ISML 2020: Asuna Yuuki Wins Aquamarine Necklace
Riku Dola Wins Aquamarine Pendant, Kuroko Shirai, Conan Edogawa Also Big Winners
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue
September 6, 2020
A dark horse to the International Saimoe League, Asuna Yuuki is a veteran of the Saimoe movement and a woman with extensive experience and leadership. Intent on following husband Kazuto Kirigaya to a seat at the Tournament of Champions table and succeed Violet Evergarden as Saimoe Prime Minister, Yuuki defeated another, more established veteran to the competition, Mikoto Misaka, 4646-3679 to win the Aquamarine Necklace and effectively be the odds-on favorite to win the Tiara. Kaguya Shinomiya, in her first season in the tournament proper, finished third with 2333 votes.
Yukino Yukinoshita was fourth in the ballot with 1383 votes, Mashiro Shiina was fifth with 947, Shouko Nishimiya was sixth with 947, Kurumi Tokisaki was seventh with 638 and Chika Fujiwara was last with 415 votes.
Another dark horse took home the Aquamarine Pendant, and that was Riku Dola, listed at 10-1 (Yuuki was 7-1). Dola defeated the favored Touma Kamijou 4236-3127. Miyuki Shirogane replicated Shinomiya's third place finish with 2402 votes. Sakuta Azusagawa was fourth with 1244 votes, Levi was fifth with 868, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was sixth with 701, Yuu Ishigami was seventh with 613 and Taki Tachibana was last with 496 votes.
Aquamarine Match Day 9 was not a complete wash for the Toaru Party. Kuroko Shirai was listed a 3-1 second choice to win the Aquamarine Bracelet but won it after defeating 10-1 dark horse Miku Nakano 3774-3309. Yui Yuigahama was third with 2364 votes, Index Prohibitorum was a disappointing fourth with 2016, Iroha Isshiki finished fifth with 1470 votes, Utaha Kasumigaoka was sixth with 1190, Nanami Aoyama had 800 votes to finish seventh and Eriri Spencer Sawamura was last with 635 votes.
One pick that the Bedlam did get right was the winner for the Aquamarine Ring. Even money favorite Conan Edogawa prevailed over Shirou Emiya 3165-3071. Saika Totsuka was third with 2245 votes, Tanjiro Kamado was fourth with 1549, Yuu Otosaka was fifth with 1129 votes, Takashi Natsume was sixth with 973, Shidou Itsuka was seventh with 768 votes and Kaito Kuroba held up the rear with 692 votes.
Advancing to the next phase from the Female Division wild card were Kaede Azusagawa (3495), Nezuko Kamado (3324), Sora Kasugano (3246), Azusa Nakano (3330), Kumiko Oumae (3036), Saber (3500), Tooru (3085) and Yukino's sister Haruno (3056). Over on the Male Division wild card, Zen'itsu Agatsuma (2764), Dio Brando (2721), Masamune Izumi (2679), Joseph Joestar (2744), Kyon (2831), Hodaka Morishima (2730), Nishikata (2824) and Yato (2689).
In Winter Seasonal action, Kotoki Iwanaga, the favorite to win the Diadem, rolled past Asuka Tanaka 3299-2661, Kaede Honjou defeated Kyouko Sakura 3403-2493, Priestess eased past Nene Yashiro 3104-2468, Kazuha Touyama got past Iroha Tamaki 3036-2642, Yukina Himeragi whipped past Chocola 2831-2557 and Risa Shiramine dismissed Mira Kohonata 2745-2562.
Match Day 1 of the 2020 International Saimoe League Topaz Period is scheduled for September 7, 2020. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And be sure to keep it here on The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for ongoing coverage of the world's premier anime character competition, the International Saimoe League!