Handshakes, hugs and high-fives as Mio Akiyama wins Korea
By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
October 11, 2010
It was a more subdued, but relatively enthused reaction at Sakuragaoka Girls' High School when news broke out that Mio Akiyama defeated Kanade Tachibana 2546-2398. A strong performance in China, Indonesia and Western Europe proved to be all the difference.
What made this victory impressive is that Tachibana carried Korea and Japan as well as Canada, Australia, the USA and Russia...but failed to win.
"This was where the European vote came into play," said observer and outgoing senior Ichigo Wakaouji. "Western Europe strongly favors Mio, and they proved to be the difference.
"We didn't need Korea or Japan to vote for Mio because we knew the foreign vote was going to be a factor."
At the auditorium, where students viewed incoming returns, there were cheers, hugs, handshakes, high-fives and applause when the final tally was recorded.
"Oh my gosh, it's icing on the cake," Akiyama said at the victory rally, where fans held up signs that said, "THANK YOU, KOREA!" in Korean, Japanese and English. "Two out of three ain't bad.
"This victory isn't as good as the International Saimoe League championship, but I will take it. I thank the people of Korea for believing in me, and I accept this victory as another feather in my cap."
In other news, Azusa Nakano is two victories away from winning the 2010 2chan Anime Saimoe Tournament. She defeated Aoi Yamada 961-627 and will be facing Nodoka Haramura on October 14 in the semifinals.