ISML 2009: Holy smokes, it's a Taiga of an Upset!
August 7, 2009
There will be a new Ruby necklace holder.
It sent shock waves throughout the International Saimoe League today. In match day 8 of the 2009 Ruby necklace phase, Haruhi Suzumiya's defense of her necklace ended at the hands of Taiga Aisaka.
The upstart from Toradora! scored the biggest victory of her ISML career, a 1558-1533 upset over the leader of the SOS Brigade in the Chilean capital of Santiago.
"Give credit to Taiga, she is as good an opponent as you will see," said Suzumiya after the match. "You can never underestimate a number of these new faces to the ISML. The rest of the opponents she will face will be on their heels."
"My goal here was to make a point that in a competition as intense as this, anyone can beat anyone," a smug Aisaka said at the post-match conference. "We are ready to finish this regular season on the right note."
Hinagiku Katsura rode on the wings of a Hayate the Combat Butler sweep to arrive on the doorstep of her first ISML necklace.
Katsura defeated Shiori Misaka 1890-832 in Seoul, while Maria disposed of Akari Mizunashi 2083-759 in Buenos Aires and Nagi Sanzen'in easily defeated Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) 1891-807 in Tehran.
A victory over also-unbeated Tomoyo Sakagami will all but end the math. Sakagami had little difficulty in pummeling Index L. Prohibitorum 2056-825 in Tokyo. However, a victory by Tomoyo does not guarantee that she will finish first. She is currently seventh in the overall standings.
Kotomi Ichinose has an easier chance of finishing unbeaten, but she will need to thoroughly overcome Rika Furude.
The baby-faced violin assassin sent Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga flying in a 2000-618 rout in Bangkok. Furude herself defeated Chii 1707-992 in Lagos.
Shana, who consolidates her overall standing as the league leader, torched Ami Kawashima 1954-1175 in London.
While the match between Shana and Haruhi has now become anticlimactic, Haruhi will have an excellent opportunity to knock the fiery-eyed tsuderekko out of contention. At the same time, a victory by Shana could put her in contention to steal the Ruby from Kotomi and Hinagiku.
Yuki Nagato and Suigintou each face long odds at winning the Ruby, but have an excellent shot at going through the phase unbeaten.
Nagato cuised to a 1767-792 victory over Shiki Ryogi in Bogota. The winner of this year's Topaz necklace will look to add to her impressive slate of results when she faces Kagami Hiiragi, who lost to Shinku 1769-1335 in Toronto.
Suigintou herself was too powerful for already-eliminated Anya Earlstreim 1901-960 in Sydney. Her win added to what was an easy Rozen Maiden sweep, as Suiseiseki performed garbage duty against Vita, 1911-838 in New York City.
Furude's victory was part of another sweep: that of the Higurashi girls. Rena Ryuuguu tossed aside Tamaki Kawazoe 1617-813 in Moscow and Hanyuu Furude was rarely troubled by Evangeline A.K. McDowell, prevailing 1623-966 in Karachi.
In a battle of fellow Time Space Administration Bureau members, defending champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown and Bardiche Assault overpowered Hayate Yagami and Reinforce Zwei, blowing them out 1917-623 in Los Angeles.
In other action...C.C. was all business in a 1716-1311 rout of Mei Sunohara, Mikuru Asahina and her beam overpowered Mai Kawasumi's swordsmanship 1962-1102 Rin Tosaka knocked Yuuhi Katagiri's lights out 1877-999 in Sao Paolo, Nagisa Furukawa made her intentions for a late-season push clear with a 1882-796 drubbing of Alice Carroll in Shanghai and Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere got past Ayu Tsukimiya 1539-1367 in Dhaka.
A genuine Thrilla in Manila saw Amu Hinamori claim victory over Makoto Sawatari 1111-1078, Kyou Fujibayashi prevailed over Illyasviel von Einzbern 1483-1313 in Cairo, Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) crushed Sayuri Kurata 1824-1016 in Jakarta, Paris witnessed a Patchouli Knowledge win a rare battle-a 1206-764 thumping of Aya Shameimaru, Nayuki Minase cruised past Kirino Chiba 1514-825 in Istanbul and Fuuko Ibuko left Saber seeing stars in a 1705-1345 beatdown in Lima.
Wrapping up action...Konata Izumi lynched Marisa Kirisame 1554-1160 in Kinshasa, Nanoha Takamachi busted Nagi 1779-835 in Algiers, Horo chomped up Misuzu Kamio 1828-1076 in Milan, Minori Kushieda tore down Remilia Scarlet 1593-892, Tsukasa Hiiragi shredded Mikoto Misaka 1762-1004 in Santo Domingo, and Katowice saw Sakura Kinomoto outwit Reimu Hakurei in a battle of clow cards and ofuda 1475-1280.
