ISML 2012: Stage is set for Super Thursday

ISML 2012: Stage is set for Super Thursday


By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
April 11, 2012

It is official: 64 candidates have made it to Super Thursday, the final day of the 2012 International Saimoe League preliminaries. But only 32 can advance to the regular season. On Friday, everything will be revealed. In the meantime, the remaining bracket finals have been determined.

Elucia De Lute Irma and Kirika Ueno will fight for a spot in the Big Dance. De Lute Irma crushed Haruka Amami 4300-1360 while Ueno edged Dalian 2673-2575. Asami Iwasawa comes into the Nova Bracket J final as the favorite against Kyouko Toshinou. Iwasawa blew past Mahiru Inami 4516-1453 and Toshinou dismissed Mayuri Shiina 2867-2676.

Ohana Matsumae and Riko Mine are set for a tilt in Nova Bracket K. Matsumae destroyed Aoi Yamada 3296-2194 while Mine shot down Yune 3875-1578. Haruna will look to return to the regular season out of Nova Bracket L but will need to face off against Misaki Ayuzawa first. Haruna ran past Astarotte Ygvar 4163-1326 while Ayuzawa dusted off Sana Inui 3109-2287.

A battle of ISML veterans will settle the score for a spot in the field of 72 out of Nova Bracket M. Ayase Aragaki drilled Minene Uryuu 4233-1638 while Houki Shinonono defeated Wendy Marvell 3211-2377. Kanade Suzutsuki is the favorit to win Nova Bracket N against Yuuko Shionji. Suzutsuki whipped past Miki Hoshii 3717-1683 while Shionji outdueled Sayaka Miki 3442-2237.

Minami Shimada and Mami Tomoe are set to battle on Thursday in Nova Bracket O. Shimada crushed Naruko Anjou 3771-1934 while Tomoe laid a Tiro Finale on Ai Nanasaki 3303-2358. Meiko Honma and Ayase Shinomiya are set for a very interesting final from Nova Bracket P. Honma drubbed Akari Akaza 3407-2199 while Shinomiya rolled past Rin Kaga 3478-1982.

Konata Izumi is the prohibitive favorite out of Stella Bracket I. After curbstomping Utau Hoshina 4052-1567, she should have no trouble against Lala Satalin Deviluke, who struggled in her 2840-2763 victory over Tsubasa Hanekawa. Isumi Saginomiya faces long odds to beat Stella Bracket J favorite Kyou Fujibayashi. Saginomiya edged Erza Scarlet 3030-2493 but Fujibayashi laid the book on Ruki Kuchiki 4373-1421.

Another face from CLANNAD, Nagisa Furukawa, is the surprise favorite against fading star Nanoha Takamachi. Furukawa leveled Ai Haibara 4357-1382 while Takamachi laid the Starlight Breaker on Asuka Langley Soryuu 3222-2182. Tsukasa Hiiragi and Tsumugi Kotobuki will fight for a spot in the regular season out of Stella Bracket L. Hiiragi dusted off Ayu Tsukimiya 3395-2177 while Kotobuki defeated Kallen Kozuki Stadtfeld 3967-1942.

Nymph is the favorite out of Stella Bracket M after blasting AMi HInamori 3776-3151. She will face Yui Kotegawa, who defeated Chii 3151-2341. Ui Hirasawa is the prohibitive favorite to advance out of Stella Bracket N over Minori Kushieda. Hirasawa rocked Kagura 4204-1640 while Kushieda outraced Kazari Uiharu 3606-2117.

A tense battle in Stella Bracket O will emerge between Ushio Okazaki and Hecate. Okazaki prevailed over Alice 3306-2257 while Hecate stomped KObato Hanato 3568-1970. One of the more closer Stella Bracket finals will be in Stella P, between Kotomi Ichinose and Ritsu Tainaka. Ichinose drilled Yomi Isayama 3586-2039 while Tainaka banged past Suiseiseki 3596-2182.

The stage is now set for Super Thursday: Day 17 of the 2012 International Saimoe Preliminaries and Day 3 of Phase III, scheduled for April 12, 2012. Vote for you favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.