ISML 2021: Asuna Outduels Kanade, Wins Diamond Necklace
A SAO Sweep As Kazuto Takes Diamond Pendant
By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
January 12, 2022
For once, the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue was right on the money in their International Saimoe League necklace calls. The favored Asuna Yuuki dismatched of a former Saimoe Leader of the Free World in Kanade Tachibana, 1990-1787, to win the 2021 International Saimoe League Diamond Necklace, another piece to her collection of necklaces won in her years of participating in the ISML. Mai Sakurajima was third with 1256 votes, Emilia was fourth with 724 votes, Ai Hayasaka was fifth with 497 votes, Shouko Nishimiya was sixth with 467 votes, Yui Yuigahama was seventh with 356 votes and Chika Fujiwara was last with 278 votes.
Kazuto Kirigaya, as tipped by the Bedlam, won the Diamond Pendant but it was over a longshot: a 1820-1504 victory over 75-1 longshot Rintarou Okabe. Taki Tachibana was third with 970 votes, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was fourth with 754 votes, Yuzuru Otonashi was fifth with 588 votes, Kazuma Satou was sixth with 491 votes, Shirou Emiya was seventh with 432 votes and Subaru Natsuki was last with 296 votes.
The Bedlam's Upset of the Round is in the race for the Diamond Bracelet. Second choice Index Prohibitorum delivered a 2339-1774 scalp of Tsukasa Yuzaki. Kuroko Shirai was third with 1223 votes, Shiro was fourth with 829 votes, Misaki Shokuhou was fifth with 670 votes, Kei Shirogane was sixth with 489 votes, Tooru was seventh with 356 votes and Schwi Dola was last with 327 votes.
While Tsukasa was not as fortunate, her husband Nasa Yuzaki benefitted from a Ring race with no To Aru opponents to deal with. Saika Totsuka was favored to win the ring, but it was Yuzaki that prevailed, 1632-1360. Ryuuji Takasu was third with 984 votes, Kyojurou Rengoku was fourth with 809 votes, Joutarou Kuujou was fifth with 686 votes, Edward Elric was sixth with 516 votes, Satoshi Fukube was seventh with 433 votes and Kousei Arima was last with 324 votes. As Nasa was eliminated from the Elimination rounds due to poor performances in the round robins, he ends his Saimoe campaign on a winning note.
Your Fall Seasonal champion is Ran Mouri, who scored a 232253.1 in a field of six. Mouri was tipped from the start as a first choice to win the diadem, and she was right on the money. Your Couples Tournament winner, no surprises, is Eru Chitanda and Houtarou Oreki, who defeated Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita 2404-1998. Sakuta Azusagawa and Mai Sakurajima finished third with a 2197-2173 nailbiter over Touma Kamijou and Mikoto Misaka.
In addition to winning the bracelet, Index advanced to the Elimination round from the wild card with the highest score, 25414.8. Also advancing were Ai Hayasaka (20664.7), Nao Tomori (20417.2) and Tsukasa Yuzaki (20519). Advancing from the wild card on the Male Division side were Levi (16553.9), Rintarou Okabe (17160.2), Sorata Kanda (17581.3) and Tomoya Okazaki (16432.8).
In exhibition action, Tsukasa Shishou belted Yuujirou Hanma 1317-590, Seiya Ryuuguuin flexed past Goblin Slayer 1544-1026, Kyouka Izumi defeated Kohaku 1206-1088 and Kouga prevailed over Legoshi 1210-1140. In a Naruto four-way match, Jiraiya (14467.6) and Kakashi Hatake (18277.3) came out on top. And in another four-way match, Taihei Doma (14286.8) and Li Syaoran (15546.1) delivered.
Two other four way matches took place. Kaoru Nishimi and Tsumugi Kotobuki teamed up to win the closest race of the round, a 1197-1190 snoozer over Sentarou Kawabuchi and Ritsu Tainaka. Meanwhile, Clea and Polka got past Kirara and Lamp 1037-884. Finally, a showdown of redheads took place, with the top three being Stella Vermillion (1247), Stephanie Dola (1767) and Sakura Minamoto (1235). Three big names that start with S, a final three-way to be reckoned with.
So here we are, the Elimination Rounds leading to the general election for the Saimoe Prime Minister and Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister seats. Here at the Bedlam, we thought that this Tiara race would be Mikoto Misaka's reelection to lose. Then Kaguya's upset win over the Railgun happened. And suddenly it's a whole new ballgame. Will we see a second term from those who were at the helm years ago? Or will we see a new face rise up to lead Japan's finest anime legends and heroes in 2022? The final race to glory begins later this month.
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 best anime character competition in the world, the one and only International Saimoe League, in the service of anime fans worldwide since 2008!