The straws have been drawn and the table is finally set. Vergo looks on, while Fujitora tries his best to do the same. They meet a powerhouse lineup of Bon, Franky, Luffy, Robin, Usopp, and Whitebeard that have earned the right to skip the slaughterhouse of a round that's about to occur. In addition to these 8 titans of popularity, this tournament will feature an additional 210 characters. And they will collide for a preliminary round that will cover 14 bloody matches with only 4 out of the 15 advancing in each prelim. That's right, there will only be 4 advancing from each prelim and the other 11 will be eliminated until next year or worse.
This is mostly standard procedure as you guys are used to it. Since 15 go in and 4 come out, we will be allowing multiple votes just like we have in the past. You can vote for any number of characters 1-15, but all votes must be cast at the same time. Once your vote is submitted, it is final and can not be changed or added to. You could even vote for all 15 characters if you really wanted to, but doing so would be a waste. The polls will also be open for 24 hours each, and in the event of a 4th place tie once time expires, it will be broken by an event mod who has withheld their vote.
And without further ado, I present to you the matches. And in the department of redundancy department, Bon, Franky, Fujitora, Luffy, Robin, Usopp, Vergo, and Whitebeard have been deemed too awesome for this round, so we will not be seeing them until the next round. I also took the extra step of alphabetizing the individual matches after they were drawn this year so that they'll be easier for us to archive in the future.
! Match 1
Samurai Batts
Dragon
Gatherine
Gatz (72)
Hattori (78)
Don Kriegsalom
Mihawk
Big Mom
Mr. 1
Nojiko
Otohime
Perona (77)
Richie
Smiley (73)
Vista
! Match 2
Bellemere (81)
Cavendish (87)
Chopper (85)
Cricket
Catarina Devon
Fred the Awesome Octopus Fishman
Hannyabal (84)
Basil Hawkins
Herackles
Kumadori
Lao-G
King Neptune
Paulie
Sham and Buchi
Stelly
! Match 3
Avalo Pizarro
Brownbeard (75)
Diamante
Doberman
Don Chinjao
Gan Fall
Kuina
Makino
Noland (121)
Pandaman
Portgas D. Rouge
Sengoku
Sentoumaru
Shakky (83)
Smoker (115)
! Match 4
Akainu/Sakazuki (104)
Dr. Hogback
Fisher Tiger (90)
Genzo
Going Merry-Go
Foxy
Hina
Laki
Magellan (131)
Rebecca
Roger
Shushu
Sorceror Mummy
Yasopp
Zoro (133)
Match 5
Aphelandra
Capone Bege
Bepo (109)
Crocodile (129)
Dadan
Fighting Fish
Jinbe (126)
Mario
Owlfish
Shirahoshi
Baron Tamago
Terry
Tom (84)
Vander Decken IX
Zeo
! Match 6
Arlong (91)
Attachan
Brook (128)
Dellinger
Monkey and His Doma
Hancock (96)
Hiruluk (116)
Jozu
Kuro
Mad Lightning Soldier
Pwngoat
Ryuuma
Southbird
Yorki
Wizard of Oz Team
! Match 7
Bartolomeo (99)
Dagama
Dr. Blackbeard
Duval and Motobaro
Johnny and Yosaku
Kizaru (95)
Koala
Kuzan (129)
Margaret
Pell and Chaka
Satori
Shiki
Urouge-san
Whitey Bay
Zeff (79)
! Match 8
Blackbeard/Teach (85)
Buggy (94)
Camel
Clover
Jabra
Kuma (93)
Kung-Fu Dugongs
Pagaya
Rob Lucci
Rayleigh (89)
Madame Shirley
Stronger
Thousand Sunny-Go
Trebol
Vasco Shot
! Match 9
Aladdin
Baby 5
Bellamy (106)
Calgara
Carue
Coby and Helmeppo
Gabull and Company
Ivankov (89)
Nami (98)
Saul
Shanks (103)
Shiliew
Super Spotted-Bill Duck Squad
The Unluckies
Nefertari Vivi
! Match 10
Van Augur
Beckman
Cerberus
Django and Fullbody
Doflamingo (132)
Miss Goldenweek
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine
Iceberg with Tyrannosaurus (82)
Kinemon (102)
Kaku (100)
Momonga
Momonosuke
Pappag
Ricky
Lucky Roo
! Match 11
Bluegilly
Bonney
Chimney and Gonbe
Dalton
Enel (128)
Gedatsu
Hatchan
Hyouzou
Kidd (89)
Moriah (98)
Salome
Tashigi
Violet
The Family Wapol
Wiper (78)
! Match 12
Banchi
Caesar Clown (95)
Victoria Cindry
Gaimon and Sarfunkel
Gin
Hack
Kokoro
Kureha (84)
Laboon (96)
Pekoms
Sabo
Sadi-chan and Domino
Sanji (108)
The Snail-O-Phones
Vegapunk's Dragons
! Match 13
Boshi Brothers
Camie
CP0
Crocus (82)
Elizabello II
Eyelashes and Scissors
Garp (126)
Hiking Bear
Killer
Lafitte
Marco
Monet (88)
Motzel
Mr. 3 (92)
T-Bone
! Match 14
Ace (89)
Apoo (81)
Bogart
Citizen Snips
Jesus Burgess
Caribou and Coribou with Mohmoo
Comil
The Faux Hats
Granny Gabull
Inazuma
Law (106)
Strawberry
Surume
Tilestone and Lulu
X. Drake (88)
The first preliminary match will begin on Friday, July 19th.