ISML 2010: Shana rolls into Tiara as prohibitive favorite

ISML 2010: Shana rolls into Tiara as prohibitive favorite




By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
August 9, 2010

The 2010 International Saimoe League regular season is over, and a new Diamond necklace winner has been crowned. And it's no surprise that it's the same winner of the Sapphire and Emerald this year.

Yep, you guessed it...it's that blade-happy Flame Haze known to the world as Shana. With her 3553-3139 victory over Taiga Aisaka in what has been a record turnout for the regular season finale, Shana will go into the 2010 ISML Tiara phase as the odds-on favorite to win it all.

"I got the momentum I needed," Shana said after feasting on her 225th melon bread roll, "and it's been fun. This tournament has exceeded my expectations and now I can consider myself ready for the business end of the ISML. Let's do this."

The defending champion Hinagiku Katsura will be a stiff challenge for Shana to overcome, as she ended her perfect diamond run with an impressive 3482-3400 thriller over Mio Akiyama.

"I'm a competitor that believes in making history," Katsura said at a press conference at Hakuoh Academy. "I believe that I can be the first to successfully defend the Tiara. Shana will make it very difficult, though—not just for me, but for everyone here. It's not gonna be easy because this tournament may have to go through her."

"The important thing I can take from this is that I put up a resilient fight," Akiyama said. "But Hinagiku is a Tiara defender with a strong pedigree. I look forward to facing her again."

Azusa Nakano may have finished fourth in the Diamond phase with her 3729-3027 demolition of Mikoto Misaka but she will go down as the only K-ON! representative to finish the Diamond unbeaten. Nakano was beside herself at the rally.

"Wow, to be on top with Shana, Saber, Hina and Mikoto is a dream come true!" she exclaimed at a victory rally at Sakuragaoka High School's auditorium. "I will definitely be ready to give it all I got in the ISML Tiara phase. This has been nothing short of fun and I will make my school and all my sempai proud!"

Misaka concluded her 2010 ISML Diamond run with a 3388-3241 victory over Yuki Nagato. "I may not have won the necklace," she said at the rally on the Tokiwadai Junior High quad, "but your support and devotion has placed me in the Top 16, and I will be fighting for you till the end!"

Saber ended her run with a 3240-3182 win over Kyou Fujibayashi. "We had the victory we wanted," Saber said when asked about the implication it had on the Fate/Stay Night camp, whose morale took a hit when Hitagi Senjougahara sewed up the last spot in the 2010 Tiara field of 16 with her 3230-2876 victory over Rin Tosaka. "It's too bad for Rin. She is a very game competitor, but there can only be one that could take that spot. As for me, I carry the hopes of myself, Rin and Illya during my Tiara campaign. I may face heavy odds, but I have never backed down from a fight, and if I should go down, I always go down fighting."

Von Einzbern was a 3172-2751 victor over Chizuru Akaba.

Katsura's victory was part of a rare sweep for the Hayate the Combat Butler team. Nagi Sanzen'in pulled off an impressive 3684-2831 rout of Nadeko Sengoku, Maria finished her ISML campaign with a 3475-2781 drubbing of Fuuko Ibuki and Isumi Saginomiya left the tournament on a winning note with a 3289-2699 over a beaten and crestfallen but unbowed Nanoha Takamachi.

Ruiko Saten ended her ISML season with a 3152-2766 defeat of Ikaros to give To Aru Kagaku No Railgun a clean sheet on Diamond 7.

This was also a sweep day for Lucky Star. Kagami Hiiragi, who punched her Tiara ticket on Diamond 6, prevailed over Holo 3157-3077. Tsukasa Hiiragi ended her ISML campaign with a 3816-1836 annihilation of winless Mihoko Fukuji (who will earn the dubious honor of ending the season without a single win) while Konata Izumi finished her campaign with a 3276-2889 win over Fate Testarossa.

In the special match, a rivalry between Bleach and Naruto favorites, it was Rukia Kuchiki who had the best of Hinata Hyuuga, 2974-2411.

In other ISML action...Ui Hirasawa crushed Ushio Okazaki 3795-2605, Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) ended her run with a 3091-2849 win over Ryou Fujibayashi, C.C. whipped past Mikuru Asahina 3317-3088, Hanyuu Furude took out Nodoka Haramura 3178-2037 to end her futile ISML run on a winning note, Kotomi Ichinose sounded out Rika Furude 3509-2306 and Nagisa Furukawa laid the dango on Ami Kawashima by the tune of 3797-2297.

Wrapping up ISML regular season action...Mei Sunohara finished her ISML season with a 3101-2620 decision over Chiaki Minami, Tomoyo Sakagami upended Kurimu Sakurano 3636-2469, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere tore down Nymph 3504-2276, Minatsu Shiina cruised past Minori Kushieda 3294-2623 and Yui Hirasawa rocked Mafuyu Shiina 3922-2742.

With the field officially set for the 2010 International Saimoe League Tiara phase, action will resume on September 5 with the Preliminary Round. Vote online and join the debate on InternationalSaimoe.com.

And as always, you can follow extensive coverage of the International Saimoe League on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue as well as on Bongaboi's deviantART page: bongaboi.deviantart.com. This will be a postseason you don't want to miss!

OVERALL INTERNATIONAL SAIMOE LEAGUE STANDINGS

AFTER DIAMOND NECKLACE PHASE

As of August 9, 2010

1. Shana (SAP) (EM) (DIA)

2. Hinagiku Katsura (C)

3. Mio Akiyama (AQ)

4. Mikoto Misaka (RUB)

5. Taiga Aisaka (TOP)

6. Yuki Nagato (AM)

7. Azusa Nakano

8. Saber

9. Haruhi Suzumiya

10. Tomoyo Sakagami

11. Kyou Fujibayashi

12. Nagi Sanzen'in

13. Nadeko Sengoku

14. Yui Hirasawa

15. Kagami Hiiragi

16. Hitagi Senjougahara

(C) Defending ISML Champion

(AQ) ISML Aquamarine necklace winner

(TOP) ISML Topaz necklace winner

(AM) ISML Amethyst necklace winner

(SAP) ISML Sapphire necklace winner

(EME) ISML Emerald necklace winner

(RUB) ISML Ruby necklace winner

(DIA) ISML Diamond necklace winner