ISML 2012: GUNNERS HIGH! AGAIN!

ISML 2012: GUNNERS HIGH! AGAIN!

Mikoto Misaka recaptures Ruby Necklace, C.C. takes Medallion

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
July 20, 2012

Defending International Saimoe League Champion Mikoto Misaka is now the first-ever two-time Ruby Necklace champion.

With 3,984 votes to her credit, Misaka stormed through the Ruby Necklace phase with a score of 66.962, more than 20 points better than runner-up Azusa Nakano, who earned 2,242 votes to finish with a score of 46.569.

Taiga Aisaka was third, earning 2,023 votes for a score of 42.199. Kobato Hasegawa earned just 751 votes to secure a score of 33.286. Fifth-place finisher Inori Yuzuriha earned 1,171 votes for a score of 31.840. Sena Kashiwazaki had the lowest vote total at 680 for a score of 31.137. Mato Kuroi held the rear, garnering 754 votes for a score of 25.329.

"All in a day's work," Misaka said, surrounded by fiancee Touma Kamijou at a victory rally at A Certain High School in Academy City, Japan. "Our team stepped up to the challenge, and our voting power was never in doubt.

"I think there is some continuity between those in the Stella Division. The only two competitors with any muscle are Kanade Tachibana and Ruri Gokou. That's it. After that, it's all me, Azusa, Mio, Taiga, Hinagiku, Yuki, Haruhi, those folks.

"If you think you've seen all this ISML has to offer, you ain't seen nothin' yet!"

There will be no defense of the Ruby Medallion from the Von Einzbern combine. C.C. has made it a sweep for the Stella Division, finishing first with 2,035 votes. Masami Iwasawa was second with 1,734 votes, Irisviel von Einzbern was third with 1,712 votes, Haruna was fourth with 1,591 votes, Konjiki no Yami was fifth with 1,584 votes, Nymph was sixth with 1,484 votes and Kanon Nakagawa was dead last with 1,196 votes.

"Good to know that the Stella Division can still put up a fight against the Nova," C.C. said at the victory rally in Tokyo. "It's always a wonderful thing. Adds competition."

Saki may be all the rage in Japan, but the rest of the world refuses to catch up in all the hoopla, elected to opt for a Fujibayashi sisters sweep.

In the first exhibition, Kyou Fujibayashi won 2,759 votes to finish first. Saki Miyanaga, the flagship character of the show, finished fifth with 994 votes. Kuroko Shirai was second with 2,205 votes, Kagami Hiiragi was third with 2,156 votes, Youmu Konpaku was fourth with 1,509 votes, Ekaterina Kurae was sixth with 805 votes and Eila Ilmatar Juutilainen was last with 767 votes.

In the second exhibition, Ryou Fujibayashi won 2,449 votes to finish first. Koromo Amae, Saki's entry in this was fourth with 1,498 votes. Tsukasa Hiiragi was second with 2,403 votes, Ryouko Asakura was thrid with 1,528 votes, Luciia Konohana was fifth with 1,152 votes, Sanya V. Litvyak was sixth with 1,049 votes and Anju Maaka was last with 656 votes.

Kobato may not have won her necklace match, but she did win her other match, destroying Yuki Yoshida 3,711-2,139. Misuzu Kamio was third with 1,502 votes, Lisanna Strauss was fourth with 1,176 votes, Evangeline A.K. McDowell was fifth with 1,002 votes, Minato Nagase earned 873 votes to finish sixth and Triela was dead last with 487 votes.

Wrapping up the exhibitions, Sen Yarizui defeated Yomi Isayama 4,572-4,478, Yuuko Shionji hammered Alice 5,244-4,029, Isumi Saginomiya prevailed over Ika-Musume 4,909-4,873, and Kuroyukihime and CHiyuri Kurashima teamed up to crush Nyarlathotep and Cthugha 5,668-4,656.

Match Day 1 of the 2012 International Saimoe League Emerald Necklace Phase is scheduled for Sunday, July 29, 2012. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

Also, keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue and bongaboi.deviantart.com for continuing coverage of the 2012 International Saimoe League!

TOP 16, Nova Division

1. Kanade Tachibana (AQ)

2. Eucliwood Hellscythe

3. Ruri Gokou (AM)

4. Yuri Nakamura

5. Yui

6. Kirino Kousaka

7. Sena Kashiwazaki

8. Kobato Hasegawa

9. Charlotte Dunois

10. Aria Holmes Kanzaki 

11. Mato Kuroi

12. Inori Yuzuriha

13. Erio Touwa

14. Victorique De Blois

15. Haruna

16. Yozora MIkazuki

TOP 16, Stella Division

1. Taiga Aisaka

2. Mikoto Misaka (C) (RUB)

3. Shana 

4. Saber

5. Yuki Nagato

6. Azusa Nakano

7. Mio Akiyama

8. Haruhi Suzumiya

9. Hinagiku Katsura

10. Nadeko Sengoku

11. Hitagi Senjougahara

12. Yui Hirasawa

13. Shinobu Oshino

14. Rin Tosaka

15. Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere

16. Illyasviel von Einzbern