April 4, 2009
The Aquamarine stage belongs to CLANNAD's Tomoyo Sakagami.
She took the first necklace of the 2009 International Saimoe League season with a resounding 1411-1306 victory over defending Aquamarine champions Shana in Sydney, Australia.
"This is a great day for me, personally," said a delighted Sakagami before a record crowd at the Sydney Opera House. "Last season, I never won a single necklace. This year, I get one on the first try. It's a feeling of redemption.
"There is a long ways yet to go in this tournament. Fate (Testarossa Harlaown, ISML defending champion) won the tiara without winning a necklace, so nothing should be left to chance. For me and the supporters, let's celebrate this moment, and then we'll focus on the Topaz stage."
Shana was impressed, and gracious in defeat.
"Tomoyo put up a great fight. She just had a little more in the tank," she said. "I think I don't mind giving up this necklace to her. I have six other chances to grab another."
Harlaown had her own business to take care of against Hinagiku Katsura in Santiago. She got the job done with a 1256-1078 victory.
"Obviously it's a bit disappointing to go undefeated and not win a necklace," admitted Harlaown with a wry smile. "But I won last year's tournament without winning a necklace, so I can't feel too bad about it."
Kyou Fujibayashi also finished the Aquamarine stage without a defeat, beating Yuki Nagato 1266-1188 in Lima.
"Credit to Tomoyo, she wanted this one," said Fujibayashi, winner of last year's Sapphire necklace. "I do have a little bit of unfinished business to take care of with her, so things will come around."
Yet another unbeaten was Haruhi Suzumiya. She scored a 1347-1174 victory over Kagami Hiiragi in Mumbai.
"It's a drag that I couldn't stop Tomoyo from running away with it," she said. "But going through one phase without a defeat seems like a fair consolation."
"Indeed," said Kyon, to the laughter of the people in the Indian city.
Other results are as follows.
Mei Sunohara crushed Aya Shameimaru 1627-700 in Tokyo, Ayu Tsukimiya pounded Alice Carroll 1357-798 in Mexico City, Mikoto Misaka outlasted Nayuki MInase 1105-1082 in Sao Paolo, Hanyuu Furude defeated Illyasviel von Einzbern 1241-1135 in New York, Rena Ryuuguu outlasted Nagi Sanzen-in 1222-1163 in Shanghai, Nagi defeated Akari Mizunashi 1094-974 in Lagos, and Rika Furude knocked out Suiseiseki 1317-1036 in Los Angeles.
Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) handcuffed Vita 1173-924 in Buenos Aires, Saber kept Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga at the bottom of the league with a 1732-676 annihilation in Seoul, Shinku had a little extra against Maria 1230-1135 in Karachi, Dhaka saw Mai Kawasumi slash by Hayate Yagami in a 1240-973 victory, Fuuko Ibuki outpaced Ami Kawashima 1366-1090 in Manila, Anya Earlstreim scored a thrilling 1093-1086 decision over Makoto Sawatari in Cairo, Reimu Hakurei was too good for Remilia Scarlet in a predictable 1114-704 drubbing between Touhou project contestants in Jakarta, and Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere escaped Index L. Prohibitorum with a 1128-1012 decision in Paris.
Mikuru Asahina made turkey stuffing out of Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld with a 1689-723 laugher in IStanbul, Nanoha Takamachi silenced Holo with a 1257-1080 victory in Moscow, Syuri Kurata left Shiori Misaka in the dust with a 1056-754 decision in London, Yuuhi Katagiri defeated Evangeline A.K. McDowell 1036-906 in Tehran, Shiki Ryogi dusted off Kirino Chiba 982-886 in Bangkok, Bogota saw C.C. end Kotomi Ichinose's unbeaten streak with a 1260-1210 thriller, and Rin Tosaka was too good for Suigintou in a 1394-1093 victory in Kinshasa.
In a battle of newcomers, Chii breezed by Amu Hinamori 1232-764 in Toronto. Algiers saw Nagisa Furukawa's dango trump Sakura Kinomoto's clow cards in a 1395-951 decision, Konata Izumi predictably scored an easy 1462-863 win over Tsukasa Hiiragi (capping a miserable day for the twins), Minori Kushieda made a mockery of Marisa Kirisame's toothless Master Spark with a 1250-940 victory in Madrid, and to wrap it up, Santo Domingo saw Taiga Aisaka rip apart Tamaki Kawazoe 1666-647.
The next ISML necklace stage will be Topaz. Match Day 1 for that phase is scheduled for Friday, April 13 at 12:00 PM. More information can be found online at internationalsaimoe.com.
-Seishi, minhtam1638, and Juice of the ISML all contributed to this report.