By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
March 9, 2011
Mio Akiyama, Shana, Haruhi Suzumiya and Mikoto Misaka are looking like locks to wrap up their respective groups in Phase I of the 2011 International Saimoe League Preliminaries.
Akiyama blasted Itsuwa and Nodoka Haramura with 6,291 votes. Shan torched Shiki Ryogi and Yuno with 6,128 votes. Misaka routed Misaki Ayuzawa and Chrome Dokuro with 5,975 votes.
None of that could match Suzumiya's outing, though. One of the most recognized faces on the Saimoe circuits, Suzumiya destroyed Ai Haibara and Ran Mouri with a whopping 6,960 votes.
In other Group 1 action, Merry Nightmare edged Saeko Busujima 3,661-3,058 while leaving Nanako Yamamoto in the dust. Also in Group 1, Elucia de Lute Irma pulled off her most defining victory thus far, a 3,526-3,514 thriller over Asami Iwasawa. Tsukasa Ayatsuji finished a distant third.
In Group 2, Last Order prevailed over Ikaros 3,733-3,372 whole Isumi Saginomiya finished third. Ritsu Tainaka roughhoused Erika Sendou and Yuuno Arashiko with 4,023 votes.
Group 3 action saw Ruiko Saten triumph over Mizuki Himeji 3,500-3,277 while Erza Scarlet finished dead last. Houki Shinonono took down Ayase Aragaki 3,450-3,346 while Hayate Yagami got the short end of the stick.
Azusa Nakano pulled out a statement win over a formidable opponent from the Infinite Stratos school, Charlotte Dunois, 4,534-3,665, while Izumi Segawa barely got over 800 votes. Nymph cruised past Ami Kawashima and Koromo Amae with 3,878 votes and Nanoha Takamachi busted Suigintou and Shinku in one fell swoop with 3,551 votes.
Down over in Group 5, Kurimi Sakurano was all business against Shiori Shiomiya and Celty Sturluson with 3,695 votes. Hinagiku Katsura pounded Nozomi Kiriya and Touko Amano with 4,924 votes and Ika-Musume grounded Shinobu Oshino and Utau Hoshina with 3,640 votes.
Taiga Aisaka showed why she is a lock to win Group 6. Aisaka flexed her muscles against Konjiki no Yami and Akira Amatsume with 5,046 votes. Also in Group 6, Ui Hirasawa dusted off Tsukasa Hiiragi and Ai Nanasaki with 3,674 votes while Huang Lingyin prevailed over Kuroko Shirai 3,614-3,232 as Kobato Hanato finished third.
Yuki Nagato may be returning for a fourth straight ISML. The right-hand computer girl of Haruhi dismantled Minori Kushieda and Misuzu Kamio with 5,841 votes. Sora Kasugano edged Shouko Kirishima 3,333-3,019 while Fumino Serizawa ended up in third. Illyasviel von Einzbern raised hell on Sawako Kuronuma and Ai Enma with 4,405 votes.
In other Group 8 action, Yuri Nakamura trounced Maria and Mahiru Inami with 5,480 votes and Index Prohibitorum made a statement in her 3,869-3,687 victory over Mato Kuroi. Lucy Heartfilia finished last.
The action rolls on with Match Day 6 of the 2011 International Saimoe League Preliminaries, scheduled for Thursday, March 10, 2011. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.
