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!

South Sydney Rabbitohs: 2014 NRL Premiers

Sam Burgess – battered, bruised and victorious – being carried by his teammates and brothers is the iconic image of the 2014 NRL grand final.

Grand finals are often remembered for producing iconic moments that pull at the heartstrings.

Like the stories of the Sattlers, father John revered for his courage, son Scott admired for his determination and desire to win at all costs when he produced ‘that’ tackle.

But the 2014 grand final was the greatest in history for the stories it produced.

There is the tale of four boys from Yorkshire, who came to Australia to find their fortune, mother Julie coming along for the ride. The band of brothers came to South Sydney to ply their trade and hopefully return to England with a premiership. Three boys were instrumental in the victory, with Tom providing strong impact from the bench, yet it was his two older brothers who shone.

The Clive Churchill medal could have gone to either George or Sam, but in the end it was awarded to the older brother, the man who defied a broken cheekbone in the first tackle of the game to soldier on and produce match-winning moments such as his pickup of a grubber on South Sydney’s line.

The Burgess story ends with brother George, who produced the moment of the grand final when he bashed off Tony Williams to score the try that opened the flood gates and left the fans asking who was the real T-Rex?

Yet with happiness comes heartbreak and boy do Souths know heartbreak. This team was thrown of out of the competition in the early 2000s, brought back by people marching on Town Hall.

Souths’ victory was more than just the football, it was justification for the supporters who had fought for the team they loved, a football club that was resurrected directly by the people.

Then came the Hollywood element, with Russell Crowe buying his share in the club, spreading the story far and wide, and seeing a struggling football club become one of the most professional teams in the NRL.

There was the brilliance of Greg Inglis, who surely is one of the game’s greats. Lote Tuqiri hadn’t played in a grand final for 14 years, while his counterpart Alex Johnston who scored his 21st try of the season to get Souths out of the blocks.

Then there was the heroism of the Clive Churchill medalist Sam Burgess and that broken cheekbone, ensuring he will forever be immortalised as he leaves for rugby union.

Not to forget the performance of the Bulldogs, who were right in the game for 60 minutes, and the efforts of James Graham.

It is these stories that showcase why this was the greatest rugby league grand final of all time.

2channel Anime Saimoe 2014: Second Round Results, Match Day 16

T2-1
1位　197票　結城明日奈（アスナ）＠ソードアート・オンライン Extra Edition
2位　155票　リゼ（天々座理世）＠ご注文はうさぎですか?

V2-2
1位　260票　巴マミ＠劇場版 魔法少女まどか☆マギカ[新編]叛逆の物語
2位　100票　夜刀神十香＠デート・ア・ライブII

X2-1
1位　254票　佐天涙子＠とある科学の超電磁砲S
2位　86票　鷺森灼＠咲-Saki- 全国編