ISML 2020: Rikka Takanashi wins Diamond Necklace
Dark Horses Okabe And Saten, Favorite Satou Also Big Winners
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue
January 14, 2021
Listed as a 5-1 second choice, Rikka Takanashi won the 2020 International Saimoe League Diamond Necklace with a 5648-5198 win over Mai Sakurajima. Yui Yuigahama was third with 2929 votes, Ai Hayasaka had 1774 votes to finish fourth, Iroha Isshiki was fifth with 1465 votes, Emilia was sixth with 1337 votes, Megumin's 1080 votes placed her seventh and last was Chika Fujiwara with 792 votes.
A 20-1 dark horse, Rintarou Okabe won the Diamond Pendant with a 5770-4005 pounding of Taki Tachibana. Levi was third with 2760 botes, Archer was fourth with 2271 votes, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was fifth with 1771 votes, Subaru Natsuki was sixth with 1555 votes, Saitama was seventh with 1258 votes and Tanjiro Kamado was last with 898 votes.
In the Upset of the Round, Ruiko Saten, a 35-1 longshot, scaled Sagiri Izumi 5273-4436 to win the Diamond Bracelet. Utaha Kasumigaoka was third with 3283 votes, Shiro was fourth with 2659 votes, Nanami Aoyama was fifth with 1981 votes, Misaki Shokuhou was sixth with 1568 votes, Eriri Spencer Sawamura was seventh with 1438 votes and Hina Amano was last with 1220 votes.
Kazuma Satou was a 1-5 favorite going into the Diamond Ring match and defeated dark horse Edward Elric 4708-4094 to satisfy the Bedlam's tipping. Ryuuji Takasu was third with 2794 votes, Takashi Natsume was fourth with 2230 votes, Masamune Izumi had 1804 votes to finish fifth, Yuu Otosaka came in sixth with 1432 votes, Yato was seventh with 1286 votes and Shidou Itsuka was last with 965 votes.
Nasa and Tsukasa Yuzaki are your Saimoe Couple of Record with a 4356-4083 victory over Maki Nishikino and Nico Yazawa. In other exhibition action, Yuna and Fina routed Natsu Kumai and Machi Amayadori 4627-2319, Zakuro Fujiwara routed Yukari Kotozume 4221-1914, Nami crushed Nico Robin 4344-2919, Ragna the Bloodedge slashed past Sol Badguy 4346-1580 and in the closest race of the round, Mugen won a 2839-2731 snoozer over Dandy.
Making the cut in the Female Division were Saten (4491), Chino Kafuuu (4315), Kuroko Shirai (4102), Shouko Nishimiya (4333), Index Prohibitorum (4205), Takagi (4422), Kaede Azusagawa (4187), Azusa Nakano (4206), Mitsuha Miyamizu (4050), Yui Hirasawa (4082) and Illyasviel von Einzbern (4185). Surviving the cut in the Male Division were Elric (4085), Kiritsugu Emiya (3557), Itsuka (3506), Takasu (3930), Lancer (3554), Gilgamesh (3671), Karma Akabane (3557), Nagisa Shiota (3471), Kyon (3484), Conan Edogawa (3501) and Lelouch Lamperouge (3514).
The closing stages of this tournament are around the corner with the Eliminations Period. 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 ongoing coverage of the 2020 International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition.