2015 SI Swimsuit Model Tournament

[alluringbeauties]

Hi, everyone!  I'm happy to announce Sunday, September 20 as the start date for the 2015 SI Swimsuit Model Tournament!

 

This will be year #3 of the tournament.  In the tournament's inaugural year, 2013, Marisa Miller claimed the title with a victory over Elle Macpherson in the championship match.  In 2014, Bar Refaeli staked her claim to #1 with a win over Nina Agdal in the championship match.

 

Who will it be this year?  Again, you’ll decide!

 

You may recall that last year I had a Group Stage with round-robin play, followed by a Knockout Stage.  It worked out well, but the tournament ran long and was way too much work for little ol' me.  For this year, there are just 3 models in each group, which means round-robin Group play consists of only 2 matches per model (and 3 total in the group, compared to 6 last year.)  It also means that there is no margin for error: only the first place model in each group will advance to the Knockout Stage.  There are no wild cards like last year.  So, the Group Stage is critical!

 

In the days before the tournament starts, I'll share my thoughts on some of the most interesting groups in the group stage.  Many of the groups have 2-3 models that are difficult to separate, so the Group Stage should be immediately interesting.

 

Current links to:

 

Tournament Home Page

Tournament Format

Group Stage Standings/Tables (you can see all groups here)

Knockout Stage Bracket

Tournament FAQ

 

I hope you enjoy the 3rd annual tournament, and I encourage you to participate every day!  I'm looking forward to hosting it for you!

[riggy]

I hope Pestova finally gets at least a final four...

[alluringbeauties]

Hi, everyone. Ten days left until the start of the tournament, so I thought I’d get the anticipation started by sharing the top 50 ranked models in this year’s tournament.

The rankings are based on appearances and covers, then adjusted based on past tournament performances. Those past performances carry the most weight, so that’s why you see some relatively inexperienced SI models in the rankings.

The top 25 models were assured of easier Group Stage draws because they were each placed in a group with one of the 25 lowest ranked models. After the top 25, group placement was randomized but weighted so higher ranked models were more likely to be slotted into favorable groups.

Without further adieu, the Top 50 entering the 2015 tournament:

#1 - Bar Refaeli, Israel
#2 - Marisa Miller, United States of America
#3 - Elle Macpherson, Australia
#4 - Nina Agdal, Denmark
#5 - Brooklyn Decker, United States of America
#6 - Petra Nemcova, Czech Republic
#7 - Kathy Ireland, United States of America
#8 - Veronica Varekova, Czech Republic
#9 - Heidi Klum, Germany
#10 - Irina Shayk, Russia
#11 - Paulina Porizkova, Czech Republic
#12 - Daniela Pestova, Czech Republic
#13 - Hannah Davis, U.S. Virgin Islands
#14 - Hannah Ferguson, United States of America
#15 - Kate Upton, United States of America
#16 - Cintia Dicker, Brazil
#17 - Genevieve Morton, South Africa
#18 - Vendela Kirsebom, Sweden
#19 - Christie Brinkley, United States of America
#20 - Yamila Diaz-Rahi, Argentina
#21 - Josie Maran, United States of America
#22 - Emily Ratajkowski, United States of America
#23 - Julie Henderson, United States of America
#24 - Sara Sampaio, Portugal
#25 - Rebecca Romijn, United States of America
#26 - Anne Vyalitsyna, Russia
#27 - Daniella Sarahyba, Brazil
#28 - Laetitia Casta, France
#29 - Cheryl Tiegs, United States of America
#30 - Kim Cloutier, Canada
#31 - Stephanie Seymour, United States of America
#32 - Elsa Benitez, Mexico
#33 - Ashley Richardson, United States of America
#34 - Chandra North, United States of America
#35 - Judit Masco, Spain
#36 - Stacey Williams, United States of America
#37 - Cindy Crawford, United States of America
#38 - Carolyn Murphy, United States of America
#39 - Lucia Dvorska, Slovakia
#40 - Jessica Gomes, Australia
#41 - Alyssa Miller, United States of America
#42 - Ana Beatriz Barros, Brazil
#43 - Rachel Hunter, New Zealand
#44 - Natasha Barnard, South Africa
#45 - Esti Ginzburg, Israel
#46 - Kristy Hinze, Australia
#47 - Angie Everhart, United States of America
#48 - Hilary Rhoda, United States of America
#49 - Kim Alexis, United States of America
#50 - Bregje Heinen, Netherlands
 

[alluringbeauties]

Day 2 of the Group Stage previews, and just 5 days until the voting begins!  Enjoy!

Group 17    
(17) Genevieve Morton (AUS) - 1/3
Kenza Fourati (TUN) - 9/4
Hina Tama (PYF) - 18000/1
Genevieve may receive a bit of a challenge from Kenza Fourati, but I expect Genevieve to prevail rather easily.
    
Group 18    
(18) Vendela Kirsebom (SWE) - 2/5
Niki Taylor (USA) - 2/1
Kay Hughes (USA) - 6400/1
Vendela and Niki are set to clash for first place in this group.  Niki has struggled in past tournaments, but she has had tough matches.  It’s difficult to consider a supermodel a pushover.  My prediction is that Vendela will prevail.
    
Group 19    
(19) Christie Brinkley (USA) - 1/3
Cris Urena (DOM) - 5/2
Akure Wall (NGA) - 1000/1
Christie will probably get a run for her money from Cris, but I think Christie is still the favorite.
    
Group 20    
(20) Yamila Diaz-Rahi (ARG) - 2/11
Ana Paula Araujo (BRA) - 9/1
Sabrina Barnett (USA) - 65/1
This looks like Yamila’s group.  Ana Paula may provide a little resistance, but I don’t think it’ll be much.
    
Group 21    
(21) Josie Maran (USA) - 1/4
Kirby Griffin (USA) - 6/1
Georgianna Robertson (JAM) - 70/1
Josie is the definitive favorite, but Kirby is no slouch.
    
Group 22    
(22) Emily Ratajkowski (USA) - 2/3
Jessica Perez (CRC) - 5/4
Kadra Ahmed Omar (ETH) - 9000/1
This is another tough one to predict. Emily would seem to be the favorite because of all of her publicity, but Jessica will give her a huge challenge, I think.  This should be interesting!
    
Group 23    
(23) Julie Henderson (USA) - 2/7
Kylie Bax (NZL) - 3/1
Annette Molen (USA) - 3000/1
Kylie has a 4-3 record in past tournaments, so she may have what it takes to challenge the favored Julie.
    
Group 24    
(24) Sara Sampaio (POR) - 1/2
Karen Mulder (NED) - 2/1
Roberta Little (USA) - 230/1
Will new school (Sara) beat old school (Karen)?  Probably, but it’ll be interesting to see.
    
Group 25    
(25) Rebecca Romijn (USA) - 1/6
Aya Thorgren (SWE) - 18/1
Tanga Moreau (BEL) - 26/1
Pencil in Rebecca to advance easily.
    
Group 26    
Lucia Dvorska (SVK) - 1/3
Yvonne Sylvander (SWE) - 5/1
Rosie de la Cruz (USA) - 33/1
Lucia has a 9-3 record in past tournaments and looks like she wouldn’t be stopped by either of her group mates.
    
Group 27    
Anne Vyalitsyna (RUS) - 2/7
Marilyn Tindall (USA) - 165/1
Melania Knauss (SLO) - 4/1
Only Mrs. Trump provides any resistance to Anne V.  Can Melania ride the Donald hype train to a win?  Does anyone even realize that the USA may someday have the only First Lady to have appeared in SI Swimsuit?
    
Group 28    
Stephanie Seymour (USA) - 1/3
Apollonia Van Ravenstein (NED) - 38/1
Tyra Banks (USA) - 11/2
Two supermodels duke it out here.  In past years, I’d have figured this would be closer, but Tyra’s 2-4 record in past tournaments would suggest otherwise.
    
Group 29    
Elsa Benitez (MEX) - 1/2
Mary Sturdevant (USA) - 1000/1
May Andersen (DEN) - 8/5
Elsa could struggle to survive against May, who is a sleeper pick in the group.
    
Group 30    
Esti Ginzburg (ISR) - 1/1
Solveig Mork (DEN) - 2/1
Jenny Brunt (ENG) - 16/1
Esti is probably the favorite here, but she’ll face a big challenge from rookie Solveig.  I would not at all be surprised to see Solveig win the group.
    
Group 31    
Jessica Gomes (AUS) - 1/6
Margaux Hemingway (USA) - 235/1
Manon Von Gerkan (GER) - 7/1
This one looks pretty easy for Jessica.
    
Group 32    
Cheryl Tiegs (USA) - 2/5
Barbara Carrera (NIC) - 3/1
Paula Warner (USA) - 76/1
Cheryl is an icon, of course, so she needs to be favored.  But, Barbara Carrera has what it takes to give Cheryl a scare.

[alluringbeauties]

The tournament begins tomorrow morning!!!

For today, enjoy these (hopefully interesting) facts about the tournament.

Previous Tournament Results:
2013 - Champion: Marisa Miller, Runner-up: Elle Macpherson
2014 - Champion: Bar Refaeli, Runner-up: Nina Agdal

Most Tournament Wins:
Bar Refaeli & Nina Agdal (14) - Bar has 1 loss, while Nina has 2.

Highest Tournament AVP (Average Vote Percentage):
Natasha Barnard (76.6%)

Decade of Top 50 Models’ Rookie Year:
1960’s - 0
1970’s - 2
1980’s - 8
1990’s - 11
2000’s - 19
2010’s - 10

Highest Ranked by Decade:
1960’s - Suzy Smith (#126)
1970’s - Christie Brinkley (#19)
1980’s - Elle Macpherson (#3)
1990’s - Veronica Varekova (#8)
2000’s - Bar Refaeli (#1)
2010’s - Nina Agdal (#4)

Other fun facts:
- A total of 59 models have an AVP over 60%, and only one of those (Shana Zadrick) has a losing tournament record (2-3).
- Sara Sampaio has the best tournament record (6-1) of any model with an AVP below 60% (she’s at 58.4%).
- Nina Agdal & Brooklyn Decker are the only two models to have made the Semifinal Round in both previous tournaments, but neither has been Champion.
- Bar Refaeli, Elle Macpherson, Marisa Miller, and Petra Nemcova are the other models to have made a Semifinal Round.

[alluringbeauties]

The first matches of the 2015 SI Swimsuit Model Tournament are now live and open for voting!!

Voting for these matches is open until 10:30pm US Eastern Time on September 23. Use the link under each matchup to vote, which will literally take about a second to do. Please vote only once, since duplicate votes do not count.

More information about the tournament, including standings, brackets, results, and all matches can be found here.

Thanks for voting, and check back tomorrow for new matches!

-------

Group 61, Match 1
Izabel Goulart vs. Michelle Alves
Vote:

Group 54, Match 1
Fernanda Motta vs. Barbro Ehn
Vote:

Group 24, Match 1
Sara Sampaio vs. Roberta Little
Vote:
 

[peroxideblonde]

done!

[Désir]

Already voted

[Syria]

voted

[alluringbeauties]

Three more matches are now live and open for voting!!

Voting for these matches is open until 10:30pm US Eastern Time on September 24. Use the link under each matchup to vote, which will literally take about a second to do. Please vote only once, since duplicate votes do not count.

More information about the tournament, including standings, brackets, results, and all matches can be found here.

Thanks for voting, and check back tomorrow for new matches!

-------

Group 67, Match 1
Julie Ordon vs. Hillary Safire
Vote: http://poll.fm/5erks



Group 37, Match 1
Daniella Sarahyba vs. Talisa Soto
Vote: http://poll.fm/5erkx



Group 8, Match 1
Veronica Varekova vs. Micheline Lee
Vote: http://poll.fm/5erl0


 

[lostdiadem]

Voted for both rounds!

[alluringbeauties]

Voted for both rounds!

 

Thanks.  Keep it up!  There will be many more to come. 

[alluringbeauties]

Three more matches are now live and open for voting!!

Voting for these matches is open until 10:30pm US Eastern Time on September 25. Use the link under each matchup to vote, which will literally take about a second to do. Please vote only once, since duplicate votes do not count.

More information about the tournament, including standings, brackets, results, and all matches can be found

Group 27, Match 1
Anne Vyalitsyna vs. Melania Knauss
Vote:

Group 17, Match 1
Genevieve Morton vs. Hina Tama
Vote:
 

[alluringbeauties]

Three more matches are now live and open for voting!!

Voting for these matches is open until 10:30pm US Eastern Time on September 26. Use the link under each matchup to vote, which will literally take about a second to do. Please vote only once, since duplicate votes do not count.

More information about the tournament, including standings, brackets, results, and all matches can be found here.

Thanks for voting, and check back tomorrow for new matches!

-------

Group 45, Match 1
Michelle Behennah vs. Amber Noelle Ehresmann
Vote:

Group 41, Match 1
Judit Masco vs. Beri Smither
Vote:

Group 12, Match 1
Daniela Pestova vs. Elvira Ulla
Vote:
 

[alluringbeauties]

Three more matches are now live and open for voting!!

Voting for these matches is open until 10:30pm US Eastern Time on September 26. Use the link under each matchup to vote, which will literally take about a second to do. Please vote only once, since duplicate votes do not count.

More information about the tournament, including standings, brackets, results, and all matches can be found

Group 50, Match 1
Kim Cloutier vs. Vicky Howard
Vote:

Group 35, Match 1
Rachel Hunter vs. Tannia Rubiano
Vote:
 

[alluringbeauties]

The first results of the 2015 SI Swimsuit Model Tournament are in!

 

Group Stage

Group 61:
Izabel Goulart (78.1%) defeated Michelle Alves (21.9%)
Group 54:
Fernanda Motta (57.1%) defeated Barbro Ehn (42.9%)
Group 24:
(24) Sara Sampaio (90.9%) defeated Roberta Little (9.1%)
 
My spin:
Nothing surprising about the first results of the 2015 tournament. The only mild surprise is how well Barbro Ehn fared against Fernanda Motta. After the first day of voting, Barbro actually had a lead over Fernanda, but that lead evaporated.

Current Group Stage Standings/Tables: here