(1)Solid Snake vs (5)Squirtle vs (6)Pikachu 2013

http://www.gamefaqscontests.com/gallery/albums/cb9/5263-04.jpg

Ulti's Analysis
The downside to Pokemon dominating this contest the way they did is that this contest was made up entirely of three-way polls. Meaning that in the late rounds, if Pokemon won too much like they did this year, there was bound to be cannibalism going on. Neither one of these two characters would have beaten Snake one on one, but it's not like they ever got the chance to either. Squirtle and Pikachu just absolutely destroyed each other's chances of making the finals, and Snake was all too happy to take advantage and punch his own ticket. Rivalry Rumble aside, Snake has made at least the semifinals of every contest since 2005. That has to count for something, right? Granted he's never actually won a contest, but he'll break through eventually.

....right?

Snake winning the match wasn't the only story here, though. Even today, I'm completely floored that Pikachu beat Squirtle, and it really makes me question my knowledge of the hierarchy of Pokemon. I know the match was literally dead even until the morning vote and THE KIDDIES WAKING UP is what caused Pikachu to win this, but even still. I would have never picked Pikachu to beat him, by any standard. My biggest guess there is that Pokemon strength at the very top is a jumbled unpredictable mess, and that the Pokemon fanbase is split in two among current adults that grew up on RBY and children. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but the tastes are clearly different. Children still prefer Pikachu, but during the hours when adults were the primary voters, Squirtle held a slim lead.

It reeeeeeeally makes me wonder how Squirtle's path would have turned out had one guy in the NRT voted for Blastoise instead. Does Pikachu beat Blastoise? I'd be floored if he did, but given this match I really don't know.