By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
March 4, 2011
The race to garner the first 16 slots in the 2011 International Saimoe League is whittling down, and a few new faces are posting big victories. However, the usual suspects prevailed in the third day of Preliminary action, the most notable being defending champion Mio Akiyama, Mikoto Misaka, Azusa Nakano, Yuki Nagato and Haruhi Suzumiya.
Saeko Busujima and Tsukasa Ayatsuji were left out to dry in their Group 1 contest against the Dangerous Queen, who garnered 5,291 votes. Misaka, known far and wide as the world-famous Railgun, derailed Isumi Saginomiya and Erika Sendou with 5,243 votes in Group 2 play. Nakano, the 2011 Anime Saimoe Tournament champion, clobbered Nanoha Takamachi and Ami Kawashima with 4,910 votes in Group 4. Nagato roasted Shouko Kirishima and Illyasviel von Einzbern with 4,735 votes.
Suzumiya was in the biggest fight of her ISML career against Yuri Nakamura but defied all odds and won, 3863-3641. While the defeat knocks Nakamura out of contention for qualification through Phase I, the close defeat makes her a favorite to qualify via Phase II.
In other Group 1 action, Asami Iwasawa outplayed Merry Nightmare and Nodoka Haramura with 3,632 votes, and Elucia de Lute Irma put herself as a possible Phase II threat, defeating Itsuwa and Nanako Yamamoto with 3,997 votes.
In Group 2, Ikaros, one of the franchise characters from Sora no Otoshimono along with Nymph and Astraea, trounced Yuuno Arashiko and Chrome Dokuro with 3,942 votes. Last Order may be on the outside looking in, but she pulled off an impressive victory over Ritsu Tainaka and MIsaki Ayuzawa with 3,496 votes.
Shana never missed a beat in Group 3 action, torching Ayase Aragaki and Erza Scarlet with 4,520 votes. Houki Shinomono took out Mizuki Himeji and Shiki Ryougi with 3,018 votes, while Ruiko Saten made turkey stuffing out of Hayate Yagami and Yuno with 4,072 votes.
Charlotte Dunois probably won't watch Azusa Nakano for a place in the ISML at this point, but somewhere down the road she might secure a berth. In group 4he defeated Nymph and Shinku with 3,475 votes. In one of the closest matches to ever grace the preliminaries, Suigintou edged Izumi Segawa 2,691-2,607, while Koromo Amae finished a distant third.
Shiori Shiomiya scored an impressive victory over Shinobu Oshino and Touko Amano in Group 5 with 2,991 votes. Ika-Musume edged Nozomi Kiriya 3,108-3,086 while Celty Sturluson finished a distant third. Hinagiku Katsura may be on track to win the Group, winning 4,553 votes en route to a rout of Kurimu Sakurano and Utau Hoshina.
Taiga Aisaka roared her way to a victory over Kuroko Shirai and Tsukasa Hiiragi with 4,363 voted in Group 6. Huang Lingyin powered her way to a win over Ai Nanasaki and Akira Amatsume with 3,529 votes. Ui Hirasawa cruised past Konjiki no Yami and Kobato Hanato with 3,326 votes.
In other Group 7 action, Sora Kasugano steamrolled Minori Kushieda and Ai Enma with 3,502 votes. Fumino Serizawa dusted off Sawako Kuronoma and Misuzu Kamio with 3,010 votes.
Finally, Group 8 action saw Mato Kuroi and Index Prohibitorum tally huge victories. Kuroi rolled past Mari and Ran Mouri with 4,028 votes, while Prohibitorum torched Ai Haibara and Mahiru Inami with 4,796 votes.
The action in the preliminaries continues with Match Day 4, scheduled for Sunday, Mar. 6. Vote for your favorite candidates at internationalsaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
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