ISML Championship Match
ARENA 01: Katsura Hinagiku [Shana]
ARENA 02: [Chii] Index Prohibitorum
ARENA 03: Minase Nayuki [Kurata Sayuri]
ARENA 04: [Evangeline McDowell] Katagiri Yūhi
ARENA 05: [Hakurei Reimu] Kawasumi Mai
ARENA 06: [Vita] Yagami Hayate
ARENA 07: Kamio Misuzu [Misaka Mikoto]
ARENA 08: [Tsukimiya Ayu] Louise Vallière
ARENA 09: [Nogizaka Haruka] Yin
This matchup will go on for an additional 4 hours because of the downtime of the site earlier, so results may be delayed.
We have Shana going up against Hinagiku again, but she’s back more powerful than before after a fresh OVA is released (it was good too) and after destroying Tomoyo last time. Here are statistics of the characters in the matchup:
Shana (SnS)
- Anime Saimoe: 3rd place 2006 (Lost to champion Suiseiseki (RM)), 11th place 2007 (Lost to runner-up Nagi Sanzenin (HnG)), 14th place 2008 (Lost to Tamaki Kawazoe (BB))
- Best Moe: 4th place 2006 (Lost to champion Suiseiseki (RM)), runner-up 2007 (Lost to champion Hinagiku Katsura (HnG)), 4th place 2008 (Lost to champion Horo (SaW))
- Champion of Super Best Moe 2006-07
- ISML: 6th place 2008 (59-4, 2-2), 2008 Aquamarine necklace winner
- 2009: Ranked #1 (62-1, 4-1), losses: Tomoyo (regulation), Hinagiku; Sapphire necklace winner
Hinagiku Katsura (HnG)
- Anime Saimoe: Second Round loss to Runa Edomae (SnH) 2007, 3rd place 2008 (Lost to runner-up Tsukasa Hiiragi (LS)), Third round loss to runner-up Yui Hirasawa (K-ON!) 2009
- Best Moe: 2007 Champion, 3rd place 2008 (lost to runner-up Kyou Fujibayashi), 5th place 2009 (lost to champion Taiga Aisaka)
- 5th Place Korea Super Best Moe 2006-2007
- ISML: 11th place 2008 (54-9, 1-2)
- 2009: Ranked #11 (51-12, 4-0), losses: Mikuru, Fate, Kyou, Rika, Nagisa, Yuki, Saber, Shana, Shinku, Suigintou, Suiseiseki, Haruhi; Ruby necklace winner
Match History:
- Best Moe 2007 Final Match (10/26-27): Shana 2013, Hinagiku 2015
- Korean Super Best Moe 2006-07: Shana 1304, Hinagiku 1230
- ISML 2008 Aquamarine 1 (4/1-ISML’s debut): Shana 144, Hinagiku 104
- ISML 2009 Diamond 9 (8/28): Shana 2107, Hinagiku 1438
- ISML 2009 3rd Round of Revelation (10/22): Shana 1395, Hinagiku 1677
Again, Shana has more successes in tournaments, although Hinagiku did beat her in Best Moe 2007 to take the crown. Shana also has been doing well here in ISML as well going in ranked #1. Hinagiku has been really impressive being in the finals ranked #11. She has had a lot of losses for a possible champion in making.
Looking at the past records, Shana has the advantage with a 3-2 record over her. She could have been Best Moe Champion if Hinagiku hadn’t beat her by only 2 points (closer than even this year’s close match with Taiga and Kagami).
My final predictions say that Shana will pull an upset. Hinagiku has done really well in tournament play beating #6, #3, #7, and #1, but she’s still #11 and beating #1 again is a difficult task. Shana appears to be even more powerful than before because of the recent OVA (which came a tad too late last time). This is shown with her recent victory against Tomoyo.
Hinagiku only has to win one more time to win the tiara while Shana needs to win twice. Could Shana pull this off, or will Hinagiku triumph over her again? Again, one win for Hinagiku and it’s over.
This may also be the last of the relegation matches. I don’t think Reimu will be able to beat Mai, so Louise, Mikoto, Mai, Ayu, and Sayuri should be eligible for next year’s ISML. I’m not 100% sure though.
In exhibition, once again it’s a character I know vs. a character I don’t know. This does not make things too interesting. In this case, I only know Haruka, so I’ll go for her. I never really saw Darker than Black, but I do plan on watching both seasons. This matchup just came too early for me to go for Yin. I would’ve probably go for Haruka anyways. Maybe.
Good luck Shana!
Source: ISML
