May 30, 2009
With the close of May is the close of the 2009 International Saimoe League Amethyst phase, and Suigintou, everyone's (well, almost everyone's) favorite hunk of junk, is the top dog.
In Buenos Aires, she was able to defeat Nagisa Furukawa 2011-1049 to win her first-ever necklace of her ISML career.
In front of a capacity crowd at Estadio Amerigo Vespucci (also known as "El Monumental"), the Rozen Maiden doll, surrounded by rival Shinku (who pummeled Louise Francoise Le Blanc de La Valliere in Dhaka 1884-1270) and Suiseiseki (who secured an Alice Dolls sweep with an impressive 1803-1546 victory over Konata Izumi in nearby Sao Paulo), addressed the fans who waved large purple, black and white banners.
"Thank you everyone who helped me to this victory," she said with a rather sadistic, but delighted, laugh. "I may be junk like my friend here calls me, but who's laughing now?"
"Hey, no hard feelings, but you owe me one, Suigintou," the red-bonneted blonde doll said, holding a plush replica of Kun Kun.
"Never count out the Rozen Maidsen dolls desu!" Suiseiseki, the former 2chan and Anizone Saimoe champion said. "If you do, we'll make you pay desu!"
"Yes, credit goes out to my rivals here, who are also my good friends as well. But most importantly, I owe it to all of you who voted for me, and supported me during out campaign. Through hard work and perseverance, and a will to win, we have done it. Now let's do it again in the Sapphire stage!" she exclaimed with another evilly delighted chuckle.
"You can stop now," Shinku said.
"Awww, but I like to gloat every now and then," Suigintou said with a pout that turned to a wide smile. "It's my nature."
"Thank you for all your support desu!" Suiseiseki said with Shinku having a palm stuck to her forehead.
For Kagami Hiiragi, it was not supposed to end this way. A 1899-1322 defeat to Tomoyo Sakagami in Kinshasa did in the defending 2chan Saimoe champion. Kagami was unavailable for comment. Actually, it was an awful day for Lucky Star in general, as Tsukasa Hiiragi also lost, this time to C.C. in Madrid 1608-1412.
But it was a good day for the defending ISML champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown and for still-unbeaten Haruhi Suzumiya.
Harlaown wrapped up her Amethyst run with an impressive 1802-1497 victory over Yuki Nagato in Moscow, a replay of the 2008 ISML final. Suzumiya finished unbeaten through three necklace phases with a 1599-1494 victory over Hinagiku Katsura in Seoul. Ultimately, the margin was too small to overcome Suigintou's annihilation of the CLANNAD franchise character in Argentina.
But the celebrated SOS Brigade leader was not disappointed with the outcome.
"Aside from Fate, how many can say that they went through three straight necklace periods undefeated without winning one?" she said in front of reporters in the Korean capital. "Not many. In fact, I'd rather be wearing a tiara than a necklace. Again, as I stated before, the defending champion-who won today-did not win a single necklace, yet won the entire tournament.
"I feel I am on track to do the same thing. So let's see what happens."
Shana and Rin Tosaka also finished unbeaten in the Amethyst phase. The fiery-eyed girl burned Kyou Fujibayashi 1928-1358 in Lagos, while Tosaka defeated Rena Ryuguu in Karachi to the tune of 1517-1354.
In other action, Nanoha Takamachi defeated Sakura Kinomoto 1618-1233 in Tokyo, Mexico City saw Tamaki Kawazoe get on the win column with a 1471-1139 win over Amu Hinamori in Mexico City, Mumbai saw Saber launch a 1970-909 mule over Nagi, Mei Sunohara trounced Patchouli Knowledge 1845-840, and whipping girl Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga was easily beated by Nayuki Minase in Shanghai, 1701-809.
Marisa Kirisame chalked up a 1280-723 victory over Aya Shameimaru in a battle of the Touhou Project characters, Holo chomped up Kotomi Ichinose 1554-1359 in Manila, Akari Mizunashi got on the win column with a 1233-910 stunner over Alice Carroll in Cairo, Sayuri Kurata defeated Hayate Yagami 1547-1093 in Jakarta and Mikuru Asahina routed Vita 1895-+1014 in Paris.
Fuuko Ibuki stomped Shiki Ryogi 1737-985 in Istanbul, Taiga Aisaka roared past Anya Earlstreim 1841-989 in London, Nagi Sanzen'in closed her Amethyst campaign on a winning note with a 1559-1283 victory over Rika Furude in Lima, Ayu Tsukimiya edged Yuuhi Katagiri 1388-1159 in Tehran.
Ami Kawashima defeated Maria 1558-1346 in Bangkok, Illyasviel von Einzbern secured a Fate/Stay Night sweep with a 1546-1170 rout in Bogota, Misuzu Kamio had no problems against Remilia Scarlet 1694-794 in Santiago, Reimu Hakurei prevailed over Makoto Sawatari 1334-1116, Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) crushed Mikoto Misaka 1614-890 in Algiers,. and Hanyuu Furude destroyed Index L. Prohibitorum 1543-995 in Milan.
Wrapping up the phase's action, Shiori Misaka defeated Kirino Chiba 1325-1000 in Sydney, Santo Domingo saw Minori Kushieda complete a Toradora! sweep with a 1625 annihilation of Chii, and Evangeline McDowell tore down Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) 1610-905 in Katowice.
The Top 16 after three phases:
1. Haruhi Suzumiya
2. Shana
3. Tomoyo Sakagami (AQ)
4. Kyou Fujibayashi
5. Fate Testarossa Harlaown (C)
6. Yuki Nagato (TO)
7. Kagami Hiiragi
8. Saber
9. Taiga Aisaka
10. Suigintou (AM)
11. Nanoha Takamachi
12. Konata Izumi
13. Hinagiku Katsura
14. Nagisa Furukawa
15. Mikuru Asahina
16. Rin Tosaka
(C) Defending ISML champion
(AQ) Aquamarine necklace holder
(TO) Topaz necklace holder
(AM) Amethyst necklace holder
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Minhtam Nguyen, ISML Commissioner (minhtam1638) contributed to this report.