Benevolance

Regular Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content Count

    1,365

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    6

Posts posted by Benevolance

  2. Posted

    7 hours ago, Octofuji said:

    That feels like a real blow to Atamifuji's hopes. Kirishima's beaten Takakeisho 4 out of the last 5, and I think Hoshoryu would have been a tougher test for him.

    If it's any consolation, scheduling Kirishima vs Atamifuji was the nail in the coffin of Takakeisho's hopes, so after the tournament Takakeisho and Atamifuji can go somewhere, split a 40 of whisky, and bitch about the lousy match makers.

    • Haha 4

  3. Posted · Edited by Benevolance

    Ah, I see where you're coming from. Also, I was thinking that Takakeisho might have a bit more give in the standings than he does, but looking at it now, he cannot possibly win. It's either Atamafuji or Kirishima with the yusho. The best he manages is the jun-yusho. 

    Interestingly, had they not scheduled Kirishima vs Atamifuji, Takakeisho would have still had a shot. 

  5. Posted

    4 hours ago, Leoben said:

    Maybe I'm misremembering, but didn't someone on the judging committee say they wanted a strong result to consider promotion? If that's the case, it should rule out 11-4 as a promotable score. 

    Someone on the committee will always declare something like this. Eventually we all learn that it doesn't matter. It's a sort of back-handed encouragement. If Takakeisho ever gets back-to-back yusho, he will get promoted. But sadly he won't be getting that this tournament. 

    • Like 4

  6. Posted · Edited by Benevolance

    8 hours ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

    Takakeisho's Yokozuna run is on life support.

    Based on his history, the odds were always against, but I think it's a tad early to stick a fork in him. He's one win back from the trio of leaders, and even a weak yusho like last time would net him the promotion.

    Edit: This is not to be misconstrued as an endorsement of Takakeisho! 

    • Like 1
    • Confused 1

  8. Posted

    Naruto is former Kotooshu, right? He was constantly getting injured in matches. I seem to recall tiny balls of fury like Toyonoshima would dislocate his shoulder on a regular basis, and he'd always bounce back next tournament no trouble. Maybe to him injuries simply are business as usual?

  11. Posted

    I was more disappointed with the quality of the henka than with the fact of the henka itself. Takakeisho barely even moves for the initial contact. Basically just stands up and puts one hand on Atamifuji's head, pulls his arm with the other and a little shuffle. And Atamifuji is charging heedlessly forward like the 'Giku Express.

    • Like 6
    • Thanks 1

  12. Posted

    I've enjoyed Takakeisho's aggression this tournament. He looks like he wants to win. His extra shove on Atamifuji last night to take a co-lead was *chef kiss* - perfect combination of making sure his opponent was out, whilst saying, "This is MY basho!" I doubt Hoshoryu is going to get any sort of OBSC hand-out tonight from Takakeisho, and it'll be interesting to see how Atamifuji fares against Abi. Match ups are in Abi's favour, but he's already secured his kachikoshi and is too far back to be in contention even if he wins. 

    • Like 2

  15. Posted

    Aoiyama is playing the long game. If you convert his win/loss record into binary, it says "You Suck Hakuh". But since we have no idea who this Hakuh character might be, we'll have to wait a few more tournaments to see what is revealed. 

    • Like 1
    • Haha 4

  16. Posted · Edited by Benevolance

    Takakeisho had a yusho-->jun-yusho in his ozeki run and so when he followed that up with the jun-yusho --> yusho in 2020, I figured as a Japanese rikishi that'd be enough to get the rope. And then in 2022-2023 he had 2 jun-yusho and a yusho over four tournaments with double-digit wins in all; I figured he'd get the rope for sure. But obviously he didn't. 

    The problem seems to be that every time he competes, he ends up injured and effectively misses the next tournament as a result. It's probably just as well, though. He's certainly done alright in spite of the injuries so I'm always surprised when people scoff at his yokozuna chances. 

    Edit: By 'competes', I mean that every time he gets healthy enough to actually challenge for the cup, and not those tournaments where he's obviously still injured, and simply trying to scrape together the wins to maintain his rank. 

    • Like 2

  20. Posted

    I'm not sure that either Waka or Daieisho will be able to pick up their necessary three wins in their final two matches without some rather preposterous ringside antics involving a botched matta, at least three complicit shimpan, and an explosive ikebana arrangement. 

    • Like 2
    • Haha 1

  23. Posted

    Not sure I like Waka's chances here at making the triple.

    Unrelated, I hope all the Waka bros make it to sekitori and then Jim Henson studios decides to make a Muppets in Tokyo movie and the Waka brothers get sponsored by Fozzy the Bear because that's a marketing opportunity just waiting to happen. 

    • Like 2
    • Haha 7

  25. Posted

    11 wins seems like almost a given for Daeishou, and 12 wins seems like outside chance for Wakamotoharu and Houshouryuu, which I suspect is the key difference in their mental preparation. The latter two, I expect, are probably wistfully hoping they get 12, yet would be just happy with 11 to secure better odds in September.