ISML 2014: Date A Live To The Top!!!

ISML 2014: Date A Live To The Top!!!
Kotori Itsuka takes Tiara, breaks Date A Live losing streak in ISML

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
October 6, 2014

Match Day 10 of the 2014 International Saimoe League postseason, the final match day of the 2014 ISML campaign proper, concluded and it was only fitting that Date A Live, a series that had been on the short end of the stick so many times in the regular season and Nova Division Finals, finally got its just rewards. Kotori Itsuka won the Heavenly Tiara and becomes the Saimoe Leader Of The Free World for 2015, defeating Mashiro Shiina 4906-4613.

What makes this victory even more impressive is the volume of voters in Eastern Europe, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea that voted for Itsuka. Shiina had won handily in Russia, the Middle East, Australia, the Philippines, Africa and New Zealand, but due to xenophobic bias in Japan and Korea, Itsuka was able to win votes through the heart of the voting blocks: East Asia. It is not certain whether or not this will translate to a resurgence in 2channel, but this victory was nonetheless a sweet one for Kotori, who celebrated the victory at lunchtime at a rally in downtown Tokyo.

"To all my supporters, there is only one word that sums up my emotions after winning the Tiara and the rights to being the Saimoe Leader of the Free World: FINALLY!" Itsuka exclaimed, to the roar of the crowd. "I want to thank Kurumi, Touka, Yoshino and Origami for a great campaign and for their support. And I want to thank Shidou for his dedication to our cause and for vouching all of us. Most importantly, this victory is for you, and I want to thank you all for being with me on this journey.

"We made history. We got over the hump. And we're going to do it all over against next year so look out for us. Thank you, world! Thank you, everyone! Thank you, ISML!"

Kanade Tachibana finished third place after defeated Ayase Aragaki 5081-4096, Nanami Aoyama ended up fifth after edging Kuroyukihime 4714-4519, Taiga Aisaka roared past Ruri Gokou 4953-4220 to finish seventh, Kurumi Tokisaki defeated Asuna Yuuki 4753-4571 to finish ninth, and Yoshino ended up 11th after defeating Shana 4803-4434, completing a Date A Live sweep on the last match day proper.

In other exhibition results, Chitoge Kirisaki prevailed over Kosaki Onodera 4228-3837, Shiro hammered Enju Aihara 5143-3722, Mare S Ephemeral rolled past Akane Senri 3999-2913, Komari Koshigaya dismantled Alice Cartalet 3865-3097, Komurasaki throttled Utage Douraku 4232-3570 and Yume Ototsu thumped Tamamo Sakuraba 3810-2749. With Ephemeral's victory, she wins the Visual Novel Exhibition Series.

This concludes the 2014 International Saimoe League coverage on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue. Stay tuned next year for coverage of the 2015 International Saimoe League. Keep it here on the Bedlam for continuing coverage of the 2014 2channel Anime Saimoe Tournament!