ISML 2010: A new season begins with the Aquamarine Phase...and upsets?
March 22, 2010
Finally, the moment has arrived. The 2010 International Saimoe League begins in earnest, and we kick things off with the battle for the Aquamarine Necklace, representing the power of the oceans.
Shana is the defending champion, and she went off to a flying start, defeating 2008 ISML Tiara Champion Fate Testarossa 3528-2060 in a record turnout for the first match day of the regular season marked with a number of veterans losing to many new faces in the fold.
Forget the March Madness in the North American collegiate basketball universe; how about some ISML March Madness early on!
"I was stunned by the overall turnout for this one," said Shana after her victory. "The message seems to be brought out loud and clear. This tournament DOES matter in their eyes. We hope it continues."
"I admit it did exceed expectations," said defending champion HInagiku Katsura, who didn't miss a beat with her 3093-2356 victory over Tomoyo Sakagami. "But this adds a lot of good publicity to this tournament."
The K-ON! entries had a perfect day for their first forays of competition outside the preliminary stages. Yui Hirasawa took down C.C., whose star seems to be fading after a 2816-2637 victory.
"Wow, to beat someone like this is huge," Yui said after her win. "This is great. I'm ready to keep this going."
Her younger sister Ui was even more emphatic in her first match, routing Mihoko Fukuji 3067-1800. "I agree with onee-chan, I was lucky to have made it to this field of 50," she said. "And I made up for it in a big way by beating someone who had literally a free pass to the regular season. When I think about it, I wonder if she really deserved to be here."
Mio Akiyama thumped Nagi Sanzen'in 3235-2337 in her first contest. "Hopefully the voters in Japan will note be giving me the middle finger and support some over-the-hill character from a show like The Minami Family or somewhere of that caliber," Akiyama said. "I think the healing process got accelerated a bit. This is great."
Azusa Nakano was all smiles after crushing Kotomi Ichinose 2935-2382. "It feels so great to get a victory over somebody Mio-sempai defeated. I think anything is possible!"
"By golly, it feels good to come out with revenge," said Mikoto Misaka, who ripped apart Kagami Hiiragi 3160-2312. "I will never forgive how I was disrespected last season. Now I am fired up and ready to show the world who Mikoto Misaka is!"
"That's my onee-sama!!!" exclaimed Kuroko Shirai, who was with her after her victory. "I may have been eliminated in the prelims, but I am in onee-sama's corner, and will be to the end."
Making it a perfect day for the Railgun faction was Ruiko Saten, who stunned Rika Furude 2746-2388. "Just about everywhere you go you are seeing somebody familiar get beaten by somebody whose in it for the first time," Saten said after her win. "The voters want change. They want somebody new. If these results hold up, Hina's defense is going to be put to the test early."
Perhaps the biggest upset of the day was Kurimu Sakurano's 2714-2442 win over Nanoha Takamachi. "While I have respect for Nanoha and her legacy," Sakurano said on her win, "the buck stops here."
"Easy for you to say, you're the only one in the Student Council who hasn't loss yet!" said a disgruntled MInatsu Shiina, who lost to Holo 2767-2546.
"That's not the point!" she whined. "The point is that the big names can be felled in this tournament! Nothing is sacred. Nothing, I say! Mou! >_< "
Adding to Hekiyou's woes were Taiga Aisaka's 2980-2448 victory over Mafuyu Shiina and KOnata Izumi's 2768-2572 victory over Chizuru Akaba. Izumi won on a day where the Hiiragi sisters suffered their first defeats early. Along with Kagami's defeat, Tsukasa fell to Fuuko Ibuki 2645-2409.
Other noteworthy victories by the first-timers include Nadeko Sengoku's 2804-2458 win over Nagisa Furukawa and Nymph's thrilling 2425-2412 win over Chiaki Minami.
"Man, that was a d-o-o-z-y with a capital D," said Nymph after her win. "I hope I am able to survive this phase, this sure won't any easier for me!" she said with a giggle.
Indeed there were a number familiar contenders that withstood the firestorm that was Aquamarine Match Day 1. The Toradora! trio were among the veterans that stayed intact. Aside from Aisaka, Ami Kawashima defeated Mei Sunohara 2631-2506 and Minori Kushieda took out Ushio Okazaki 2717-2343.
Kyou Fujibayashi clipped Ikaros's wings 3144-2180, Yuki Nagato defeated Hitagi Senjougahara 2977-2454, Ryou Fujibayashi cruised past Nodoka Haramura 2964-1797 and Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere won 2638-2480 over Isumi Saginomiya.
Finally, the first match day featured some "You Again" duels. Rin Tosaka triumphed over Maria 2795-2588, Mikuru Asahina rolled past Golden Darkness (Konjiki no Yami) 2811-2528, Illyasviel von Einzbern trounced Hanyuu Furude 3144-1914 and Saber completed an initial Fate/Stay Night Sweep with a 2768-2698 victory over Haruhi Suzumiya.
In a special match for this day, Mihoshi Akeno of Sora no Manimani defeated Nodome Cantabile's Megumi Noda 2630-1050.
Aquamarine Match Day 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Vote on your favorite candidates on InternationalSaimoe.com.
