June 6, 2009
Japan, Australia and the Netherlands qualified for the FIFA World Cup as Mexico stumbled and the Englanders rolled on. Summer Bird was the Word at the Belmont. And Rika Furude rose to the top after three match days in the 2009 International Saimoe League Sapphire phase.
Furude, the 2008 2chan Saimoe Champion, scored an impressive 1346-1290 victory over Hinagiku Katsura in Cairo. With the win, she rises to the top of the Sapphire table.
Defending champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown also had an impressive victory to her credit: a 1778-1250 rout of Konata Izumi in Seoul. Her partner Nanoha Takamachi also prevailed in a 1598-1373 decision over Tsukasa Hiiragi in Lagos.
Shana, meanwhile, torched Suigintou in a spirited, thrilling 1636-1513 victory in Dhaka. Second-place Tomoyo Sakagami defeated Horo 1639-1332 in Karachi, and still-unbeated Haruhi Suzumiya defeated Kotomi Ichinose 1664-1169 in Paris.
In other action...Sayuri Kurata defeated Vita 1366-1138 in Tokyo, Mexico City witnessed Kallen Kozuki scored a thrilling 1180-1106 win over Kirino Chiba in Mexico City, Yuki Nagato crushed Rena Ryuuguu 1599-1036 in Mumbai, Sao Paulo saw Suiseiseki defeat Nagisa Furukawa 1634-1405, and New York City witnessed Mikuru Asahina secure a successful day for the SOS Brigade with an easy 1826-937 victory over Anya Earlstreim.
Marisa Kirisame's Master Spark shocked Akari Mizunashi 1219-897 in Shaghai, Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) chalked up a 1452-927 victory over Reimu Hakurei in Los Angeles, Taiga Aisaka roared past Illyasviel von Einzbern 1502-1197 in Buenos Aires, and Hayate Yagami pummeled Amu Hinamori 1310-919 in Manila.
Saber slashed past Mei Sunohara 1530-998 in IStanbul, Rin Tosaka electrocuted Nagi Sanzen'in 1562-1340 in Moscow, London saw Kagami Hiiragi take down Sakura Kinomoto 1691-1022, Mai Kawasumi prevailed over Mikoto Misaka 1283-1069, Nayuki Minase squeaked by Misuzu Kamio in a 1121-1068 thriller in Tehran, and Index L. Prohibitorum stunned Makoto Sawatari in another nail-biting 1137-1121 victory in Bangkok.
Bogota witnessed Shiki Ryogi get on the win column with a 1147-921 win over Aya Shameimaru, Kyou Fujibayashi defeated C.C. 1350-1213 in Santiago, Maria routed Alice Carroll 1560-830 in Kinshasa, Toronto saw Minori Kushieda score a 1240-1103 victory over Shiori Misaka, and Algiers saw Ami Kawashima take down Patchouli Knowledge 1553-814.
Wrapping up the day's action...Shinku had no problems against Remilia Scarlet, prevailing 1746-882, Evangeline McDowell defeated Tamaki Kawazoe 1185-947, whipping girl Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga got her next comeuppance by Hanyuu Furude in Sydney 1700-632, Ayu Tsukimiya defeated Chii 1520-1205 in Santo Domingo and Fuuko Ibuko got past Yuuhi Katagiri 1519-1032 in Katowice.