By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
March 2, 2011
Four newcomers to the International Saimoe League took one big step towards qualifying for the 2011 ISML regular season.
Kanade Tachibana, known as Tenshi, had a big first outing, breaking the spread and destroyinbg Kanon Nakagawa and Manami Tamura with 6,009 votes in Group 16. Ruri Gokou, the Kuroneko, is slated to be a favorite to win Group 15 after an impressive annihilation of Amu Hinamori and Yuuki Kataoka with 5,417 votes.
Kirino Kousaka may be on track for a statement win over fellow Group 13 winners Kyou Fujibayashi and Fate Testarossa with a decisive decision over Hecate and Anri Sonohara with 5,155 votes. Eucliwood Hellscythe, another candidate that has gained steam as of late, crushed Sakura Kinomoto and Ayumu Nishizawa with 5,185 votes.
In Group 9, Mikuru Asahina took out Ushio Okazaki and Poplar Taneshima with 4,069 votes. Victorique de Blois prevailed over Kotomi Ichinose and Laura Bodewig with 3,525 votes, while Yui Hirasawa emerges as a favorite to win the group with 4,701 votes.
Fellow Houkago Tea Time member Tsumugi Kotobuki defeated Rose and Yin with 4,026 votes. Konata Izumi edged Astraea and Mikan Yuuhi with 3,568 votes. Nagi Sanzen'in may be on track to win Group 10 after dusting off Haruka Morishima and Alice with 4,141 votes, but this race should be a close one.
Other winners in Group 11 include Tomoyo Sakagami, who defeated Komoe Tsukuyomi and Tsurara Oikawa with 4,329 votes, and the ever-celebrated C.C., who picked up from where she left off with a victory over Rika Furude and Yui Kotegawa with 3,888 votes.
Yui from Angel Beats! (the other Yui, not the one from K-ON!; yes there is another) could be in a tight race with ISML veteran Saber for Group 12 honors. Yui prevailed over Holo and Hanyuu Furude with 4,361 votes. Saber took out Seraphim and Stocking in a battle of the S's with 4,203 votes. Haruna won her match over Homura Akemi and Chizuru Akaba with 3,455 votes.
In Group 13, Testarossa easily trounced Madoka Kaname and Nessa with 4,607 votes, while Fujibayashi was all business over Mami Tomoe and Kaori Kanzaki with 3,923 votes.
Kagami Hiiragi, a true ISML fixture, may be on her way back to the field of 50. In Group 14, she defeated two Shiinas: the Shiina from Angel Beats! and Minatsu Shiina of Seitokai no Ichizon with 3,510 votes. Nagisa Furukawa held off Louise Francoise de Blanc de La Valliere and Azusa Langley Soryu with 3,433 votes. Suiseiseki is hoping for an outside shot at bring glory to the Rozen Maiden Alice Dolls, who may be on the way out. She defeated Rena Ryuuguu and Aoi Yamada with 2,931 votes.
Other winners in Group 15 include Mafuyu Shiina, who defeated Fuuko Ibuki and Rei Ayanami with 3,268 votes, and Hitagi Senjougahara, who took down Ryouko Ookami and Souseiseki with 4,701 votes.
Nadeko Sengoku and Rin Tosaka may have to concede the Group 16 race to Tachibana, but they did pick up victories. Sengoku took out Cecilia Alcott and Nino with 4,522 votes and Tosaka cruised past Mio Isurugi and Shino Amakusa with 3,724 votes.
Preliminary Round action in the 2011 International Saimoe League continues with Day 3, and Match Day 3 of Phase I. Voting begins at 3:00 p.m. GMT on Thursday, Mar. 3. Vote for your favorite candidates online at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.'
