ISML 2021: Rikka Takanashi On The Money, Takes Ruby Necklace

ISML 2021: Rikka Takanashi On The Money, Takes Ruby Necklace

Longshot Sorata Kanda With Massive Upset, Wins Ruby Pendant

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

December 20, 2021

Match Day 6 of the 2021 International Saimoe League Ruby Period is history. An even money favorite, Rikka Takanashi defeated Kanade Tachibana 2687-2043 to win the Ruby Necklace. Mai Sakurajima was third with 1566 votes, Asuna Yuuki was fourth with 1170 votes, Emilia was fifth with 773 votes, Yui Yuigahama was sixth with 616 votes, Tsukasa Yuzaki was seventh with 482 votes and Utaha Kasumigaoka was last with 394 votes.

Our Upset of the Round (and it's one of the biggest this season) takes place in the Male Division. Sorata Kanda came into the Ruby Pendant match as a 70-1 longshot and delivered a 2158-2024 scalp over even money favorite Kazuto Kirigaya. Taki Tachibana was third with 1243 votes, Kazuma Satou was fourth with 1012 votes, Tomoya Okazaki was fifth with 815 votes, Archer was sixth with 640 votes, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was seventh with 582 votes and Subaru Natsuki was last with 496 votes.

Another longshot, Megumin, took home the Ruby Bracelet with a 2559-2451 victory over Index Prohibitorum. Shiro was third with 1328 votes, favorite Kuroko Shirai was fourth with 1075 votes, Shouko Nishimiya was fifth with 800 votes, Misaku Shokuhou was sixth with 563 votes, Tooru was seventh with 507 votes and Schwi Dola was last with 390 votes. Vote splits between two sets of characters from different parties proved vital to this shock result.

Dark horse Shidou Itsuki won the Ruby Ring with a 1872-1596 win over another dark horse in Joutarou Kuujou. Ryuuji Takasu was third with 1169 votes, Kyoujurou Rengoku was fourth with 1012 votes, Saika Totsuka was fifth with 837 votes, Kousei Arima was sixth with 741 votes, Satoshi Fukube was seventh with 586 votes and Edward Elric was last with 506 votes.

With a score of 26068.1, Keke Tang is your Summer Seasonal champion, while Shiroha Naruse was right on the money to be namerd Visual Novel Champion with a 1951-1493 win over Atri. Ao Sorakado was third with a 1757-1438 win over Tsumugi Wenders.

The Fall Seasonal Tournament is coming up. Making the cut were Ran Mouri (2194), Unmei (1571), Touko Sakurai (1309), Shouko Komi (1751), Futaba Igarashi (1364), Miko Yotsuya (1449), Dia Viekone (1448), Tomoyo Sakagami (1602), Sonoko Suzuki (1258), Jolyne Kuujou (1220), Chisato Arashi (1333), Tarte (1061), Ruti (1040), Kukuru Misakino (1096), Yuuna Yuuki (1052), Doki-chan (1043) and Eris Boreas Greyrat (1518). Mouri is tipped by the Bedlam to win the Fall Diadem, but Koumi and Greyrat will prove to be stiff opposition.

Finally, the couples tournament kicked off. In Couples action, Touma Kamijou and Mikoto Misaka routed Kanon Shibuya and Keke Tang 3401-1886, Emilia and Subaru Natsuki defeated Nishikata and Takagi 2618-2410, Gilbert Bougainvillea and Violet Evergarden thumped Conan Edogawa and Ai Haibara 3632-2071, Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki rolled past Hiro and Zero Two 3380-1660, Eru Chitanda and Houtarou Oreki dismantled Kurisu Makise and Rintarou Okabe 3820-1585, Yuu Otosaka and Nao Tomori prevailed over Nagisa Furukawa and Tomoya Okazaki 2439-2235, Elaina and Saya pummeled Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana 3202-2521, Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita overpowered Haruka and Sora Kasugano 3254-1990, Taiga Aisaka and Ryuuji Takasu roared past Tomoya Aki and Megumin Katou 2606-2032, Yui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano rocked Homura Akemi and Madoka Kaname 2727-1941 and Sorata Kanda and Mashiro Shiina smashed Tamako Kitashirakawa and Mochizou Ouji 2744-2170. Finally, in one other result, Iris crushed Maria Takayama 2725-1058.

With Yukino Yukinoshita's tenure as Saimoe Prime Minister concluding at midnight on January 1, 2022, Mikoto Misaka will be sworn in as interim Saimoe Prime Minister until the general election on January 25. The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue tips Misaka to win a historic reelection to the office. Should Misaka secure the ISML Heavenly Tiara, the interim tag will simply be dropped.

Match Day 1 of the 2021 International Saimoe League Diamond Period is scheduled for December 22, 2021. 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 International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition!