ISML 2009: Countdown to Tiara looms with Diamond phase
August 11, 2009
The playoff picture for the 2009 International Saimoe League Tiara double-elimination tournament continues to become crystal clear. Crystal-clear like the diamonds that bedeck its wondrous crown.
And that leads to one question before the big question: who will win the Diamond necklace?
The current holder is Haruhi Suzumiya, who bounced back from two straight defeats in the Ruby stage to thump Reimu Hakurei in Dhaka, Bangladesh by the score of 2063-1117.
Defending champions Fate Testarossa Harlaown beat Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 1735-1320 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mikuru Asahina and Taiga Aisaka secured big victories in a couple of marquee matchups.
Asahina edged Horo 1612-1540 in Sydney, Australia while Aisaka slashed past Kotomi Ichinose 1754-1355 in Moscow, Russia.
Overall league leader Shana rose to the top of the leaderboard with a 2246-678 drubbing of Kirino Chiba in Kinshasa, Congo DR.
Claiming a sweep were the Rozen Maiden Alice dolls and Fate/Stay Night candidates.
On the Rozen Maiden side, Suigintou overcame Nayuki Minase 1930-1130 in Mexico City, Mexico. Suiseiseki rolled past Remilia Scarlet 1843-938 in Santiago, Chile and Shinku let all hell loose on Vita, winning 1866-893 in Karachi, Pakistan.
The girls from the TYPE-MOON classic got their sweep in impressive fashion. Saber's sword was better than Rena Ryuuguu's billhook in a 1696-1339 rout in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Rin Tosaka had no problem dismissing Aya Shameimaru 2150-740 in London, UNited KIngdom, and neither did Illyasviel von Einzbern in crushing Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, who is doomed to end her ISML campaign with the wooden spoon 1988-541 in Manila, Philippines.
Also claiming a sweep were the Lucky Star girls. In Katowice, Poland, Tsukasa Hiiragi cruised past Makoto Sawatari 1942-892. Konata Izumi prevailed over Ayu Tsukimiya 1536-1324 in Paris and Kagami Hiiragi routed Sayuri Kurata 1661-1270 in New York, USA.
In other Diamond action...Kyou Fujibayashi defeated Hanyuu Furude 1616-1332 in Tokyo, Japan, Hinagiku Katsura outpaced Maria 1892-1058 in Mumbai, India, Nanoha Takamachi busted Amu Hinamori 1427-1206 in Sao Paulo, Brazil the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai saw Rika Furude lay the kimchi on Akari Mizunashi 1879-791, Mikoto Misaka got the best of Index L. Prohibitorum in a battle of To Aru Majutsu no Index girls 1176-931 in Lagos, Nigeria and Fuko Ibuki won a thrilling 1622-1606 victory in Los Angeles, USA.
Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) kept her hopes for remaining in the tournament alive with a 1773-1182 victory over Sakura Kinomoto in Seoul, South Korea, Ami Kawashima cruised past KAllen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) 1765-910 in Cairo, Egypt, the Indonesian capital of Jakarta saw Shiori Misaka beat Alice Carroll 1463-1172 and Misuzu Kamio tore down Anya Earlstreim 1599-1052 in Istanbul, Turkey.
Yuuhi Katagiri defeated Shiki Ryogi 1198-1029 in Lima, Nagisa Furukawa won a nail-biter over Minori Kushieda 1555-1528 in Tehran, Marisa Kirisama scored an impressive win over Chii 1257-1226 in Bangkok, Thailand, Mei Sunohara was all businees against Tamaki Kawazoe in a 1812-787 beatdown in Bogota, Colombia and Nagi Sanzen'in never broke a sweat in breaking Patchouli Knowledge 1772-660 in Toronto.
Wrapping up action...Tomoyo Sakagami roundhoused Mai Kawasumi 1894-1077 in Milan, Italy, C.C. cruised past Evangeline McDowell 1804-918 in Algiers, Algeria, and Hayate Yagami moved down Nagi in Madrid 1270-1037
