ISML 2016: Madoka Shocks The World, But Comes Up Short
By JR Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
July 23, 2016
When it comes to proving people wrong, no one does it better than Madoka Kaname. A one-time Saimoe Prime Minister of Japan, the concept of hope and the dedicated partner of Homura Akemi delivered a shocking Upset of the Round after Match Day 6 in the 2016 International Saimoe League Aquamarine Period. She defeated Iroha Isshiki 1371-1344, defying the expectations set by the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue and finishing a respectable third. Despite the victory, a huge difference is vote differential means that Isshiki advance to the next round alongside Shirayuki, who defeated Urara Shiraishi 1338-1075.
"I was not sure that I would be able to top the group but to back my way into advancing and finish first after losing is against my precepts," said Isshiki. "I want to move on a winner, not finish first after a loss. Because of this, I am going to head into the next round with a clear conscience and with no set expectations.
"It is not fair that Madoka defeated me and yet she did not advance. I believe there has to be a change to the way this competition is run and return to the format from 2015. This format gave my opponent her first real regular season matches but I felt that she should have gone through in my place.
"At the same time, I also am disappointed with my performance in this match. I see myself as someone that can become consistent and I should have swept my own group. This is a flawed system and I unfortunately benefited from this. I can only hope that I can make up for it by making a deep Tiara run."
In other Female Division results, Shirayuki defeated Urara Shiraishi 1338-1075, Taiga Aisaka roared past Nagisa Furukawa 1445-1153, Kuroko Shirai defeated Kurousagi 1359-1257, Chiyo Sakura routed Kotori Minami 1771-903, Rize Tedeza stormed past Nagi Sanzen'in 1434-1015, Maki Nishikino rolled past Ayase Aragaki 1843-894 and Erina Nakiri delivered a 1586-1005 hammering on Nozomi Toujou.
When asked of Isshiki's remarks, Tedeza took a dim view of it.
"I clearly do not agree with the notion that the system is unfair," said Tedeza. "I am one of a few lucky faces to swept my group and I had never been a prime player in this competition until now. In fact, my party, the Gochiusa Party, has been severely underrespected, and there have been too many veterans that have had a stranglehold on this competition.
"You look at people like Shirayuki, Shinoa (Hiiragi), Mitsuki (Nase) Iroha, Yuudachi...these are opponents I have respect for that have the potential to be longtime veterans in this tournament. There are a number of faces that have been in this circuit that have fallen out of favor because the voters I talk to want change. They want new faces. Ayase has been doing this for years and she lost to Maki. You can't call that an upset because she is the head of the Love Live Party and is their strongest candidate so she has leverage.
"While I understand Iroha's choice of words, the fact is, Madoka has been in this Saimoe circuit too long and her loss to Shirayuki means that her time is nearly up as well. We'll see what happens in the other groups, and I am personally looking forward to seeing how Chino-chan does, but the voters want new people headlining this competition. You look at a number of faces in the Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall diadem competitions to come. They are the next ones to follow us and challenge us. Saimoe is changing."
In the Male Division, Saitama defeated Bell Cranel 1088-837, Shintarou Kisaragi whipped past Yashiro Isana 1389-810, Rintarou Okabe prevailed over Ryuunosuke Akasaka 1010-976, Yukine demolished Leonardo Watch 987-669, Tomoya Okazaki leveled Zen Wistalia 1030-784, Ayato Amagiri cruised past Ichimatsu Matsuno 1120-834, Ken Kaneki scored a rare win over Kousei Arima 1504-969 and Iskandar thumped Youji Itami 943-747.
"I feel bad for Nagisa, my wife," said Okazaki, "because she never stood a chance against the newer opposition in this competition. She's one of the older faces and had this Male Division been created years ago, I would have met a similar fate. So, in a massive irony, I may be the only one holding the fort for Clannad. You can make up your mind as to what that means. In the meantime, I want to congratulate everyone that finished top two in their respective groups."
Finally, in Winter Diadem action, Mary defeated Saya Endo 1298-785 and Mai Kawakami, a favorite to win the Winter Diadem for Musaigen no Phantom World, got off to a flier in hammering Chie Satonaka 1579-519.
In this edition of the International Saimoe League, there are no necklace matches after a round-robin period ends. We go straight to the next period. Match Day 1 of the 2016 International Saimoe League Topaz Period is scheduled for Monday, July 25, 2016. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. And keep it right here oN The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for ongoing coverage of the 2016 International Saimoe League, the world's premier anime character competition.
Aquamarine Day 6 Standings
Group Female 04
| 1 | Victorique de Blois | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4548 | 2825 | 1723 | 3.93 | 4 |
| 2 | Nase Mitsuki | 6.8291 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4135 | 2864 | 1271 | 3.54 | 4 |
| 3 | Louise Vallière | 3.6630 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2468 | 4975 | -2507 | 2.15 | 4 |
| 4 | Mikasa Ackerman | 2.6242 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3263 | 3750 | -487 | 2.81 | 4 |
Group Female 05
| 1 | Isshiki Iroha | 6.9803 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4430 | 2991 | 1439 | 3.90 | 5 |
| 2 | Shirayuki | 6.6591 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4128 | 3461 | 667 | 3.63 | 5 |
| 3 | Kaname Madoka | 6.5063 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3524 | 4329 | -805 | 3.11 | 5 |
| 4 | Shiraishi Urara | 2.1507 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2890 | 4191 | -1301 | 2.55 | 5 |
Group Female 09
| 1 | Shiina Mashiro | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6135 | 1965 | 4170 | 5.26 | 9 |
| 2 | Hiiragi Shinoa | 6.3076 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4410 | 3749 | 661 | 3.77 | 9 |
| 3 | Misaki Mei | 4.0908 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3294 | 4277 | -983 | 2.86 | 9 |
| 4 | Hiiragi Kagami | 1.2024 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2178 | 6026 | -3848 | 1.90 | 9 |
Group Female 16
| 1 | Shirai Kuroko | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4142 | 3466 | 676 | 3.65 | 16 |
| 2 | Kurousagi | 6.9249 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4528 | 3197 | 1331 | 3.98 | 16 |
| 3 | Aisaka Taiga | 4.1930 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3471 | 4612 | -1141 | 3.06 | 16 |
| 4 | Furukawa Nagisa | 2.3666 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3174 | 4040 | -866 | 2.80 | 16 |
Group Female 20
| 1 | Yūdachi | 6.9880 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4890 | 2957 | 1933 | 4.19 | 20 |
| 2 | Kirisaki Chitoge | 6.4194 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3618 | 4307 | -689 | 3.15 | 20 |
| 3 | Sawamura Spencer Eriri | 4.6558 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3600 | 4095 | -495 | 3.10 | 20 |
| 4 | Otosaka Ayumi | 4.4193 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3496 | 4245 | -749 | 2.99 | 20 |
Group Female 21
| 1 | Tedeza Rize | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4012 | 3440 | 572 | 3.54 | 21 |
| 2 | Sakura Chiyo | 6.9061 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5058 | 2770 | 2288 | 4.45 | 21 |
| 3 | Minami Kotori | 4.4934 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3506 | 3701 | -195 | 3.09 | 21 |
| 4 | Sanzen'in Nagi | 1.4580 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2234 | 4899 | -2665 | 1.97 | 21 |
Group Female 28
| 1 | Sengoku Nadeko | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4763 | 2800 | 1963 | 4.10 | 28 |
| 2 | Miyazono Kaori | 6.4099 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3685 | 4400 | -715 | 3.18 | 28 |
| 3 | Suzumiya Haruhi | 4.2240 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3234 | 4154 | -920 | 2.80 | 28 |
| 4 | Tōdō Kirin | 2.7507 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3519 | 3847 | -328 | 3.02 | 28 |
Group Female 29
| 1 | Nishikino Maki | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4322 | 3027 | 1295 | 3.81 | 29 |
| 2 | Aragaki Ayase | 6.4851 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4542 | 3399 | 1143 | 4.00 | 29 |
| 3 | Nakiri Erina | 4.2836 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3419 | 4175 | -756 | 3.02 | 29 |
| 4 | Tōjō Nozomi | 1.9327 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2861 | 4543 | -1682 | 2.52 | 29 |
Group Male 04
| 1 | Saitama | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3416 | 3038 | 378 | 3.01 | 4 |
| 2 | Kisaragi Shintarō | 6.9065 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3639 | 2898 | 741 | 3.21 | 4 |
| 3 | Bell Cranel | 4.5396 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2833 | 3292 | -459 | 2.49 | 4 |
| 4 | Isana Yashiro | 2.5094 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2965 | 3625 | -660 | 2.61 | 4 |
Group Male 05
| 1 | Kanbara Akihito | 6.9396 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3542 | 2839 | 703 | 3.04 | 5 |
| 2 | Sakata Gintoki | 6.9009 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3820 | 2942 | 878 | 3.30 | 5 |
| 3 | Natsume Kyōsuke | 6.6295 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2948 | 3268 | -320 | 2.53 | 5 |
| 4 | Nishinoya Yū | 1.9640 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2279 | 3540 | -1261 | 1.95 | 5 |
Group Male 09
| 1 | Okabe Rintarō | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3359 | 2726 | 633 | 2.96 | 9 |
| 2 | Akasaka Ryūnosuke | 6.9663 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3259 | 2877 | 382 | 2.87 | 9 |
| 3 | Yukine | 4.7194 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2888 | 2878 | 10 | 2.54 | 9 |
| 4 | Leonardo Watch | 2.0997 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2385 | 3410 | -1025 | 2.10 | 9 |
Group Male 16
| 1 | Korosensei | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3890 | 2630 | 1260 | 3.35 | 16 |
| 2 | Doma Taihei | 6.6142 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3620 | 2931 | 689 | 3.08 | 16 |
| 3 | Hijikata Tōshirō | 4.6469 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2930 | 3176 | -246 | 2.53 | 16 |
| 4 | Monkey D. Luffy | 1.8389 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2263 | 3966 | -1703 | 1.96 | 16 |
Group Male 19
| 1 | Okazaki Tomoya | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3434 | 2537 | 897 | 3.02 | 19 |
| 2 | Zen Wistalia | 6.7612 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3067 | 2804 | 263 | 2.70 | 19 |
| 3 | Amagiri Ayato | 4.4864 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2851 | 3199 | -348 | 2.52 | 19 |
| 4 | Matsuno Ichimatsu | 2.3444 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2630 | 3442 | -812 | 2.32 | 19 |
Group Male 22
| 1 | Itsuka Shidō | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4338 | 2441 | 1897 | 3.75 | 22 |
| 2 | Ainz Ooal Gown | 6.8056 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3501 | 2985 | 516 | 2.99 | 22 |
| 3 | Kida Masaomi | 4.8963 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3269 | 3153 | 116 | 2.82 | 22 |
| 4 | Kise Ryōta | 1.6057 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2333 | 4862 | -2529 | 2.01 | 22 |
Group Male 25
| 1 | Iskandar | 6.8380 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3397 | 3218 | 179 | 3.00 | 25 |
| 2 | Arima Kōsei | 6.6443 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3792 | 3233 | 559 | 3.34 | 25 |
| 3 | Kaneki Ken | 4.3085 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3524 | 4188 | -664 | 3.11 | 25 |
| 4 | Itami Yōji | 4.2262 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3241 | 3315 | -74 | 2.84 | 25 |
Group Male 32
| 1 | Heiwajima Shizuo | 9.0000 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3353 | 2824 | 529 | 2.88 | 32 |
| 2 | Genos | 6.9023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3273 | 2949 | 324 | 2.81 | 32 |
| 3 | Kōsaka Kyōsuke | 4.8341 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3290 | 3276 | 14 | 2.84 | 32 |
| 4 | Kaizuka Inaho | 2.2663 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2660 | 3527 | -867 | 2.29 | 32 |
