ISML 2019: Kurisu Makise Wins Diamond Necklace

ISML 2019: Kurisu Makise Wins Diamond Necklace
Yuuta Togashi wins Diamond Pendant

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
November 27, 2019

Match Day 4 of the 2019 International Saimoe League Diamond Period is over. Kurisu Makise was listed as a 30-1 dark horse but has won the 2019 ISML Diamond Necklace, defeating 40-1 longshot Chtholly Nota Seniorious 9483-9464. Mio Akiyama was third with 7034 votes, Chino Kafuu has 5188 votes to finish fourth, Iroha Isshiki was fifth with 4368 votes, Shouko Nishimiya was sixth with 3654 votes, Mashiro Shiina had 3071 votes to finish seventh and Emilia had a disappointing round, finishing last with 2306 votes.

The Diamond Pendant match was a classic battle between the favored archer and second choice Yuuta Togashi, but it was Togashi that got the better of Archer, winning 9203-8900. Levi was third with 6764 votes, Taki Tachibana was fourth with 5389 votes, Rintarou Okabe was fifth with 4489 votes, Kazuma Satou was sixth with 3763 votes, Saitama was seventh with 3228 votes and Kyon was last with 2707 votes.

Advancing to the elimination rounds on the Female Division side with Rikka Takanashi (6916) and Asuna Yuuki (7183). On the Male Division side, Shirou Emiya (6667) and Willem Kmetsch (6548) survived the cut.

The Upset of the Round took place in the Couple Tournament Final, where Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya broke the spread and defeated Houtarou Oreki and Eru Chitanda 9818-7781 to be listed as the Couple of Record. Shirogane and Shinomiya are both expected to perform well at next year's International Saimoe League  indivudually, though Shirogane will need to pass the nominations phase.

In other action, Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Alice Zuberg 9304-9069, Gilgamesh routed Osamu Dazai 13389-6103 and Kanade Tachibana won the closest race of the round, a 9448-9399 thriller over Mikoto Misaka. In Tiara Consolation action, Yui Yuigahama (75253), Tooru (60660.8), Zero Two (67701.5) and Meiko Honma (64334.4) made the cut. In Scepter Consolation action, Eureo (49860), Sorata Kanda (55947.1), Izuku Midoriya (45886.4) and Shidou Itsuka (54197.8) made the cut.

November 30, 2019 is Match Day 1 of the 2019 International Saimoe League Eliminations Period, as the race for the next Saimoe and Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister takes place. 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.