ISML 2009: Shana clinches the top seed on Diamond 7
September 1, 2009
As Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" played at Shana victory headquarters in the Colombian capital of Bogota, the girl with the fire in her eyes sat on the rooftop by herself, with her sword lying next to her and Yuji Sakai by her side.
She was smiling, but had a cautious expression as the crowd cheered her name, with banners reading: "Fire it up, Shana!", "Our hearts burn for you!" and "On top of the world!" and "We are on your side, Shana" into the Colombian sky.
Shana clinched the overall top seed in the 2009 International Saimoe League with a 1510-970 victory over Saber. She trails a pack of five candidates vying for the Diamond necklace.
Hinagiku Katsura's hopes of winning the Ruby and Diamond continue for one more day, as she defeated Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) 1200-1083 in Bangkok.
Mikuru Asahina rose to the top of the leaderboard with a 1418-1027 victory over defending champion Fate Testarossa Harlaown 1418-1027 in Cairo.
Shinku and Fuuko Ibuki also remain unbeaten heading into the final two Diamond match days. Shinku pulled off a 1228-1138 upset victory over Haruhi Suzumiya in Kinshasa, while Ibuki scored a 1110-1077 thriller over Kotomi Ichinose in Santiago.
After a match day that saw no shows claim a sweep, four groups of competitors went through Diamond 7 without a single defeat.
On the Rozen Maiden side, Suigintou blasted Amu Hinamori 1552-552 in London and Suiseiseki trounced Sayuri Kurata 1419-900 in Mexico City.
Toradora!'s power trio rolled on Monday. Taiga Aisaka roared past Rena Ryuuguu 1286-1099 in Katowice, Minori Kushieda prevailed over Sakura Kinomoto 1356-912 in Manila and Ami Kawashima cruised to a 1336-704 victory over Index L. Prohibitorum in Lagos.
KUshieda's victory means that she is still in contention to be back next season. The match with Aya Shameimaru on September 3rd should be winnable, which means the season finale against Anya Earlstreim will decide whether all of Toradora!'s girls stay in 2010.
Lucky Star got lucky on August 30. Konata Izumi defeated Remilia Scarlet 1215-866 in Lima, Kagami Hiiragi roasted Akari Mizunashi 1357-635 in Karachi and Tsukasa Hiiragi flattened Kirino Chiba 1468-591 in Madrid.
Hayate the Combat Butler!!'s team also scored a clean sheet. Maria pulled off an impressive 1439-868 victory over Nanoha Takamachi in Los Angeles and Nagi Sanzen'in whipped past Mai Kawasumi 1300-1002 in Algiers.
In other action...Horo chomped up Aya Shameimaru 1679-586 in Tokyo, Mikoto Misaka electrocuted Evangeline A.K. McDowell 1353-668 in Sao Paulo, Hayate Yagami won a 868-852 nailbiter over Shiori Misaka in New York, Tomoyo Sakagami ripped apart Ayu Tsukimiya 1487-653 in Shanghai and Misuzu Kamio defeated Nagi 1183-803 in Buenos Aires.
Yuki Nagato whipped past Nayuki Minase 1371-679 in Seoul, Mei Sunohara kept Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga on her path to a winless season with a 1531-537 beatdown in Dhaka, Tamaki Kawazoe scored an 863-821 thriller over Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) in Jakarta, Rin Tosaka fried Hanyuu Furude to a crisp 1387-907 in Paris, C.C. laid the holy smackdown on Patchouli Knowledge 1553-570 and Rika Furude easily pounced on Makoto Sawatari 1407-617 in Moscow.
Wrapping up action...Yuuhi Katagiri defeated Anya Earlstreim 961-780 in Tehran, Illyasviel von Einzbern was too much for Shiki Ryogi in a 1295-652 washout in Toronto, Reimu Hakurei took out Alice Carroll 834-723 in Milan, Nagisa Furukawa laid the dango on Louise Francoise LE Blanc De La Valliere 1327-1002 in Sydney and Chii chalked up a 928-849 win over Vita in Santo Domingo.
