ISML 2019: Dark Horse Kurumi Tokisaki Wins Emerald Necklace

ISML 2019: Dark Horse Kurumi Tokisaki Wins Emerald Necklace
Dark Horse Sweep As Tomoya Okazaki Wins Emerald Pendant

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue
October 23, 2019

Match Day 4 of the 2019 International Saimoe League Emerald Period has concluded. Listed as a 40-1 dark horse, Kurumi Tokisaki beat favorite Mashiro Shiina 8919-7399 to win the Emerald Necklace. Chtholly Nota Seniorious was third with 5689 votes, Mai Sakurajima ended a streak of red lantern finishes with 4244 votes for fourth, Asuna Yuuki was fifth with 3499 votes, Kurisu Makise was sixth with 2852 votes, Schwi Dola had 2237 votes to finish seventh and in a slight surprise, it was Emilia's turn to finish last with 2047 votes.

Also listed as a 40-1 dark horse to win the Emerald Pendant was Tomoya Okazaki. He defeated 70-1 longshot Touma Kamijou 8285-7767 to win the Emerald Pendant. Rintarou Okabe was third with 5811 votes, Taki Tachibana was fourth with 4504 votes, Willem Kmetsch was fifth with 3799 votes, Levi was sixth with 3212 votes in another horror showing, Archer was seventh with 2721 votes and Yuuta Togashi was last with 2351 votes.

Advancing to the Ruby Period via wild card from the Female Division were Megumin (6144) and Taiga Aisaka (5862), while Lancer (5589) and Kazuma Satou (5693) survived the cut from the Male Division.

Leaving no doubt at who deserves to be Saimoe Leader of the Free World for the 2019 term was Rem, who outgunned Megumi Katou 151883.1 to 79204.8 to build on her status as current Saimoe Prime Minister. Hachiman Hikigaya will be the Deputy Saimoe Leader of the Free World after routing Houtarou Oreki 129199.2 to 93440.7.

Making the cut for the Fall Seasonal Tournament were ISML veterans Cocoa Hoto (10174) and Hestia (7915), and newcomers Gray (9275), Reines El-Melloi Archisorte (9191), Shinobu Kochou (8827), Momo Chiyoda (7745), Yuuko Yoshida (8185) and Homare Onishima (7358). Hoto is listed as the odds-on favorite to win the Fall Diadem, but she will have an uphill battle to climk in Kaguya Shinomiya should she secure the prize.

In exhibition action, Kanade Tachibana and Sora prevailed over Mikoto Misaka and Accelerator 9921-9271, Eru Chitanda and Lelouch Lamperouge lit up Shana and Kazuto Kirigaya 10409-7904, Ruri Gokou and Korosensei defeated Kotori Itsuka and Hideyoshi Kinoshita 9615-8817, Chii and Freya eased past Rin Okumira and Yukio Okumura 8864-6435,. and Yuu Koito and Touko Nanami got past Mizore Yoroizuka and Nozomi Kasaki 8981-8087.

Match Day 1 of the 2019 International Saimoe League Ruby Period is scheduled for October 24, 2019. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here on The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the 2019 International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition.