ISML 2018: Kotori Shocks Kanade In A Round Of Upsets

ISML 2018: Kotori Shocks Kanade In A Round Of Upsets

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
July 20, 2018

Anyone who says that Kanade Tachibana still has relevance in the International Saimoe League probably did not tell Kotori Itsuka the news. In one of the biggest upsets of the season, and a massive contender for Upset of the Year despite this being an exhibition, Itsuka won in a landslide 7875-4324 win that is sure to signal a sea change in the Saimoe landscape and eliminates Tenshi as a threat to challenge for the role of Saimoe Leader of the Free World, held by incumbent Mikoto Misaka.

In the other match, Kazuto Kirigaya is making bold statements despite not being up to Sora's caliber. A 5672-4467 thumping of Hideyoshi Kinoshita proves that Kirito is not going anywhere just yet.

Match Day 10 of the 2018 International Saimoe League Topaz period is history and in the Female Division, Chiyo Sakura pumped Maika Sakuranomiya 5649-4050, Chtholly Nota Seniorious hammered Tamako Kitashirakawa 6023-4353, Meiko Honma prevailed over Yoshino 5125-4914, Hifumi Takimoto leveled Shiki Ryougi 4207-3562, Yukino Yukinoshita trounched Kaori Miyazono 8907-6232, Azusa Nakano romped over Nanami Aoyama 6221-4149, Ram rammed Cocoa Hoto 5108-4365 and Taiga Aisaka roared past Kurumi Tokisaki 6133-5692.

Megumin exploded past Kuroko Shirai 7797-3839, Yuuki Konno defeated Yukina Himeragi 5088-4528, Rin Tohsaka dominated Haruhi Suzumiya 6110-5078, Utaha Kasumigaoka tore down Yui 5579-4170, Iroha Isshiki prevailed over Suzune Horikita 5028-4813, Sakura Kinomoto clobbered Kurisu Makise 6253-5244, Eucliwood Hellscythe got past Jeanne d'Arc 5014-4664 and Vignette April Tsukinose defeated Kirino Kousaka 4900-4435.

Wrapping up Female Division action, Ai Haibara took down Emilia 6908-6127 in what would have been other the Upset of the Round by the Bedlam of Baltic Avenue had it not been for Kotori's victory over Kanade. Haibara is now tipped by the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue as an odds-on choice to win the Topaz Necklace and hold off a viable threat from Chtholly Nota Seniorious. Also in the Female Division, Sakura Matou defeated Tohka Yatogami 5250-4807, Aoba Suzukaze thrashed Satanachia McDowell Kurumizawa 5154-3973, Schwi Dola dished out a 6192-4099 hiding of Sagiri Izumi, Mordred prevailed over Chino Kafuu 5364-5209, Illyasviel von Einzbern crushed Saber 6470-4971, Jibril flew past Mikasa Ackerman 5244-4847 and Homura Akemi broke her losing stream with a 4704-4616 snoozer over Holo.

In the Male Division, Ciel Phantomhive also got in on the scalps with a 4870-4272 victory over Ayumu Aikawa. Gilgamesh also delivered an Upset, a 5870-4550 impaling of Yuzuru Otonashi which confirms that Angel Beats is no longer the threat it used to be in the past. Shouto Todoroki eased past Tomoya Aki 5564-4140, Tsukasa Mizugaki defeated Tetsuya Kuroko 4854-4287, Riku Dola rocked Astolfo 6125-2755, Masamune Izumi rolled past Sadao Maou 4442-3962, Keima Katsuragi stunned Rentarou Satomi 4354-4123 and Yuuta Togashi roared past Ryuuji Takasu 5016-3432.

Eren Yeager defeated Itachi Uchiha 5019-4382, Roy Mustang raced past Makoto Naegi 4222-4002, Shouya Ishida stunned Kiritsugu Emiya 4740-3763, Akihito Kanbara annihilated Naruto Uzumaki 4219-3573, Shizuo Heiwajima defeated Seijuurou Akashi 4356-3868, Ainz Ooal Gown dominated Gintoki Sakata 5437-4496, Kyon bowled past Edward Elric 4246-3084 and Hei coasted past Natsu Dragneel in a rare 5070-3839.

Wrapping up Male Division play, Touma Kamijou broke Lancer 5240-4974, Shuu Ouma defeated Tatsuya Shiba 4651-4222, Inuyasha broke his losing streak witha  4626-4103 scalp of Light Yagami, Conan Edogawa tore down Kusuo Saiki 5265-4774, Monkey D. Luffy got off the schneid with a 4579-4198 pounding of Koyomi Araragi, Koutarou Azumi prevailed over Meliodas 4333-4217, Karma Akabane punched Saitama 4914-4897 in one of the closest races of the season and Kaito Kuroba completed another sweep for the resurging Detective Conan party in a 5061-4687 decision over Yuu Otosaka.

Topax Match Day 11 is the Necklace Round of the 2018 International Saimoe League Topaz Period. The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue tips Ai Haibara and Riku Dola to win the Topaz Necklace and Pendant. As the International Saimoe League has not posted online the date for the next match, be sure to stay tuned on InternationalSaimoe.com to vote for your favorites and join the ongoing debate. Also, be sure to keep it on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for ongoing coverage of the International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition since 2008. It's a magical tradition worth enjoying.