ISML 2009: Seven remain in the hunt as Tomoyo takes Aquamarine lead

ISML 2009: Seven remain in the hunt as Tomoyo takes Aquamarine lead

March 31, 2009

With two rounds to go in the Aquamarine necklace phase, the race is heating up between seven contestants still in the hunt. Shana, however, lost the lead to CLANNAD's Tomoyo Sakagami.

Sakagami sent Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) flying in a 1534-845 romp in Santo Domingo. Shana, meanwhile, had no troubles in a 1678-740 thumping of Evangeline A.K. McDowell in Shanghai.

Elsewhere, Haruhi Suzumiya, Kotomi Ichinose, defending champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown, and Kyou Fujibayashi remained in contention.

Fujibayashi scored an easy 1680-666 decision over Nayuki Minase in Tokyo, while Suzumiya was tested by Shiki Ryogi, but prevailed 1578-1025 in Toronto. Ichinose and her violin sent Mai Kawasumi into a daze, winning 1336-837 in Bangkok, while Harlaown prevailed in a thriller over Saber in one of the day's marquee matches, 1285-1191 in New York.

Outside of those in the hunt, there were, as always, results worth noting.

In Mexico City, Konata Izumi defeated Minori Kushieda, 1485-1057, while Shinku edged Hayate Yagami, 1239-1101 in Mumbai. Sao Paolo saw Suiseiseki prevail over Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 1364-1106, while Ami Kawashima was all business against Shiori Misaka, winning 1394-927 in Lagos.

In Los Angeles, Nanoha Takamachi beat Sayuri Kurata 1315-964, Misuzu Kamio outlasted Vita 1180-1029 in Buenos Aires, Taiga Aisaka dismissed Holo 1418-1070 in Seoul, and Hinagiku Katsura doubled-up Akari Mizunashi, 1496-735 in Karachi.

Yuuhi Katagiri narrowly beat Marisa Kirisame 1042-993 in Dhaka, Manila saw Suigintou rout Remilia Scarlet 1572-694, Amu Hinamori was no match for C.C. as she got thumped 1485-774 in Cairo, Rika Furude made a mockery of her match against Aya Shameimaru, killing her 1494-667 in Jakarta, and Yuki Nagato defeated Ayu Tsukimiya 1439-1136 in Paris.

Istanbul was full of Turkish Delights shaped like Dango as Nagisa Furukawa creamed Kirino Chiba 1506-715. Nagi outpaced Tamaki Kawazoe 1108-900 in Moscow, Chii was all business against Alice Carroll in a 1195-881 win in London, Anya Earlsteil left Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga in the dust in a 1242-835 win in Lima, and Tsukasa Hiiragi outpaced Hanyuu Furude, winning 1273-1135 in Tehran.

In a battle between fellow Hayate the Combat Butler contestants, Nagi Sanzen'in got the best of Maria, winning 1155-877 in Bogota. Mikoto Misaka jolted Reimu Hakurei in a 1167-942 victory in Santiago, Kagami Hiiragi escaped Mikuru Asahina 1364-1275 in Kinshasa, and Sakura Kinomoto scored a 1184-884 victory over Makoto Sawatari in Algiers.

Rouinding it up, Mei Sunohara took home a 1398-878 thumping over Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) in Milan, Madrid saw Illyasviel von Einzbern defeat Index L. Prohibitorum 1251-949 in Madrid (albeit she had a handicap with Berserker), Rena Ryuuguu had no trouble chopping Patchouli Knowledge up, 1440-661 in Sydney, and Rin Tosaka dusted off Fuuko Ibuki, 1310-1177 in Katowice.