Morty

On first viewing I thought he had done okay but after a couple of watches it was clear how comprehensively Hokotofuji beat him. He was never in that match

I thought the Geek had killed that old lady he landed on but she seemed pretty pleased with the whole deal. He came off the dohyo clutching his wrist though before he landed on her. Didn't look good.

Jinxed him! I was going for Chiyotairyu with no expectation he could keep going, but his sumo this past week has been exceptional and extremely motivated. Endo looks seriously switched on as well, and healthy, as does Asanoyama. I would love if it came down to a three-way battle between the three young guns - Asanoyama, Endo and Mitakeumi. But you are right, only day 8 - a lot can happen in the next seven days.

As a fellow bad back sufferer I agree - there is no way I could even contemplate sumo if I pull my back out (and I don't weigh 215 kg...). However, I also wonder if it is in his head as well. We talk a lot about the physical state of these guys but not often about the mental. It has to be tough getting yourself psyched up to go out and fight another man 15 days in a row. Kisenosato should have been a Yokozuna years earlier but couldn't get over the mental hurdle. Likewise Goeido loses matches he definitely shouldn't probably because his head isn't in the right place. Ichinojo looks to me like a guy who has these issues but he also looks depressed a lot of the time. He has that vacant look of despair that depressed people have (trust me, I know all about that look). This is obviously an armchair diagnosis but imagine if you suffered proper clinical depression and then also had to go out there and wrestle every day? It would be impossible. I really hope I am wrong because being depressed really sucks, but I often think that about him when I see him up on the dohyo and he doesn't look interested in being there.

I am basing this purely on the scurrilous rumour that he has apparently been losing his passion for sumo and the fact his performance would seem to suggest that might be true. All this could be entirely incorrect. In one way I would be happy to be proven wrong because he is a favourite, but on the other, i have said numerous times that I would like him to retire because I am worried about damage to his brain, given his long term tendency to lead with his head...

Three observations from today: 1. Yoshikaze will intai before the end of this basho. His heart's not in it anymore; 2. Chiyotairyu looks more motivated than I've ever seen him. He has always had talent but has also been fairly blase. This is the first time he looks really switched on and like he is desperate to win; and 3. Tamawashi completely psyched Tochinoshin out at the tachiai today. Tochinoshin was totally in the zone, then Tamawashi delayed the tachiai and made him matta, and at that exact moment you could see his concentration evaporate. Then he lost in a way he wouldn't normally. Tamawashi is no push over but in the form Tochinoshin is in he would normally have handled him. Smart move by the Mongolian.

Welcome back Bugman, good to see you! And yes, Tochinoshin has gone from a joi whipping boy to a potential Yokozuna in what seems like a very short period of time. He managed to get both physically healthy, and over any mental doubts he previously had, at the same time, and is reaping the results.

Yoshikaze, and I hate to say this because he is one of my faves, looks increasingly like a man who has had too many blows to the head. I'd kind of like him to give it away before he ends up real punchy.

It's been a year now since Hak did the 15-0 cruise. I'd love to see it just one more time to prove that, even in his declining years, he can still do it and is, now and forever, the GOAT.

What a great day of sumo. Some excellent close calls by the various Gyoji, a number of fabulous matches, and just all round good stuff. Oh, and Yutakayama is rapidly becoming my new favourite rikishi.

Hokotofuji went a little bit Goku at the end of his match there

Terunofuji is a mere 26 years old - he was 18 when he joined sumo. I don't know how much education he has, but I would suspect less rather than more. He is a young man who moved from his own country, away from his family, into the care of a "system" (and I say that advisedly) that took over the running of his life and his career, and in which blind obedience is encouraged. Add to that that young sports people like to compete in their sports, often to their detriment. The entire blame for the mismanagement of his injuries lies with Isegehama. Maybe not the diabetes (although dealing with that should be pretty common in sumo) but everything else. I hope he comes back but if he doesn't, blame Isegehama, not Terunofuji.

Years after dropping from sekitori Sagatsukasa has climbed to Ms7 opposite Toyonoshima and has a chance to get back. I doubt it will happen but I have my fingers crossed. Has been a favourite of mine ever since he did the most perfect ipponzeoi to win a match

Me too. And say hello, goodbye and thankyou. But mostly ordering a beer.

Great final match for what has been a great basho. Thoroughly enjoyed it.