Oh! anime features a massive cast of characters, and there are always stand-out duelists who don't get enough spotlight.
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is infamous for how much filler it includes, but it's worth getting through for the absolutely essential episodes.
But jumping into Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards really took me back. At the beginning of the game, you’re asked to put in your name. It didn’t occur to me to think anything of it, so I typed mine in.