ISML 2022: The Jury's Still Out On Hu Tao. Probably!

ISML 2022: The Jury's Still Out On Hu Tao. Probably!

By Jo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

14 January 2023

So how would the now-anointed Saimoe Archon of Genshin Impact, Hu Tao, do if she participated in the actual International Saimoe League? Well, she might hold her own against lesser opposition, but against more fancied regulars...the jury's out to lunch, especially since the animation for this legendary Gacha game is still in production. Anyway, Hu Tao defeated Kamui Kanna 5850-5665 in one of her more closer encounters. In another exhibition between Pop Team Epic's power duo, Popuko defeated Pipimi 4457-2664. 

Meanwhile, in the Female Division Winners' Bracket on Eliminations Match Day 2, Mikoto Misaka thumped Miku Nakano 7607-5576, Yukino Yukinoshita ended Elaina's bid for reelection to the Saimoe Prime Minister's office with a 6445-5590 victory, Violet Evergarden scored the Upset of the Round, a 7044-5180 scalp of Eru Chitanda and Rikka Takanashi prevailed over Mai Sakurajima 6918-6309. In the Losers' Bracket, Kurumi Tokisaki shot down Yui Hirasawa 6353-5552, Chisato Nishikigi boomed past Mio Akiyama 5902-5865, Mashiro Shiina won the closest race of the round, a 5833-5825 nailbiter over Nao Tomori and Rem rammed Kaguya Shinomiya 7250-5235.

In the Male Division Winners' Bracket, Houtarou Oreki routed Miyuki Shirogane 7860-4248, Sakuta Azusagawa continued his bid for reelection to the Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister's seat with a 6973-5470 win over Accelerator, Yuuta Togashi slammed Sora 7284-4667 and Hachiman Hikigaya trounced Kazuto Kirigaya 6844-4950. In the Losers' Bracket, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji leveled Levi 5971-5153, Yuu Otosaka prevailed over Taki Tachibana in a 5801-5792 barnburner, Touma Kamijou broke Izumi Miyamura 6289-5299 and Conan Edogawa annihilated Subaru Natsuki 7102-5931.

In Seasonal action, Hitori Gotou thumped Ichika Nakano 8016-4384, Itsuki Nakano throttled Amiya 7727-3568, Denji sliced past Akari Watanabe 5492-3955, Ikuyo Kita rocked Ran Mouri 7269-6202, Yor Forger barreled past Aki Hayakawa 7221-4290, Shinnosuke Nohara eased past Shigeo Kageyama 5463-4186, Nijika Ijichi exploded past Megumin 6259-4775, Anya Forger drubbed Makima 7080-4568 and Hana Uzaki whipped past Yousuke Shibazaki 5239-3856.

In Couples Tournament action, Subaru Natsuki and Rem defeated Conan Edogawa and Ran Mouri 6873-6544, Gilbert Bougainvillea and Violet Evergarden rolled past Sorata Kanda and Mashiro Shiina 6718-4627, Asuna Yuuki and Kazuto Kirigaya slashed past Takagi and Nishikata 7045-4501, Kuruko Shirai and Mikoto Misaka destroyed Isla and Tsukasa Mizugaki 7528-4404, Mai Sakurajima and Sakuta Azusagawa romped past Mio Akiyama and Ritsu Tainaka 7516-5120, Tomoya Okazaki and Nagisa Furukawa prevailed over Touma Kamijou and Index Prohibitorum 5653-5486, Yuu Otosaka and Nao Tomori slaughtered Emilia and Subaru Natsuki 6743-5106, and Tamaki Kitashirakawa and Mochizou Ouji pounded Zero Two and Hiro 6202-5087.

Wrapping up Couples play, Hachiman Hikihaya and Yukino Yukinoshita droved past Loid and Yor Forger 7849-3999, Tomoya Aki and Megumi Katou defeated Kanade Tachibana and Yuzuru Otonashi 5426-4935, Touma Kamijou and Mikoto Misaka broke Li Syaoran and Sakura Kinomoto 6450-2919, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura slammed Sora and Shiro 6192-5216, Yuuta Togashi and Rikka Takanashi routed Yui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano 7970-4417, Mitsuha Miyamizu and Taki Tachibana overcame Kousei Arima and Kaori Miyazono 6089-5555, Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue roared past Taiga Aisaka and Ryuuji Takasu 6500-5052 and Saya and Elaina curbstomped Ai Haibara and Conan Edogawa 8422-4548.

In a Female Division consolation round, Nino Nakano (61360.2) and Shouko Nishimiya (58097.3) advanced in the first bracket, while Yotsuba Nakano (5684), Hina Amano (5059) and Ran Mouri (6387) advanced in the second. In Male Division consolation action, Fuutarou Uesugi (50250.1) and Mochizou Ouji (49303.3) advanced.

Match Day 3 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Eliminations is scheduled for 16 January 2022. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.