Reonito

If we did end up with this and both 6-0 guys lost, we'd have something like an 8 or 9 way playoff, like two years ago!

12. Endo

Also this did not age well.

Honestly, I don't think anyone is getting forced down if they hit their target, no matter the strength of the juryo man's claim.

Erm ... they already fought on Day 8?

I'm curious to see what they do with our leader tomorrow and how they match up the rest of the contenders. There are multiple plausible solutions.

Sorry @Sumo Spiffy and @Sakura I just logged on to try to post my pick early and saw that you already posted the same one. I'm happy to show my work. As Sakura often says, do we trust them to do the right thing? 11. Hoshoryu

That time for WTK is day 10, so we'll see if they use Kotoshoho or swap in Midorifuji when the torikumi comes out (we've been debating this over in the GKA topic).

Unless they feel like it's really necessary, those guys should be otherwise occupied on 10, along with Mitakeumi. Might they go with Tamawashi, figuring his rank and pedigree make up for his record? Ryuden and Nishikigi aren't doing any better, and otherwise they're left looking at Ichi or lower. As Kintamayama likes to say, we shall see.

We could get it on 11. Seems like the two interesting ways to go on 10 would be Kinbozan or (under your hypothesis) WTK. The mid-maegashira options are distinctly uninspiring.

Yeah, Midori could get elevated quite naturally, and soon.

Good point; I too am curious about how fast they'll escalate his fight card. Takayasu got the "make him fight all of san'yaku" treatment a few basho back, but others in a similar position haven't been promoted up the torikumi as aggressively. 10. Mitakeumi

You'd certainly have to go back to young Chiyonofuji to find a lighter yusho winner, should Midori somehow pull this off.

9. Ryuden

You're joking, but that's more or less what will happen in that scenario, I think. They just have to hope there's a Sekiwake with a kachi-koshi to shove up there, regardless of their prior records.

If I did the query correctly, Day 8 will be the first time in history with no Ozeki or Yokozuna on the torikumi. Seems really surprising, so someone please correct me if it's wrong.

No, I think I'm with you, why deprive fans of a nakabi intra-san'yaku bout when they don't have to? They've kinda painted themselves into a corner regardless as far as the last days are concerned. Though of course they could panic with a late change and just go with Ryuden and then attempt to unscramble everything else from day 9 on... 8. Tobizaru

This was really prescient, except they're probably regretting it right about now.

This feels very close to a coin flip, but I think one choice is slightly more likely. 8. Daieisho

I hope we don't need to invoke this

They blew that call pretty clearly. No monoii.

True but he used to look competitive and now he looks helpless.

Sticking with the spreadsheet (okay, it's a piece of graph paper) 7. Tobizaru

We should be okay through May, but yeah.