ISML 2013: The Preliminaries Go On

ISML 2013: The Preliminaries Go On

By JR Salazar
February 6, 2013

Match Day 2 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Preliminaries concluded, and six more candidates were sent home packing in the Stella Division. Meanwhile, another six candidates in the Nova Division were relegated to the second phase of preliminary action.

Notable faces that could be returning to the ISML from Stella Group 1 include defending champion Kanade Tachibana, Tomoyo Sakagami and Haruna. Tachibana, a.k.a. "Tenshi," garnered 6794 votes, Sakagami earned 3581 votes and Haruna won 2809 votes. Still alive but may be on the outside looking in are Minori Kushieda with 2270 votes, Fate Testarossa with 2153 votes and Anya Alstreim with 1269 votes. Sakura Matou is eliminated from the tournament with just 1246 votes.

Eucliwood Hellscythe was the runner-up last year and is looking to return to glory this year, as are Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere—the face of Zero no Tsukaima—and Illyasviel von Einzbern. In Stella Group 2, Hellscythe got 5782 votes, De La Valliere got 3563 votes and von Einzbern secured 3009 votes. Still alive but with an outside oppotunity are Ami Kawashima with 2247 votes, Mafuyu Shiina with 2223 votes and Mei Sunohara with 2032 votes. Hayate Yagami is eliminated from the tournament after managing just 1037 votes.

Another face in the Stella Division to watch out for is the Kuroneko, Ruri Gokou, who topped Stella Group 3 with 5487 votes. Also with noteworthy results are Rin Toksaka with 3598 votes and Mikuru Asahina with 3006 votes. On the outside looking in but still alive are Kuroko Shirai with 2879 votes, Ryou Fujibayashi with 2181 votes and Rika Furude with 1705 votes. Chiaki Minami is eliminated from the ISML after scoring just 1316 votes.

The face of Toradora, Taiga Aisaka, is a lock for returning to the show, as are Victorique de Blois and Kyou Fujibayashi. In Stella Group 4, Aisaka scored 5562 votes, de Blois got 3500 votes and Fujibayashi got 3169 votes. Still in the hunt but on the outside looking in are Ui Hirasawa with 3143 votes, Tsukasa Hiiragi with 2103 votes and Kyon no Imouto with 1339 votes. Hanyuu Furude is out of the competition after scoring just 1297 votes.

A proven winner of this competition, Mio Akiyama flexed her muscles in leading Stella Group 5 with 5032 votes. Mato Kuroi, the Black Rock Shooter, may have been a dud in Japan, but the world's voters elect to go in a different direction, giving her the benefit of the doubt with 4207 votes. Also with a good chance to return to yet another ISML is Holo with 3518 votes. On the outside looking in are Last Order with 3173 votes, Fuuko Ibuki with 2304 votes and Sakura with 1229 votes. Evangeline A.K. McDowell scored a paltry 901 votes and exits the competition...with a pittance.

Mikoto Misaka is another former champion, and with a new season of To Aru Kagaku No Railgun in the works, she's looking to make her impression felt. Misaka got 5645 votes to lead Stella Group 6. Other possible returning faces to the show are Hokago Tea Time swingwoman Yui Hirasawa with 4409 votes and Lucky Star bookend Konata Izumi with 3105 votes. Possibly on the outside looking in are Sora Kasugano with 2886 votes, Maria with 1794 votes and Ayu Tsukimiya with 1391 votes. Tsuruya only secured 1027 votes and is out.

In Nova Group 7, Yozora Mikazuki is making a point that Haganai's run to glory is just getting started with 4142 votes. Tsukihi Araragi was second with 3332 votes, Neko was third with 3157 votes, Hanbee Takenaka was fourth with 2432 votes, Rias Gremory was fifth with 2357 votes, Iori Nagase was sixth with 2119 votes, and Miho Nishizumi only got 1472 votes, meaning she will be relegated to the second phase of Nova prelims.

In Nova Group 8, Yui of Sword Art Online will look to make it three Yuis in the ISML. She got 4836 votes to top the group. Kurisu Makise got 3337 votes to finish second, Homura Akemi got 3058 votes to finish third, Anna Kushima got 2881 votes to finish fourth, Shiori Shiomiya got 2249 votes to finish fifth, Irisviel von Einzbern got 1941 votes to finish sixth and Mio Nishizono got 1769 votes to finish last and becomd related to the second phase of preliminaries.

In a tight race in Nova Group 9, Meiko Honma edged Ririchiyo Shirakiin 3459-3454. Both competitions look to be locks to qualify from the Novan. Rea Sanko got 2957 votes to finish third, Elucia De Lute Ima got 2907 votes finish fourth, Ritsu Tainaka got 2893 votes to finish fifth, Akiko Himenokouji got 2054 votes to finish sixth, and Morgiana got 2029 votes to hold up the rear and become relegated to the second phase.

Kuroyukihime looks to be a lock to qualify through the Nova, as she led Nova Group 10 with 5907 votes. Keiko Ayano was second with 3827 votes, Subaru Konoe was third with 2577 votes, Tenri Ayukawa was fourth with 2292 votes, Haruka Saigusa was fifth with 2027 votes, Riko Mine was sixth with 1778 votes and holding up the rear was Ran Mouri, who had just 1274 votes and will be relegated to the second phase of premininaries.

Rikka Takanashi may as well be a lock, coming out of Nova Group 11 with a staggering 6351 votes. Karen Araragi was second with 3561 votes, Haqua du Lot Herminium was third with 2896 votes, Tsumiki Miniwa was fourth with 2506 votes, Mayaka Ibara was fifth with 1784 votes, Yuuko Kanoe was sixth with 1293 votes and Medaka Kurokami was last with 1170 votes and will be relegated to the second phase of Nova Preliminaries.

Asuna Yuuki is another contestant from the Nova Division you can pencil in as a lock. She had 5857 votes to lead Nova Group 12. Nyarlathotep got 3269 votes to finish second, Momo Beila Deviluke got 3073 votes to finish third, Shouko Kirishima got 2638 votes to finish fourth, Yuiko Kurugaya got 2352 votes to finish fifth, 2channel Anime Saimoe Tournament champion Toki Onjouji got 1273 votes to finish sixth and Erica Blandelli got 1075 votes to finish last and become relegated to the second phase of Nova Preliminaries.

The first six candidates from the Stella Division will punch their tickets on Match Day 3 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Preliminaries, scheduled for February 7, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.