ISML 2009: Shana and Hinagiku progress to Tiara Winner's Bracket Final

ISML 2009: Shana and Hinagiku progress to Tiara Winner's Bracket Final

October 14, 2009

As the ISML 2009 Tiara postseason double-elimination commenced, Shana continues to hold the upper hand, while the SOS Brigade's chances took a further hit with Hinagiku Katsura bucking the trends yet again.

The overall #1 seed defeated Kyou Fujibayashi at Point Phi, located 1.40 years away from Sirius (a.k.a. the Big Dog), 1549-1386.

"My mission from the first day was to finish at the top," Shana said after the contest, munching on what was reported to be her 98th melon bread loaf. "As it stands, I am two wins away from seeing all my hard work come to fruition.

"Hinagiku Katsura was the last opponent I faced in the regular season, and she wants payback in our battle in our fight at the Chromosphaira Arena. I won't let that happen."

Katsura's 1615-1291 victory over Yuki Nagato at Point Chi (located 1.05 light years away from Sirius) deals a further blow to the SOS Brigade's hopes to win the crown, as it relegates Nagato to the Loser's Bracket.

"Nagato has been able to scrape out a victory before in the Loser's Bracket, so I will be wary of her," Katsura said after the contest. "Personally, the setbacks I had in Japan and Korea left quite a bad taste in my mouth. This is just part of the healing process as far as I am concerned.

"I won't be satisfied here. I am two straight victories away from winning the Tiara just like Shana, and I know that even if I beat Shana, she will bounce back to meet me again. I won't leave anything to chance. This is war. This is fun. And this is how I like it."

Shana and Hinagiku will meet at Chromosphaira on October 22.

Meanwhile, the Spanish capital of Madrid-known for its series of exhibition matches-offered another one.

The show Saki may see one of its own characters win the 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament, but it will take time before the stars from the Big Four powers of Kiyosumi High, Ryuumonbuchi High, Kazekoshi Girls School and Tsuruga Academy will be embraced in full.

Saki Miyanaga, the +/- 0 ace from Kiyosumi, fell to Rei Ayanami 1528-1118.

"I don't know if I have ever been given the opportunity to compete in a tournament like the ISML," Ayanami said after the match. "But if I am given the opportunity, my goal is to put in a strong, brave performance. I take this match as seriously as any battle that demands my services."

In the first set of the 13-16th place classification matches, Horo defeated Suiseiseki 1647-1122 on Point Nu, and Nanoha Takamachi demolished Shinku 1580-1173 at Point Omicron.

Finally, the ISML Relegation Rounds continued. In Round 4, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere rose to the top of the table with a 1590-1067 victory over Evangeline McDowell in Tokyo. Misuzu Kamio defeated Chii 1370 in New Yorn, Mai Kawasumi prevailed over Index L. Prohibitorum 1496-1227 in Buenos Aires, Mikoto Misaka flattened Vita 1694-886 in Cairo, Ayu Tsukimiya whipped past Nayuki Minase 1289-1056 in Moscow, Reimu Hakurei laid the ofuda on Hayate Yagami 1361-1095 in London and Sayuri Kurata took out Yuuhi Katagiri 1352-1251 in Sydney.