In the anime Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yugi is recognized as a master duelist due to his unwavering commitment to the game and the deep bond he developed with his deck from a young age, nurtured by his grandfather’s teachings about the Heart of Cards.

Additionally, Yugi is influenced by Yami Yugi, the spirit of an ancient pharaoh who controls Yugi’s abilities during duels. This combination of factors allows Yugi to often gain the upper hand against his opponents, but there was a moment when he faced a formidable opponent who almost employed a strategy that left even Yugi unable to counter.
In the Pegasus Duel Monsters tournament held on an island known as Duelist Kingdom in Yu-Gi-Oh! Season 7, Yugi is challenged by a duelist named Mako, an expert in aquatic strategies who utilizes the environment to his advantage.
When the duel takes place near the ocean, Mako benefits from field enhancements due to the aquatic setting. His deck is particularly strong due to the water monsters he summons, which can become nearly unassailable when hidden beneath the waves. As such, Yugi had to contend with Mako and the submerged monsters in this intense duel.

During this duel with Mako, Yugi faced various daunting challenges right from the beginning. Yugi was unaware that Mako was using submerged monsters to battle, as they emerged from under the water at the very start of the match. Even when using a powerful spell card, Mako’s aquatic monsters quickly dealt damage when they launched an attack, significantly reducing Yugi’s life points. This caused Yugi to start facing difficulties.
However, Yugi’s quick thinking and skills allowed him to rise as the greatest duelist, and he turned the tide of the battle throughout the duel.
Nevertheless, it’s important to acknowledge that Mako utilized a highly effective strategy in his duel with Yugi in Yu-Gi-Oh!. He knew how to leverage the ocean terrain to enhance his advantage and win the duel with his aquatic deck. This also allowed the monsters in his water-themed deck to withstand a lot of damage while not suffering significantly in terms of life points.
Although Yugi managed to turn the situation around to become the victor, it’s noteworthy that Mako developed a strategy that could make Yugi himself struggle to overcome it.