Day 9 results and day 10 pairings

[Doitsuyama 1,153]

The three makuuchi leaders Hakuho, Ama and Goeido all won today with sekiwake Ama just outclassing yokozuna Asashoryu with superior quickness, causing the only loss by a yokozuna or ozeki today as all four ozeki won today with Kotooshu overwhelming Aminishiki, another undersized nemesis of the tall Bulgarian ozeki. The pursuer group is down to ozeki Kotomitsuki at 7-2 as Futeno lost to Goeido and Kokkai to struggling Takamisakari. Tomorrow will be interesting with Ama facing the leading yokozuna Hakuho and Goeido meeting Asashoryu in the musubi-no-ichiban.

Yamamotoyama stayed in the sole juryo lead with an oshidashi win against pursuer Ichihara. The pursuer group got cut in half with Kaiho and Kasuganishiki also losing while Koryu, Aran and Tosayutaka extended their win streaks to 4, 5 and 6 wins to advance to 7-2. Kitazakura won't be one of the makuuchi promotions as he is already make-koshi at 1-8.

Day 9

Juryo

Ms4e   Tamaasuka (4-1)	 oshitaoshi	 J13e   Kirinowaka (3-6)
J11w   Ushiomaru (3-6)	 yorikiri	   J12w   Otsukasa (4-5)
J14e   Asofuji (3-6)	   yorikiri	   J11e   Hakuba (3-6)
J12e   Yamamotoyama (8-1)  oshidashi	  J10w   Ichihara (6-3)
J9e	Sagatsukasa (4-5)   oshidashi	  J13w   Kaiho (6-3)
J8e	Kotokasuga (3-6)	oshidashi	  J14w   Wakatenro (5-4)
J10e   Tosayutaka (7-2)	oshidashi	  J5w	Kyokunankai (5-4)
J5e	Koryu (7-2)		 hatakikomi	 J8w	Shirononami (2-7)
J9w	Ryuo (4-5)		  hatakikomi	 J3w	Kasuganishiki (6-3)
J6w	Aran (7-2)		  yoritaoshi	 J3e	Shimotori (4-5)
J4w	Toyozakura (5-4)	oshidashi	  J2w	Tamakasuga (4-5)
J2e	Tosanoumi (4-5)	 yorikiri	   J7w	Mokonami (3-6)
J7e	Hoshihikari (4-5)   okurinage	  J1w	Kitazakura (1-8)

Makuuchi

J4e	Wakakirin (4-5)	 yorikiri	   M15e   Tamawashi (4-5)
M14w   Kimurayama (6-3)	oshidashi	  M16w   Kakizoe (5-4)
J1e	Bushuyama (6-3)	 yorikiri	   M13e   Chiyohakuho (3-6)
M12w   Dejima (5-4)		tsukiotoshi	M12e   Tamanoshima (4-5)
M11w   Takamisakari (3-6)  hikiotoshi	 M16e   Kokkai (6-3)
M10e   Tochinoshin (5-4)   yorikiri	   M15w   Kasugao (0-9)
M9w	Wakanosato (6-3)	oshidashi	  M14e   Takekaze (4-5)
M9e	Hokutoriki (6-3)	oshidashi	  M13w   Kitataiki (4-5)
M11e   Yoshikaze (3-6)	 oshidashi	  M8w	Masatsukasa (2-7)
M6e	Toyohibiki (6-3)	oshidashi	  M7w	Tokitenku (3-6)

M5w	Goeido (8-1)		kubinage	   M10w   Futeno (6-3)
M2e	Kisenosato (3-6)	tsukiotoshi	M6w	Tochiozan (4-5)
M3e	Kyokutenho (3-6)	yorikiri	   M1e	Kotoshogiku (4-5)
K1w	Asasekiryu (3-6)	uwatenage	  K1e	Baruto (2-7)
O2w	Chiyotaikai (6-3)   oshidashi	  M1w	Miyabiyama (3-6)
O2e	Kaio (6-3)		  yorikiri	   M4w	Tochinonada (2-7)
O1w	Kotooshu (5-4)	  yoritaoshi	 M4e	Aminishiki (4-5)
O1e	Kotomitsuki (7-2)   yorikiri	   M5e	Kakuryu (5-4)
S1e	Ama (8-1)		   okuridashi	 Y1w	Asashoryu (5-4)
Y1e	Hakuho (8-1)		makiotoshi	 S1w	Toyonoshima (4-5)

Day 10

Juryo

J12e   Yamamotoyama (8-1)				 J13w   Kaiho (6-3)
J11e   Hakuba (3-6)					   Ms4w   Mori (3-2)
J13e   Kirinowaka (3-6)				   J11w   Ushiomaru (3-6)
J14w   Wakatenro (5-4)					J9w	Ryuo (4-5)
J14e   Asofuji (3-6)					  J8w	Shirononami (2-7)
J12w   Otsukasa (4-5)					 J7w	Mokonami (3-6)
J5e	Koryu (7-2)						J10e   Tosayutaka (7-2)
J9e	Sagatsukasa (4-5)				  J5w	Kyokunankai (5-4)
J4e	Wakakirin (4-5)					J7e	Hoshihikari (4-5)
J3e	Shimotori (4-5)					J4w	Toyozakura (5-4)
J10w   Ichihara (6-3)					 J3w	Kasuganishiki (6-3)
J2e	Tosanoumi (4-5)					J8e	Kotokasuga (3-6)
J1e	Bushuyama (6-3)					J6w	Aran (7-2)

Makuuchi

M15e   Tamawashi (4-5)					M16e   Kokkai (6-3)
J1w	Kitazakura (1-8)				   M15w   Kasugao (0-9)
J2w	Tamakasuga (4-5)				   M13w   Kitataiki (4-5)
M12e   Tamanoshima (4-5)				  M16w   Kakizoe (5-4)
M14e   Takekaze (4-5)					 M12w   Dejima (5-4)
M14w   Kimurayama (6-3)				   M10w   Futeno (6-3)
M9e	Hokutoriki (6-3)				   M13e   Chiyohakuho (3-6)
M11e   Yoshikaze (3-6)					M9w	Wakanosato (6-3)
M10e   Tochinoshin (5-4)				  M8w	Masatsukasa (2-7)
M11w   Takamisakari (3-6)				 M6w	Tochiozan (4-5)

M4e	Aminishiki (4-5)				   M6e	Toyohibiki (6-3)
M7w	Tokitenku (3-6)					M4w	Tochinonada (2-7)
M3e	Kyokutenho (3-6)				   M5e	Kakuryu (5-4)
K1e	Baruto (2-7)					   M2e	Kisenosato (3-6)
M1w	Miyabiyama (3-6)				   K1w	Asasekiryu (3-6)
M1e	Kotoshogiku (4-5)				  S1w	Toyonoshima (4-5)
O1e	Kotomitsuki (7-2)				  O2w	Chiyotaikai (6-3)
O2e	Kaio (6-3)						 O1w	Kotooshu (5-4)
Y1e	Hakuho (8-1)					   S1e	Ama (8-1)
M5w	Goeido (8-1)					   Y1w	Asashoryu (5-4)

[Blue_Wolf 24]

Ama should beat Hakuho, tomorrow.

[skycruiser 0]

Ama should beat Hakuho, tomorrow.

That would probably get him an Ozeki promotion, with double digit wins

[Asashosakari 16,843]

Ama should beat Hakuho, tomorrow.

That would probably get him an Ozeki promotion, with double digit wins

9-6, 10-5, 10-5? No.

[ilovesumo 12]

J12e Yamamotoyama (8-1) J13w Kaiho (6-3)

I pray nobody will get hurt.... :-|

[skycruiser 0]

Ama should beat Hakuho, tomorrow.

That would probably get him an Ozeki promotion, with double digit wins

9-6, 10-5, 10-5? No.

More like 13-2 with jun yusho

[Asashosakari 16,843]

More like 13-2 with jun yusho

Also very doubtful. I could maybe see it with a 14-1 yusho, but given the usual wait-and-see approach with younger ozeki and yokozuna candidates, even that is probably not enough. Ama has never even scored more than 10 wins against top competition (at any time, not just in the current run), so I doubt one single 11+ performance would be enough.

[sashimaru 10]

I don't think that Ama would be promoted with a 14-1. Even a 15-0 wouldn't be enough either.

I'm sure he must prove himself another basho.

[Harry 67]

I still think promotion will be tougher for him than usual with 4 ozeki looking like they'll at least get KK this basho, but if he does get a 14-1 yusho or 13-2 junyusho and then puts together another similar performance next basho as well then I think it will be difficult to ignore. I am not great at the sumodb but can't recall the last time there were 5 ozeki. Perhaps if a yokozuna were to intai and an ozeki were to step it up... :-| I still don't know if the Koto ozeki have yokozuna potential in them any time soon though, maybe next year.

That said, Ama is still looking small in a few bouts and it still takes him a loss to wake him up sometimes. In this basho, Ama has been much more focused after his loss; he needs to find a way to achieve his full intensity without a loss. With the lack of weight he is having to do some entertaining and unique sumo which is fun to watch but I still think if he could (quit smoking and...) put on 5-10kg it would help him a fair bit without slowing him down much.

[sashimaru 10]

J12e Yamamotoyama (8-1) J13w Kaiho (6-3)

I pray nobody will get hurt.... :-|

I hope for a nice shitatenage by the mighty Kaiho. :-|

[Takemi 0]

M1e Kotoshogiku (4-5) S1w Toyonoshima (4-5)

This one will be fun, not a very high profile match but the prestige and rivalry is there nonetheless!

[Doitsuyama 1,153]

More like 13-2 with jun yusho

Also very doubtful. I could maybe see it with a 14-1 yusho, but given the usual wait-and-see approach with younger ozeki and yokozuna candidates, even that is probably not enough. Ama has never even scored more than 10 wins against top competition (at any time, not just in the current run), so I doubt one single 11+ performance would be enough.

I think 14-1 yusho would clinch it, maybe even a 13-2 yusho. Look at Chiyotaikai who got the promotion with 9-6, 10-5, 13-2 Y (playoff win). And he even was a year younger than Ama.

[Asashosakari 16,843]

I think 14-1 yusho would clinch it, maybe even a 13-2 yusho. Look at Chiyotaikai who got the promotion with 9-6, 10-5, 13-2 Y (playoff win). And he even was a year younger than Ama.

You don't think the 5-year draught in credible ozeki candidates had something to do with that? This time we've had three new ozeki and a borderline performance by Miyabiyama just in the last three years, not to mention 4 active ones (compared to 2 when Taikai was promoted).

[Doitsuyama 1,153]

I think 14-1 yusho would clinch it, maybe even a 13-2 yusho. Look at Chiyotaikai who got the promotion with 9-6, 10-5, 13-2 Y (playoff win). And he even was a year younger than Ama.

You don't think the 5-year draught in credible ozeki candidates had something to do with that? This time we've had three new ozeki and a borderline performance by Miyabiyama just in the last three years, not to mention 4 active ones (compared to 2 when Taikai was promoted).

True, but a 14-1 yusho at sekiwake (especially if he beats Hakuho tomorrow) is a strong argument. :-|

[vpl 0]

I am not great at the sumodb but can't recall the last time there were 5 ozeki.

It was Natsu 2007 so only a little more than a year ago.

[Asashosakari 16,843]

True, but a 14-1 yusho at sekiwake (especially if he beats Hakuho tomorrow) is a strong argument. (Gyoji...)

Well I did say I can maybe see a case with 14-1Y. (In jonokuchi...) It wouldn't be the worst decision ever, for sure, and his steady run of 8 to 10 win results in sanyaku is no worse than what the actual ozeki are putting up. Might as well allow him to do it one rank higher if he proves he's not another Wakanosato-type who just can't get over the 11-win hump. Still, with 13-2 (even if yusho) I think the deck is stacked too much against him.

[Harry 67]

I am not great at the sumodb but can't recall the last time there were 5 ozeki.

It was Natsu 2007 so only a little more than a year ago.

OK, I was thinking of two yokozuna plus five ozeki, seven or more at ozeki and up but you're right. I can't believe I already forgot about Tochiazuma being there with Hakuho, Kotooshu, Kaio and Chiyotaikai... (pass it here, Soslan!) though he didn't actually have any matches in natsu he was active in the previous bashos.

Edited September 22, 2008 by Harry

[Asojima 2,839]

J12e Yamamotoyama (8-1) J13w Kaiho (6-3)

I hope for a nice shitatenage by the mighty Kaiho. (In jonokuchi...)

Ipponzeoi by Kaiho. You saw it here first! (Gyoji...) ;-)

[Asojima 2,839]

J12e Yamamotoyama (8-1) J13w Kaiho (6-3)

I hope for a nice shitatenage by the mighty Kaiho. (Yusho winner...)

Ipponzeoi by Kaiho. You saw it here first! (Uwatenage...) (Eek...)

But it was really a Kirikaeshi!!!! (Sign of disapproval...) (Sign of approval...) (Sign of approval...)