ISML 2010

ISML 2010 was the 3rd edition of the International Saimoe League. This was the last edition to implement a double-elimination bracket for the playoffs.

Shana grabbed the lion's share of the seven gems, winning a record-setting three necklaces in this edition alone. This incident led to the staff overhauling the format of the necklace rounds for the following edition, and directly influenced the creation of the "one-girl, one-gem" policy that bans necklace winners from participating in future rounds, making ISML 2010 the final edition where contestants can earn multiple gems in a single year.

Mio Akiyama wins this year's Heavenly Tiara with a victory overMikoto Misaka in the grand final, keeping the trend of Upper Bracket winners going on to become champions of the contest. The K-On frontwoman had beaten the Raildex superstar in the upper bracket final prior to that match, making her the second consecutive champion to defeat the runner-up in the playoffs twice. Furthermore, by winning the ISML championship and Anizone's Korea Best Moe at the same year., Akiyama joins the exclusive list of females who won multiple major championships.

Defending champion Hinagiku Katsura finished strongly in the regular season, securing the second seed of the playoffs. However, she stumbled in the quarter-finals of the upper bracket against Azusa Nakano, and would later be eliminated in Round 4 of the Lower Bracket against Shana in a rematch of last year's final.

The Exhibition matches were first introduced this year. Several matches were held during each regular season period, with each winner being awarded an ISML poster. The results and galleries can be found in this page.

Direct Invites
To be added

Nomination Round
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Preliminary Rounds
To be added

Regular Season
To be added

Aquamarine
With the new change of having 50 contestants in the Regular Season, the competition for the necklaces would be faster, yet fiercer. Tomoyo Sakagami, the defending Aquamarine Necklace winner, lost to Hinagiku Katsura at Aquamarine 1. Tomoyo would have to immediately relinquish her title due to an early loss. With the Aquamarine necklace vacated, all contestants set their eyes on it. By the end of the Aquamarine period, Mikoto Misaka would face Taiga Aisaka on what would be the match to determine who would win the Aquamarine Necklace. Although Mikoto won the match, it was Mio Akiyama who would bypass Mikoto in the leader-board due to her high SDO. Because she was on top of the leader-board, Mio would become the new ISML Aquamarine Necklace winner, her first ISML necklace. The new change also added exhibition matches in every round.

Topaz
By the end of the Topaz period, Yuki Nagato, the defending ISML Topaz Necklace winner, lost to Shana at Topaz 7. Because of this loss, Yuki would have to relinquish her necklace. Mikoto Misaka would face Hinagiku Katsura on what would be the match to determine who would win the Topaz Necklace. Although Hinagiku defeated Mikoto, it was Taiga Aisaka who would bypass Hinagiku in the leader-board due to her high SDO. Taiga would become the new ISML Topaz Necklace winner, her first ISML necklace.

Amethyst
Because Suigintou was not a part of the 50 contestants, a new Amethyst Necklace winner must be crowned. By the end of the Amethyst period, Shana received a surprising loss from Mio Akiyama, ending her undefeated streak. Yuki Nagato and Saber would face off to determine the new ISML Amethyst Necklace winner. Yuki defeated Saber and became the new ISML Amethyst Necklace winner. This necklace was befitting for her, for she is a silent and protective person. She became the fourth girl to have two necklaces in her ISML career.

Sapphire
By the end of the Sapphire Period, Shana, the defending Sapphire Necklace winner, would face Mikoto Misaka for the necklace. Shana won the match and became the first girl to successfully retain her ISML necklace. She also became the first girl to obtain three necklaces in her ISML career, the highest amount that any ISML participant had.

Emerald
Because Suiseiseki was not a part of the 50 contestants, a new Emerald Necklace winner must be crowned. A match that surprised many votes was Nagisa Furukawa vs. Hitagi Senjougahara at Emerald 3. Nagisa, a 20th tier girl, defeated Hitagi, a 13th tier girl (1914-1865). By the end of the Emerald period, Shana would face Kyou Fujibayashi to determine the new ISML Emerald Necklace winner. Shana defeated Kyou and became the new ISML Emerald winner. Shana became the third girl to receive two necklaces in one season, the second girl to have back-to-back necklace wins, and the first girl to have four necklaces, beating her own record of three necklace wins.

Ruby
A surprising match that caught the voters off-guard was Nagisa Furukawa vs. Fate Testarossa at Ruby 3, where Nagisa, a 21st tier girl, defeated Fate, a 15th tier girl (1994-1966). By the end of the Ruby period, Hinagiku, the defending Ruby Necklace winner, lost to Shana at Ruby 7. This loss ended her undefeated streak and forced her to vacate her Ruby Necklace. Mio Akiyama would face Taiga Aisaka on what would be the match to determine the new Ruby necklace winner. Although Taiga defeated Mio and her undefeated streak, it was Mikoto Misaka who bypassed Taiga in the leader-board due to her high SDO. Mikoto became the new ISML Ruby Necklace winner, her first ISML necklace.

Diamond
Because Shinku was not a part of the 50 contestants, a new Diamond Necklace winner must be crowned. A match that was considered an upset was Ui Hirasawa vs. Fate Testarossa at Diamond 6, where Ui, a 30th tier girl, defeated Fate, a 17th tier girl (2175-2145). This loss cost Fate the chance to return to the Top 16 once again. By the end of the Diamond period, Shana would face Taiga Aisaka to determine the new Diamond Necklace winner. Shana defeated Taiga, becoming the new ISML Diamond Necklace winner. She is the first girl to receive five necklaces in her ISML career and the first girl to have three necklaces in one season.

Playoffs
Format:
 * 16 females, Double-elimination bracket.
 * Round of 16 match-ups are determined by regular season ranking
 * Losers drop to Lower Bracket Rd 1, Winners advance to Upper Bracket
 * Winner of the grand final wins the Heavenly Tiara and declared as the year's champion.

Round of 16

 * (1) Shana vs  (16)  Hitagi Senjougahara,   4221 - 3047
 * (9) Haruhi Suzumiya vs  (8)  Saber,    3966 - 3262
 * (4) Mikoto Misaka vs  (13)  Nadeko Sengoku,   4521 - 2617
 * (5)  Taiga Aisaka vs  (12)  Nagi Sanzenin,   4156 - 2987
 * (2) Hinagiku Katsura vs  (15)  Kagami Hiiragi,   4387 - 2819
 * (7) Azusa Nakano vs (10)  Tomoyo Sakagami,   4199 - 3077
 * (3) Mio Akiyama vs (14)  Yui Hirasawa,   4337 - 2573
 * (6) Yuki Nagato vs (11)  Kyou Fujibayashi,  4026 - 3196

Final Rankings
Bold: Necklace(s) Winner

Winner's Gallery
To be added