ISML 2011: Ruri Gokou wins Sapphire!

ISML 2011: Ruri Gokou wins Sapphire!
Shana wins necklace round, Shiori Shiomiya takes Amulet

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
July 22, 2011

Ruri Gokou pumped her fists and gave her fiancee Kyousuke Kousaka a hug and a kiss as she found out that she won the 2011 International Saimoe League Sapphire necklace, finishing second in the necklace round with 2,707 votes and first in the calculation with a score of 12.906.

"Usually my victories come while playing the video games that I take part in online and offline," said Gokou," who is known to her confidantes and fans as the "Kuroneko." "But to win a necklace in the International Saimoe League is a different experience. For me, it's refreshing to know that I will not leave this tournament empty-handed."

"My hat—or rather, my cat ears—go out to all the fans that supported me so far this season. I look forward to their support in the coming months ahead as I prepare for big prize that all 50 of us are aiming for: the Tiara. I also want to thank Kyousuke-niisan. Without him, none of this would have been possible."

"Hey, don't forget me!" added Kirino Kousaka at the press conference, to the laughter of everyone else, including Kyousuke.

"Yes, thank you also, Kirino," Ruri added.

"I know that at the US Naval Academy, they have this saying which says, 'Don't Give Up The Ship,'" said Shana, who scored 2,767 votes and finished third in the standings with a 11.993 calculation. "Well, I have a new saying: Don't Give Up The Shax." The crowd at the rally roared in approval. "Thank you, fans. We're going to ride this wave as far as we can."

Nakano finished the Necklace Round with 2,637 votes and was second in the calculation with a score of 12.573. After recording 1.814 votes, Hinagiku Katsura finished fourth in the calculation with a scored of 8.256.

Victorique de Blois was fifth in the standings with 1,1336 votes and finished sixth in the overall calculation with a score of 4.633. Haruhi Suzumiya, an enduring face in the ISML, earned 1,317 votes to finish sixth in the match and was fifth in the overall calculation with a score of 5.423.

Taiga Aisaka held up the rear. She was last in the necklace match with 1.265 votes and only managed a score of 4.386.

Shiori Shiomiya is sure to hold her own in the 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament this year after defeated Mami Tomoe 3,104-3,003 to win the Sapphire Amulet. Rei Ayanami finished third with 2,806 votes. Chii earned 1,854 votes to finish fourth, Ai Enma won 1,426 votes to finish fifth, Aruruu had 1,027 votes to end sixth, and Elis osen scored a paltry 623 votes to finish dead last.

Three other exhibitions also took place.

Kanon Nakagawa blasted everyone in her wake to win the first exhibition, with a staggering 5,497 points. Kobato Hanato was second with 2,995 votes, Utau Hoshina was third with 2,084 votes, Lunar Edomae was fourth with 1,134 votes, Rina Ogata was fifth with 891 votes, Lynn Minmay was sixth with 667 votes and Athena Glory was last with 575 votes.

In an all-teacher showdown, Komoe Tsukuyomi defeated Sawako Yamanaka 4622-3621. Nanako Kuroi was third with 2,284 votes, Yukiji Katsura was fourth with 1,139 votes, Rebecca Miyamoto was fifth with 858 votes, Taiga Fujimura was sixth with 811 votes and Yukari Tanizaki was a distant seventh with 508 votes.

Sakuya Izayoi routed Wilhelmina Carmel 5,287-3,826 in the third exhibition, a butler brouhaha. Shannon was third with 1,480 votes, Kohaku was fourth with 1,341 votes, Maylene was fifth with 919 votes, Hazuki Sakurazaka was sixth with 634 votes and Roberta was last with a pitiful 356 votes.

That makes fourth necklace periods down...three more to down. Shana is also the defending International Saimoe League Emerald Necklace champion and still has a chance to be the second contestant to defend her necklace. However, after the regular season upset by Azusa Nakano, Azusa may go into the 2011 edition of the ISML Emerald as the candidate to beat.

Match Day 1 of the Emerald is scheduled for Sunday, July 31, 2011. Vote for your favorite candidate at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And as always, keep up to date on continuing coverage of the International Saimoe League on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue and bongaboi.deviantart.com.

2011 INTERNATIONAL SAIMOE LEAGUE
Top 16 after Sapphire Necklace Phase
As of July 22, 2011

1. Mikoto Misaka (AQ)
2. Kanade Tachibana (TOP)
3. Azusa Nakano
4. Yuki Nagato (AM)
5. Shana
6. Ruri Gokou (SAP)
7. Eucliwood Hellscythe
8. Mio Akiyama (C)
9. Taiga Aisaka
10. Hinagiku Katsura
11. Yui
12. Charlott Dunois
13. Yuri Nakamura
14. Haruhi Suzumiya
15. Saber
16. Nadeko Sengoku

KEY:
AM = ISML Aquamarine Necklace Champion
TOP = ISML Topaz Necklace Champion
AM = ISML Amethyst Necklace Champion
SAP = ISML Saaphire Necklace Champion
EM = ISML Emerald Necklace Champion
RUB = ISML Ruby Necklace Champion
DIA = ISML Diamond Necklace Champion
C = Defending International Saimoe League Champion