Tigerboy1966

There's an example of the zero point declining: Classic Ikioi (2013-2016), ~M4; as the cellulitis started to set in (2017-2018), ~M7; then a descending sine wave until intai. Hmmm... Ikioi produced arguably his best ever performance with an 8-7 at M2 including a kinboshi from Kakuryu in July 2018. Maybe his rubber band got twisted.

Ikioi's career is another nice example of this: one-time sekiwake, twice komusubi, but almost always struggled badly when he rose above M4.

Tamawashi (2) should be in there, I think.

I don't know if this is unusual, but the database still isn't showing the playoff/ "day 16" results for Kyushu '23.

Yeah he'll be fine. The man with the magic sock will be in there at M15 and good luck to him.

Yeah, I can't see any realistic scenario that could possibly have him go higher than M6w. I'm thinking M6 or M7, which can be a sweet spot just outside jo'i. That might not be the case in January where Ichi may be duelling with the likes of Hokutofuji, Asanoyama, Tamawashi, Kinbozan, Shonanoumi, Mitakeumi et al in the first week. The middle ranks look likely to be stacked with talent.

It's not as if the system is completely arbitrary. When you see an odd ranking decision you can almost always work out the criteria that have been taken into consideration, even when they aren't the ones that you or I would have applied. So it looks like it's Tsushimanada who will be starting January against Kayo, with Wakatakakage waiting for the winner. Happy New Year!

Agreed. He is very good at hanging in there until the other guy falls over, and that's a good base to work from. The skills can be learned and he is in the right stable for that, but he is already carrying too many tapes and bandages for my liking. January will be a tough one for him at M1 and we'll see how he responds.

Our first 13-2 of 2023 was a long time coming. And this is a rope-run I will be cheering for.

So, as I understand it, after today's results the candidates for the last 2 spots in juryo are Tenshoho, Chiyosakae and Tsushimanada. Who will miss out?

I had to rerun that match again. How far has Endo fallen: getting collapsed by Takarafuji? They have both slipped quite a bit, but they have always been pretty evenly matched. And Takarafuji is the one who made sekiwake.

Never thought I would say this but I think Tsurugisho deserves a prize this basho. He looked completely shot after five days but he has turned it around with some technically superb sumo. I have always tended to view him as a second-rater most notable for his "agony of defeat" facial expressions but he has produced career best efforts over the last week.

Well this is getting a bit odd. Still no torikumi. Are they still arguing or did someone just forget to push a button?

Tohakuryu is likely to join them. Yes but I won't miss him and his "pull and slap down" sumo.

Well that's a disappointing way to start day 12. My two "can't miss" prospects, Roga and Kitanowaka, are going straight back down to juryo. Mind you, getting battered in ones mauku'uchi debut isn't necessarily a bad thing, as Atamifuji has shown.