The masked Shadow Duelist has been revealed.
During the Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel livestream tournament last August 29, singer Zayn Malik was unveiled as the mysterious Shadow Duelist named Nocturne.
The mysterious celebrity, who has been spotted using a voice changer and donning a spooky mask in the promotional material, has been teased by the free-to-play digital card game all month. The tournament’s victor will be receiving a signed mask as their prize.
Following the announcement of Fictinium as the winner, Malik took his mask off and shared his love for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise, which includes its anime and games. “Yeah, I’m a big, big, Yu-Gi-Oh! fan. I’ve been into Yu-Gi-Oh! for a long time, since I was a small kid, so it’s an honor to be here, to do this, and it was very exciting,” he stated. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a few weeks.”
Although the singer did not compete within the competition, he instead oversaw the event and gave his commentary on the four final competitors’ performance together with the hosts. The former member of One Direction wore his Nocturne mask, gloves, and a voice changer to hide his identity.
Social media users expressed their shock upon knowing that the singer was the one behind the Nocturne mask on social media.
no fucking way zayn malik was in a yu gi oh tournament as a masked celebrity duelist??? called nocturne??? thats my fuckin GUY pic.twitter.com/gddsqyCc6j
— Blunt Skuncher, Pope of Peppers (@gideoncoal) September 3, 2024
Zayn Malik being a yu-gi-oh player is truly the plot twist of the year
— nick🌾🌳🌴🥥 (@nickypoo_MO) August 31, 2024
Zayn Malik being a yu-gi-oh player is truly the plot twist of the year
— nick🌾🌳🌴🥥 (@nickypoo_MO) August 31, 2024
ZAYN MALIK PLAYS YU GI OH AND EVEN GOT ON THE MASTER DUEL LIVE STREAM WHAT
— 🔞Luce Blackburn 💜✨「VTuber」 (@LuceBlackburnVT) September 4, 2024
Apparently Zayn Malik is a Yu-Gi-Oh guy now. Idk how hot he is if he snake eyes full combos me at this YCS I'm flipping the damn table
— Is It A Crime? That I Still Want You (@LaddiosMoney) September 3, 2024
I need to sit down to process this. Imma cry..
Zayn Malik THE Zayn Malik, my favorite one direction member was announced as the shadow duelist for the next Yu-Gi-Oh event!? This man plays Yu Gi Oh!!! fuck me I’m fangirling.
Zayn Malik .. and Yu Gi Oh.. this can’t be real life pic.twitter.com/w5NCbpaKB3
— Anthony (@AXJ_4) September 2, 2024
ZAYN???? YU GI OH???? HELLO???? I MISSED A CHAPTER?????
— Shauna bear (@Zeptorg) August 31, 2024
WAIT HUHHHH ZAYN MALIK??? YU GI OH????? 👁️👄👁️
— Damienne Devin 🌙☁️ PNGtuber (@Damienne_Devin) August 31, 2024
Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel has been dropping a bunch of hints about Malik’s identity over the last month online, with some of their posts describing him as “clocked in shadow and draped in melody” and noting that he “was part of a celebrated brotherhood of troubadours” before going solo.
During the stream, he also teased that he will be releasing new music soon. “I have some interesting stuff coming out with my music pretty soon, some pretty big announcements coming up, so if you’re interested in my music at all, I’ve got some cool news coming pretty soon.”
Back in May, the singer released his fourth solo album, Room Under the Stairs, and signed a new recording contract with Mercury Records last summer.
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