ISML 2012: Eu lives up to hype, wins Emerald

ISML 2012: Eu lives up to hype, wins Emerald
Sora Kasugano takes the Anklet

By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
August 17, 2012

Eucliwood Hellscythe was picked as a even-money favorite by the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue to win the Emerald Necklace, and she lived up to the hype, winning 1,987 votes for a necklace calculation of 50.508.

It was a disappointing performance for Mio Akiyama, who was fourth in the round with 1,601 votes to finish with a scored of 46.009. Azusa Nakano was third, finishing even further behind in the necklace match with a fifth-place tally of 1,476 votes and a score of 44.373.

Haruhi Suzumiya was fourth in the calculation with a score of 39.544 after earning 1,668 votes and a second-place finish in the match. Shana is not living up to the hype this year, as she ended up fifth in the calculation with a score of 38.893 after finishing third in the match with 1,637 votes. Inori Yuzuriha was sixth in the calculation with a score of 29.749 after finishing sixth in the necklace match with 969 votes. Yuri Nakamura may not be getting a necklace this year. Not only did she finish last in the calculation with a score of 28.851, she only garnered a paltry 701 votes.

"They say that good things come to those who wait," Hellscythe said at a press conference in Tokyo, surrounded by Seraphim, fellow ISML contestant Haruna, Taeko Hiramatsu, Sarasvati and Yuki Yoshida. "This is a long time coming, but I am proud to say that the wait is over.

"I would like to thank the fans, Ayumu, Haruna, Sera, Yuki, Serasvati and all of the people I have met. You all are wonderful people, and I dedicate this Emerald Necklace to you."

Sora Kasugano is arguably the most controversial figure in the ISML field. The Chinese vote was responsible for pushing Sora over the top to garner the Emerald Anklet, scoring 1,681 votes. Elucia de Lute Ima was second, with 1,455 votes, Ayase Aragaki was third with 1,427 votes, Kotomi Ichinose was fourth with 1,368 votes, Ui Hirasawa was fifth with 1,336 votes, Kuroko Shirai was sixth with 1,298 votes and Kyouko Sakura was dead last with 1,237 votes.

"I don't like China as a country, but their people are very nice and supportive," Kasugano said at a press conference in Osaka, surrounded by her husband/brother, Haruka. "For me, this is probably the only thing I will win this year.

"After this, I have nothing to lose."

Three other group exhibitions also took place. In the first group exhibition, Yui rocked the whole field, defeating Hitagi Senjougahara 2,723-2,433. Kyou Fujibayashi was third with 1,700 votes, Fate Testarossa was fourth with 1,265 votes, Kagome Higurashi was fifth with 648 votes, Nia Teppelin was sixth with 487 votes and Chihaya Kisaragi was last with 459 votes.

The day Touhou Project finally gets its own TV anime is the day John Paul II gets canonized. Until then, heavyweights like Patchouli Knowledge will have to hold the fort. Knowledge won her exhibition, defeated Chromo Dokuro 2,294-1,681. Lacus Cyne was third with 1,465 votes, Chifuyu Orimura was fourth with 1,331 votes, Yuri Koigakubo was fifth with 1,088 votes, Elis Hosen was sixth with 578 votes and Lindy Harlaown was last with 532 votes.

In the third group exhibition, Karen Araragi flew the flag proud for Bakemonogatari, trouncing Chihiro Shindou 3,519-1820. Euphemia Li Brittania was third with 1,656 votes, Haruka Amami was fourth with 1,054 votes, Yomiko Readman was fifth with 291 votes, Athena Glory was sixth with 237 votes and Sora Kajiwara was dead last with only 148 votes.

In the closest match of the night, it was marathon between two hot heads, but Houki Shinonono won a 4,078-4,068 thriller over Kaori Kanzaki. Sakura Kinomoto's relevance in Saimoe is still strong, as one of the veterans of the ISML schooled Madoka kaname 4552-4090. Ohana Matsumae had no troubles against the establishment in her 4,266-3,957 victory over Maria, and in a battle of new faces and perhaps future ISML contestants, the Tari Tari pair of Konatsu Miyamoto and Sawa Okita defeated Kokoro Connect's Yui Kiriyama and Iori Nagase 3,946-3,814.

Match Day 1 of the final International Saimoe League Necklace  phase, the Topaz, is scheduled for Sunday, August 26, 2012. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.org and join the ongoing debate.

And keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue and bongaboi.deviantart.com for continuing coverage of the world's premier anime character competion, the International Saimoe League!

TOP 16, Nova Division

1. Kanade Tachibana (AQ)

2. Eucliwood Hellscythe (EM)

3. Ruri Gokou (AM)

4. Yuri Nakamura

5. Yui

6. Kirino Kousaka

7. Sena Kashiwazaki

8. Kobato Hasegawa

9. Inori Yuzuriha

10. Charlotte Dunois

11. Mato Kuroi

12. Erio Touwa

13. Victorique De Blois

14. Aria Holmes Kanzaki

15. Haruna

16. Yozora Mikazuki

TOP 16, Stella Division

1. Mikoto Misaka (C) (RUB)

2. Taiga Aisaka

3. Shana 

4. Azusa Nakano

5. Yuki Nagato

6. Mio Akiyama

7. Saber

8. Haruhi Suzumiya

9. Hinagiku Katsura

10. Hitagi Senjougahara

11. Nadeko Sengoku

12. Yui Hirasawa

13. Shinobu Oshino

14. Rin Tosaka

15. Illyasviel von Einzbern

16. Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere