ISML 2011: Azusa close to Diamond victory

ISML 2011: Azusa close to Diamond victory
Nadeko Sengoku rounds out Tiara field


By JR Salazar (Bongaboi)
October 3, 2011

Azusa Nakano is a 2011 International Saimoe League Diamond Necklace Round victory away from securing some sort of pride for K-ON!.

Nakano defeated Eucliwood Hellscythe 4324-3730 to come into Match Day as the odds-on favorite. However, her biggest challenge may come in the form of the defending ISML Champion, Mio Akiyama.

Mio may have fallen to Yuki Nagato, 3758-4489, but she did beat Azusa in the regular season and is more than capable of securing the top prize.

Other contenders for the prize include Haruhi Suzumiya, who crushed Saber 4349-3839; Hinagiku Katsura, who fell to Shana 3338-4749; Yuri Nakamura, who rolled past Victorique de Blois 4409-3602 and Yui Hirasawa, who was already eliminated from the Tiara picture on Match Day 6 but is in after defeating Kirino Kousaka 4070-3929.

Kanade Tachibana will go down as the odds-on favorite to wear the ISML Tiara after defeating Mikoto Misaka in a 4319-4142 thriller. Nadeko Sengoku rounded out the field of 16 with a 3848-3553 victory over Charlotte Dunois

In other ISML action...Nagisa Furukawa crushed Sora Kasugano 4370-3173, Ui Hirasawa ended her ISML campaign with a 3986-3673 bouncing on Nymph, Tsumugi Kotobuki rolled past Haruna 4079-3598, Huang Lingyin defeated Seraphim 3623-3358 and Kagami Hiiragi squeaked past Mato Kuroi 3878-3860.

Shiina defeated Houki Shinonono 3653-3591, Nagi Sanzen'in cruised past Fate Testarossa 4010-3309, Rin Tosaka drilled Asami Iwasawa 4243-3349, Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere prevailed over Last Order 3831-3798 and Yui defeated Hitagi Senjougahara 4167-3720.

Wrapping up ISML action...Laura Bodewig will earn the wooden spoon after going winless in her 2699-4671 defeat to Kyou Fujibayashi, Index L. Prohibitorum defeated Mafuyu Shiina 3890-3460, Konata Izumi took down C.C. 3986-380, Ayase Aragaki defeated Konjiki no Yami 3766-3605, Mikuru Asahina whipped past Kuroko Shirai 4058-3868 and Taiga Aisaka roared past Holo 5342-2605.

In the special match, Feena Fam Earthlight defeated Yuuko Ichihara 4260-2336.

Match Day 8 of the 2011 International Saimoe League Diamond Necklace phase is scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, 2011. Vote for your favorite candidate at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.