3
- Danger! Thunderbird! x2
- Danger!? Jackalope? x3
- Danger!? Tsuchinoko? x3
- Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World
- Shaddoll Beast
- Snoww, Unlight of Dark World
- Toon Cannon Soldier
YCS Niagara Falls 2018 (Top 32)[]
YCS Columbus 2018 (Top 64)[]
- A Hero Lives
- Called by the Grave x2
- D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation
- Divine Sword - Phoenix Blade
- Foolish Burial
- Living Fossil
- Mask Change x3
- Mask Change II x3
- Monster Reborn
- Noble Arms - Arfeudutyr
- Overdone Burial
- Reinforcement of the Army
- Sky Striker Mecha - Eagle Booster
- Sky Striker Mecha - Hornet Drones
- Sky Striker Mobilize - Engage! x3
- Soul Charge
- Twin Twisters x3
World Championship 2018 (5-8th place)[]
YCS Santiago 2018 (Top 8)[]
- Astrograph Sorcerer x3
- Black Fang Magician x2
- Chronograph Sorcerer x3
- Harmonizing Magician x3
- Mythical Beast Jackal King x2
- Mythical Beast Master Cerberus x3
- Oafdragon Magician
- Purple Poison Magician x2
- Stargazer Magician
- Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm x3
- Supreme King Gate Infinity
- Supreme King Gate Zero x2
- Timegazer Magician
- Xiangke Magician
YCS Salt Lake City 2018 (Top 16)[]
- Astrograph Sorcerer x3
- Black Fang Magician x2
- Chronograph Sorcerer x3
- Harmonizing Magician x3
- Mythical Beast Jackal King x2
- Mythical Beast Master Cerberus x3
- Oafdragon Magician
- Purple Poison Magician x2
- Stargazer Magician
- Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm x3
- Supreme King Gate Infinity
- Supreme King Gate Zero x2
- Timegazer Magician
- Xiangke Magician
YCS Atlanta 2018 (Top 32)[]
- Astrograph Sorcerer x3
- Black Fang Magician x2
- Chronograph Sorcerer x3
- Harmonizing Magician x3
- Mythical Beast Jackal King x2
- Mythical Beast Master Cerberus x3
- Oafdragon Magician
- Purple Poison Magician x2
- Stargazer Magician
- Supreme King Dragon Darkwurm x3
- Supreme King Gate Zero x2
- Timegazer Magician
- Xiangke Magician
YCS London 2017 (1st place)[]
YCS Dallas 2017 (Top 32)[]
YCS Toronto 2017 (3rd place)[]
World Championship 2017 (9-26th place)[]
YCS Toronto 2016 (Top 16)[]
Phantom Knights Burning Abyss (Decklist Unavailable)
WCQ North America 2016 (Top 8)[]
Phantom Knights Burning Abyss (Decklist Unavailable)
YCS Toronto 2015 (3rd place)[]
WCQ North America 2015 (Top 16)[]
Burning Abyss (Decklist Unavailable)
Dragon Duel Tournament Decks[]
YCS Philadelphia 2012 (?th place Saturday / ?th place Sunday)[]
Deck unknown (Decklist Unavailable)
YCS Chicago 2012 (?th place Saturday / ?th place Sunday)[]
Deck unknown (Decklist Unavailable)
YCS Long Beach 2012 (?th place Saturday / 1st place Sunday)[]
Dino Rabbit (Decklist Unavailable)
Master Duel Tournament Decks[]
World Championship 2024 (1st place)[]
- Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise
- Dotscaper
- Duamutef, Blessing of Horus
- Fairy Tail - Snow x2
- Hapi, Guidance of Horus
- Imsety, Glory of Horus x3
- Keldo the Sacred Protector
- Maxx "C" x3
- Mudora the Sword Oracle
- Supreme Sea Mare
- Tearlaments Havnis
- Tearlaments Kashtira
- Tearlaments Reinoheart x3
- Tearlaments Scheiren x2
- Called by the Grave x2
- Card Destruction
- Dark Ruler No More
- Foolish Burial
- Foolish Burial Goods
- Forbidden Droplet x3
- King's Sarcophagus x3
- Left Arm Offering x3
- Primeval Planet Perlereino
- Tearlaments Grief x2
- Tearlaments Scream x3
- That Grass Looks Greener
- Triple Tactics Talent
- Triple Tactics Thrust x3
- Walls of the Imperial Tomb x3
Duelist Cup 2023 DEC (94th place)[]
Note: The Duelist Cup format allows players to change their deck for every single game. Because of this, the following decklist might not have been used in 100% of games:
- Absorouter Dragon
- Black Dragon Collapserpent
- Black Metal Dragon x3
- Bystial Baldrake
- Bystial Druiswurm
- Bystial Magnamhut
- Bystial Saronir x3
- Chaos Dragon Levianeer
- Maxx "C" x3
- Red-Eyes Black Meteor Dragon
- Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon
- Rokket Recharger
- Starliege Seyfert x3
- The Bystial Lubellion x3
- White Dragon Wyverburster
World Championship 2023 (2nd place)[]