1 ) 3014 votes separated 2nd from 4th today. Will we get a match where the last character comes even closer to moving on by the end of the round? by the end of the contest?

Not by the end of the round, but by the end of the contest.

2 ) Who's the strongest newcomer in your opinion?

Uh, is this a trick question? Mewtwo.

3 ) The most impressive?

Meta-Knight

4 ) Rank the Noble Niners according to their Round 1 matches: (Suggested by Ngamer)
Mega Man : 50.49% on Arthas, Diablo & KOS-MOS
Samus : 51.75% on Axel, Frog & Kerrigan
Cloud : 61.24% on Jill, Ocelot & Zolomy
Sephiroth : 55.23% on CATS, MK & Peach
Mario : 57.91% on Big Boss, Pac-Man & Wander
Link : 70.50% on Agent J, Bidoof & Edgey
Crono : 48.18% on Sam Fisher, Simon Belmont & Raiden

Link
Cloud
Sephiroth
Mario
Mega Man
Samus
Crono

5 ) Star(s) of the first half of round 1?

Fox, Meta-Knight, Big Boss, Marcus

6 ) Turd(s) of the first half of round 1?

Magus, Zelos, Midna, Diablo
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FFXII NLB - finished - 39 marks
FFXII LLIENANMiNDM - Bhujerba (post-Ba'Gamnan)