ISML 2022: "If Hu Tao Can Win, So Can We!"

ISML 2022: "If Hu Tao Can Win, So Can We!"

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam On Baltic Avenue

18 January 2023

"If Hu Tao can win, so can we!" So said Ayaka Kamisato, after dispatching of Shikimori 5262-4975 in an exhibition on Match Day 3 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Elimination Period. But Ayaka wasn't the only one winning big; in fact in was a Genshin Impact sweep. Raiden Ei crushed Ruka Sarashina 5732-4312 and Ganyu froze Yume Irido 5191-4821, to show that when it comes to Saimoe, Teyvat matters.

In Female Division action, Mikoto Misaka routed Yukino Yukinoshita 6648-5996, Rikka Takanashi rocked Violet Evergarden 6119-5859, Mai Sakurajima romped past Miku Nakano 6131-5876, Eru Chitanda defeated Kurumi Tokisaki 5836-5451, Elaina prevailed over Mashiro Shiina 5997-5821 and Rem rammed Chisato Nishikigi 7109-4565.

In the Male Division, Houtarou Oreki defeated Sakuta Azusagawa 5754-5213, Hachiman Hikigaya got past Yuuta Togashi 5965-5716, Kazuto Kirigaya broke Touma Kamijou 5811-4870, Conan Edogawa outlasted Sora 5989-5722, Accelerator accelerated past Miyuki Shirogane 5407-5393 and Yuu Otosaka bodied Miyuki Shirogane 5255-4845.

In Seasonal action, Hitori Gotou walloped Itsuki Nakano 6763-4704, Ichika Nakano dismantled Akari Watanabe 6916-2394, Denji cutdown Amiya 4824-4471, Ikuyo Kita defeated Yor Forger 5905-5518, Ran Mouri ran past Shigeo Kageyama 7056-3412, Aki Hayakawa whipped past Shinnosuke Nohara 5408-4258, Nijika Ijichi defeated Anya Forger 5775-5459, Megumin exploded past Hana Uzaki 5860-2977 and Makika powered past Yousuke Shibazaki 6043-2989.

In Couples Tournament play, Gilbern Bougainvillea and Violet Evergarden defeated Subaru Natsuki and Rem 6431-5020, Kuruko Shirai and Mikoto Misaka trounced Asuna Yuuki and Kazuto Kirigaya 6341-5323, Mai Sakurajima and Sakuta Azusagawa rolled past Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa 6923-4406, Yuu Otosaka and Nao Tomori pounded Tamako Kitashirakawa and Mochizou Ouji 5861-5079, Hachiman Hikigaya and Yukino Yukinoshita routed Tomoya Aki and Megumi Katou 7922-2931, Touma Kamijou and Mikoto Misaka drubbed Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura 6528-4933, Yuuta Togashi and Rikka Takanashi steamrolled past Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana 7577-3945, and Saya and Elaina defeated Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue 5769-5261.

In Female Division consolation, Yui Yuigahama (56671.4) and Azusa Nakano (53130.6) advanced in one group bracket, while Asuna Yuuki (57956.9) and Mitsuha Miyamizu (56565.3) advanced in the other. In Male Division consolation, Kaito Kuroba (541500.4) and Loid Forger (43233.1) advanced in the first group bracket; Ryuuji Takasu (3186), Zen'itsu Agatsuma (3293) and Shinnosuke Nohara (3591) advanced in the second; and Hiro (3218), Eren Yeager (3259), Naruto Uzumaki (3410) and Giyuu Tomioka (3170) advanced in the third.

In a three-way exhibition between former Saimoe Prime Ministed, Kotori Itsuka finished first with 4445 votes. In other matches, Hinagiku Katsura defeated Fate Testarossa 3835-2497, Patchouli Knowledge prevailed over Sakuya Izayoi 3429-3336, Krul Tepes hammered Shinobu Oshino 5765-2575, Tohka Yatogami rolled past Silence Suzuka 5258-3814 and Mahiro Shiina drubbed Nagisa Kubo 5268-2889.

Match Day 4 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Eliminations Period is scheduled for 20 January 2023. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.