It's been awhile since we first posted the nomination thread and you've all been discussing the tournament in the Early Discussion Thread.
But we've got the final entries together, randomized the names, and now it's time to announce the preliminary rounds.
This year, there will be 20 matches of 15 characters each. The top 3 character or character groups will move on to the next round. Characters that are normally thought of as together, large nameless groups, people we felt should simply go together because we think it's for the best, etc, have been grouped into one entry. For example, as you can see below, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.. Killifish Quintuplets.. Hamburg, Pickles & Big-Pan.. you get the idea.
Please refrain from attempting to vote a characters to a tie both now and in the future. It will be dealt with - only 3 will be moving on from each prelim. That's final.
Each match will be accompanied by a beautiful portrait of all the characters involved, with a past winner in the upper left hand corner. Don't be confused; Luffy, Whitebeard, Usopp, and Franky all get a free pass through the preliminary round.
Remember, you have MULTIPLE VOTES during the preliminary matches. You can vote for 1, 4, 10 people if you care to. Voting for all 15, though, is completely pointless, and a waste of your vote.
The poll for each match will last one day. Once one match thread is closed, the next will be opened. This may overlap a bit just because there's only a handful of event mods. We'll take care of it as soon as one of us gets on.
The first preliminary match started Friday, May 27th.
Without further adieu.. the 20 preliminary matches with 15 entries a piece, in order. Bolded are those who are up to move on to the first round.
! Automatic Qualifiers
Luffy
Whitebeard
Franky
Usopp
! Match 1
1. Lulu
2. Manboshi
3. Tomato-Gang
4. Patty & Carne
5. Minister of the Right
6. Gin
7. Jinbe (177)
8. Johnny & Yosaku
9. San Juan Wolf
10. Dogpen & Jigaroh
11. Rika
12. Shirahoshi (132)
13. Vivi
14. Laboon (140)
15. Chopper
! Match 2
1. Ankoro
2. Candy Boys
3. Dosun
4. Wanze
5. Sanji (225)
6. Icaros Muhhi
7. Kizaru (220)
8. Red Hair Pirates
9. Sue
10. Yasopp
11. Kuroobi & Chew
12. Hattori (160) (Play-in Match 202)
13. Oimo & Karsee
14. Jesus Burgess
15. Gaimon & Sarfunkle (160) (Play-in Match 130)
! Match 3
1. Saul
2. Mozu & Kiwi
3. Michael & Hoichael
4. Monkey & his Doma
5. Sham & Buchi
- Crocus (197)
7. Igaram - Kuma (283)
9. Hodi Jones
10. Laffitte
11. Elder Nyon
12. Shiliew
13. Shachi & Penguin
14. Bellamy
15. Doflamingo (222)
! Match 4
1. Vista (234)
2. Boa Sandersonia & Boa Marigold
3. Spandam & Funkfried
4. Koshiro
5. Hatchan (225)
6. Kingdew
7. Wiper
8. Captain Gorilla
9. Pagaya
10. Califa
11. Nero
12. Sadi-Chan
13. Garp (352)
14. Calgara
15. Kong
! Match 5
1. Arlong (232)
2. McGuy
3. Southbird
4. Masira & Shojo
5. Tom (275)
6. Nojiko
7. Lip Service Doughty
8. Apoo
9. Spacey & Friends
10. Gan Fall
11. Chess, Kuromarimo & Chessmarimo
12. Motzel
13. Megalo
14. Robin (291)
15. Izou
! Match 6
1. Mr. 5 & Miss Valentine
2. Universe Wapol
3. Kaku
4. Dr. Indigo
5. Salome
6. Aladdin
7. Coby
8. Fukurou
9. Nico Olvia
10. Katarina Devon
11. Bepo (210)
12. Magellan (237)
13. Wolf Army
14. Splash & Splatter
15. Dr. Kureha (190)
! Match 7
1. Flying Fish Riders
2. Benn Beckman (191)
3. Prof. Clover
4. The Manticores
5. Eyelashes & Scissors
6. Akainu (185)
7. Strawberry
8. Gedatsu
9. Crocodile (254)
10. Lapahn
11. Pwngoat
12. Dadan
13. Titi
14. Haredas
15. Kung-Fu Dugongs
! Match 8
1. Ryuuboshi
2. Pappugu
3. Sentoumaru
4. Onigumo
5. Zeff (198)
6. Genzo
7. Jabura
8. Kuja Pirates
9. Tashigi
10. Ace (166)
11. Minister of the Left
12. Madam Shirley
13. Saldeath
14. Kumacy
15. Zoro (226)
! Match 9
1. Blackbeard
2. Yokozuna
3. Tsuru
4. Fukaboshi
5. Thousand Sunny
6. Mihawk (244)
7. Bluejam
8. Zambai
9. Upper Yard Priests
10. Otohime (244)
11. Alvida
12. Toto
13. Jambarl
14. T-Bone
15. Aokiji (249)
! Match 10
1. Camie
2. Eustass Kid (212)
3. Hammond
4. Vice Admiral "Horny Mask"
5. Lasso, Mr. 4 & Miss Merrychristmas
6. Oars
7. Shackey (201)
8. Kokoro
9. Neptune
10. Bellemere
11. Brook (238)
12. Miss Goldenweek
13. The Gorousei
14. Heraklesun
15. Awesome Octopus Fishman guy next to Jinbe on page 17 of chapter 624
! Match 11
1. Boa Hancock (204)
2. Shandians (Kamakiri, Braham & Genbou)
3. Kuro
4. John Giant
5. Joz
- Dragon (227)
7. Kuina
8. Vander Decken IX
9. New World Captains
10. Coribou
11. Margaret
12. Hiking Bear (178)
13. Helmeppo
14. Bacura
15. Capone Bege
! Match 12
1. Dogura & Magura
2. Silvers Rayleigh (293)
3. Makino (182)
4. Oars III
5. Basil Hawkins
6. Woop Slap
7. Rob Lucci
8. Enel (250)
9. Fossa
10. Space Pirates
11. Going Merry
12. Zeo
13. Hamburg, Pickles & Big-Pan
14. Yamakaji
15. Bogart
! Match 13
1. Fisher Tiger (232)
2. Aisa
3. World Nobles
4. Conis
5. Vasco Shot
6. Porchemy
7. Pell & Chaka
8. Avro Pizarro
9. Iceburg
10. Marco
11. Motobaro
12. Mr. 3 (194)
13. Roger (207)
14. Rakuyou
15. The Unluckies
! Match 14
1. Hoe
2. Smoker (247)
3. Den Den Mushi
4. Miss Doublefinger
5. Killifish Quintuplets
6. Crab Hand Gyro
7. Lola
8. Momonga (139)
9. Kumadori
10. Lucky Roo
11. Doc Q
12. Chimney & Gonbe
13. Buggy (225)
14. Robson
15. Mohji & Cabaji
! Match 15
1. Daruma
2. Pandaman (171)
3. Nefertari Cobra
4. Nami (222)
5. Caribou
6. Master of the Coast
7. Perona (156)
8. Shiki
9. Wadatsumi
10. Don Krieg & Absalom
11. Mohmoo
12. Mr. 1
13. Rouge
14. Calico Yorki
15. Berrygood, Shuu & Sharinguru
! Match 16
1. Old Man Spoil
2. Ishley & Friends
3. Blamenco
4. Blueno
5. Sabo (248)
6. Dorry & Brogy
7. Shushu
8. Usopp Pirates
9. Kohza
10. Whitey Bay
11. Stelly
12. Urouge-san
13. Sengoku
14. Shanks (243)
15. Moriah (194)
! Match 17
1. Den
2. Doberman
3. Ivankov (271)
4. Pierre
5. Norland (250)
6. Stronger
7. Brownbeard
8. Mr. 9
9. Hiluluk (248)
10. Risky Brothers
11. Killer
12. Holy
13. Richie
14. Domino
15. Foxy
! Match 18
1. Rockstar
2. Tilestone
3. Dr. Hogback
4. Sabo's Parents
5. Trafalgar Law (267)
6. Ryuuma (190)
7. Duval
8. Kaya
9. Speed Jiru
10. Fullbody
11. Paulie (188)
12. Aphelandra
13. Surume
14. Norla
15. Banchi
! Match 19
1. Carue
2. Hina
3. Hannyabal (192)
4. Super Spot-Billed Duck Squad
5. Tyrannosaurus
6. Demon Guards
7. Sphinx
8. Inazuma (195)
9. Fake Strawhats
10. Cindry
11. Jewelry Bonney (194)
12. Squardo
13. Monda
14. Hyouzo
15. Haruta
! Match 20
1. Jango (tie for 3rd 154)
2. Boodle
3. Macro Pirates
4. Dalton
5. Tonjit & Sherry
6. Merry
7. Soddom & Gomorah
8. Gashed Albion
9. X. Drake (187)
10. Koala
11. Bon Kurei (288)
12. Dr. Blackbeard
13. Vice Admiral "Moustache Man"
14. Cricket (tie for third 154)
15. Van Augur
So go get those campaigns squared away! As you can see, these matches are going to be pretty brutal. A lot of favorites aren't going to make it out of here alive!