ISML 2009: Hinagiku, Shana close in on Diamond necklace

ISML 2009: Hinagiku, Shana close in on Diamond necklace

September 3, 2009

With the American football season now in full swing, the 2009 International Saimoe League is starting to draw to a close, as one regular season match day remains.

The battle between Hinagiku Katsura and Shana in Tokyo is slated be the marquee match that will potentially determine the fate of the Diamond necklace. Katsura defeated Ami Kawashima, 1634-1007 in Mexico City. A win over regular season champion Shana will make Katsura the first since Haruhi Suzumiya to win both the Ruby and Diamond necklaces in succession.

Suzumiya herseld had no problems defeating Makoto Sawatari 1718-719 in Mumbai.

Shana, meanwhile, had an easy time defeating Index L. Prohibitorum 1804-640 in Dhaka. However, a victory over Katsura will not guarantee that she will earn the necklace.

Mikuru Asahina should have an easy day defeating destined-to-be-winless Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, who lost to Nagisa Furukawa 1695-552 in Milan. Asahina defeated Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere 1572-1050 in Tehran.

Shinku and Fuuko Ibuki may have the lowest chance of winning the Diamond necklace, but all prospects of an unbeaten Diamond run hang in the balance.

Shinku defeated a slumping Yuki Nagato 1338-1222 in Jakarta. She wraps up her Diamond campaign against Mai Kawasumi, an opponent that should not give her much trouble in New York City. Kawasumi lost a 1100-1107 heartbreaker to Nayuki Minase in Buenos Aires, meaning that a victory by the Pure Ruby herself will effectively shut Kanon out of returning automatically to next year's ISML.

Ibuki clobbered Ayu Tsukimiya 1611-776 in Bogota and finishes her ISML run against Hayate Yagami in Sao Paulo. Yagami got manhandled by Tomoyo Sakagami 1647-749 in Karachi.

The Hayate, Lucky Star and Rozen Maiden teams all claimed sweeps again.

On the Hayate the Combat Butler front, Maria defeated Evangeline MCDowell 1628-782 in Lagos and Nagi Sanzen'in routed Alice Carroll 1635-608 in Sydney.

Konata Izumi edged Misuzu Kamio 1228-1079 in Madrid, Kagami Hiiragi prevailed over Illyasviel von Einbern 1283-1190 in Sao Paulo and Tsukasa Hiiragi defeated Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) 1563-750 in Santiago.

In addition to Shinku's win for the Alice Dolls, Suigintou tore apart Chii 1599-860 in Moscow and Suiseiseki whipped past Yuuhi Katagiri 1536-914 in Bangkok.

Defending champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown never broke a sweat in dismembering Shiki Ryogi 1582-657 in Katowice.

In other action...Horo chomped up Anya Earlstreim 1678-709 in Tokyo, Kirino Chiba scored a rare 1150-781 victory over Akari Mizunashi 1150-781 in New York City, Rika Furude defeated Mei Sunohara 1393-1118 in Shanghai, Nanoha Takamachi busted Mikoto Misaka 1468-793 in Los Angeles and Sakura Kinomoto easily roughhoused Tamaki Kawazoe 1426-677 in Seoul.

Rena Ryuuguu chopped down Marisa Kirisame 1402-686 in Manila, Rin Tosaka electrocuted Nagi 1711-650 in Cairo, Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) scored an impressive 1463-963 winner over Hanyuu Furude in London, Minori Kushieda remains alive with a 1487-631 defeat of Aya Shameimaru in Istanbul, Taiga Aisaka roared past Remilia Scarlet 1625-615 in Lima and Kotomi Ichinose sounded off Vita 1576-714 in Kinshasa.

Wrapping up action...Saber slashed past Sayuri Kurata 1450-1047 in Toronto, Kyou Fujibayashi dismissed Shiori Misaka 1724-567 in Algiers and C.C. defeated Reimu Hakurei 1390-+1023 in Santo Domingo.