Day 13 results and day 14 pairings

[Doitsuyama 1,259]

Yokozuna Asashoryu lifted Kotomitsuki out of the dohyo giving

the Sekiwake a make-koshi. The Ozeki bout of the basho was a

quick one, as Kaio played the matador and let the bull Chiyotaikai

rush out of the dohyo.

Now Asashoryu and Chiyotaikai are leading the yusho race with

three losses each. Miyabiyama passed up the chance to join the

lead with a loss to a strong Takamisakari, so he is following

with four losses together with Kaio. Tokitsuumi had to pull out

of the basho passing up on the lifetime chance to be in the

yusho race.

Tomorrow all four leaders are fighting each other with Asashoryu

against Kaio and Chiyotaikai against Miyabiyama, omitting an

Ozeki-Sekiwake matchup as Kotomitsuki was given M7 Kyokushuzan.

Kasuganishiki lost and looks to be sure in Juryo next basho

along with Tochinohana and Takekaze. Akinoshima and Kinkaiyama

are hanging on with wins today, both are 5-8 at M12 now.

In Juryo the lead has a bad omen as leaders usually are

losing this days. Today only three of the seven leaders won

with Aogiyama, Tochisakae and Kakizoe. Aogiyama and Kaikzoe

are riding hot streaks with their fifth and fourth win in a

row. Aogiyama and Yotsukasa likely will be in Makuuchi next

basho, with Otsukasa and Asanowaka possibly following.

Tomorrow there are two interesting Makushita-Juryo bouts with

Kokkai against Kotonomine and Tanaka against Kitazakura.

--

Doitsuyama

Makuuchi yusho arasoi

Three losses  Four losses   Five losses   Six losses    

------------- ------------- ------------- -------------

Asashoryu     Kaio          Wakanosato    Tosanoumi                  

Chiyotaikai   Miyabiyama    Dejima        Takanonami                  

                           Tochinonada   Kyokutenho                  

                           Kyokushuzan   Takamisakari                

                           Tokitsuumi    Tamanoshima                

                           Hokutoriki    Buyuzan                    

                           Gojoro        Tamarikido                  

                           Jumonji                                  

Day 13

Juryo

J13e   Kotonomine (6-7)    okuridashi     J12e   Tomikaze (5-8)

Ms1e   Daizen (2-5)        sukuinage      J11w   Juzan (1-10-2)

J11e   Kakizoe (9-4)       yoritaoshi     J9w    Dewanofuji (6-7)

J13w   Hidenokuni (4-9)    oshidashi      J9e    Hamanishiki (8-5)

J10e   Kitazakura (5-8)    yorikiri       J6w    Hayateumi (6-7)

J10w   Harunoyama (6-7)    yorikiri       J6e    Gokenzan (3-10)

J8e    Tochisakae (9-4)    oshitaoshi     J5e    Senshuyama (5-8)

J7e    Wakakosho (7-6)     uwatedashinage J4w    Ushiomaru (7-6)

J2w    Otsukasa (8-5)      kotenage       J8w    Wakatoba (8-5)

J2e    Kobo (6-7)          katasukashi    J3e    Asanowaka (8-5)

J3w    Aogiyama (9-4)      hikiotoshi     J1w    Yotsukasa (8-5)

J5w    Oikari (4-1-8)      sotogake       J1e    Komahikari (4-9)

Makuuchi

M14e   Gojoro (8-5)        hatakikomi     J4e    Oginishiki (7-6)

M12e   Kinkaiyama (5-8)    sukuinage      M10e   Asasekiryu (4-9)

M12w   Akinoshima (5-8)    yoritaoshi     M9e    Aminishiki (6-7)

M14w   Jumonji (8-5)       yorikiri       M8w    Takanotsuru (4-9)

M7w    Kyokushuzan (8-5)   hikiotoshi     M11e   Hokutoriki (8-5)

M7e    Kasugao (6-7)       uwatenage      M13e   Kasuganishiki (4-9)

M15e   Tochinohana (4-9)   yorikiri       M6w    Toki (4-9)

M11w   Tamarikido (7-6)    watashikomi    M4e    Wakanoyama (3-10)

M3w    Kotonowaka (6-7)    tsukitaoshi    M10w   Buyuzan (7-6)

M2w    Takamisakari (7-6)  yorikiri       M9w    Miyabiyama (9-4)

M2e    Tochinonada (8-5)   fusen          M8e    Tokitsuumi (8-5)

M1w    Kyokutenho (7-6)    hatakikomi     M5e    Kotoryu (5-8)

K1w    Tosanoumi (7-6)     oshidashi      M4w    Tamanoshima (7-6)

M5w    Kaiho (6-7)         okuridashi     K1e    Dejima (8-5)

S2e    Wakanosato (8-5)    yorikiri       M1e    Takanonami (7-6)

O2w    Kaio (9-4)          tsukiotoshi    O2e    Chiyotaikai (10-3)

Y1w    Asashoryu (10-3)    tsuridashi     S1w    Kotomitsuki (5-8)

Day 14

Makushita

Ms18e  Tashiro (2-4)                      Ms16w  Shigezakura (2-4)

Ms13e  Ryuo (2-4)                         Ms13w  Otoryu (2-4)

Ms9e   Sentoryu (4-2)                     Ms12e  Asahibenten (4-2)

Ms7e   Tamanokuni (3-3)                   Ms9w   Tochifudo (3-3)

Ms3e   Towanoyama (2-4)                   Ms12w  Tochinoyama (2-4)

Juryo

J13e   Kotonomine (6-7)                   Ms1w   Kokkai (4-2)

J10e   Kitazakura (5-8)                   Ms5w   Tanaka (4-2)

J8e    Tochisakae (9-4)                   J9e    Hamanishiki (8-5)

J6e    Gokenzan (3-10)                    J12e   Tomikaze (5-8)

J11w   Juzan (1-10-2)                     J6w    Hayateumi (6-7)

J10w   Harunoyama (6-7)                   J5w    Oikari (4-1-8)

J3e    Asanowaka (8-5)                    J9w    Dewanofuji (6-7)

J11e   Kakizoe (9-4)                      J3w    Aogiyama (9-4)

J2e    Kobo (6-7)                         J8w    Wakatoba (8-5)

J1e    Komahikari (4-9)                   J13w   Hidenokuni (4-9)

J7e    Wakakosho (7-6)                    J1w    Yotsukasa (8-5)

Makuuchi

M15e   Tochinohana (4-9)                  J5e    Senshuyama (5-8)

M13e   Kasuganishiki (4-9)                J2w    Otsukasa (8-5)

M12e   Kinkaiyama (5-8)                   J4w    Ushiomaru (7-6)

J4e    Oginishiki (7-6)                   M12w   Akinoshima (5-8)

M7e    Kasugao (6-7)                      M8w    Takanotsuru (4-9)

M14w   Jumonji (8-5)                      M6w    Toki (4-9)

M5e    Kotoryu (5-8)                      M11w   Tamarikido (7-6)

M4e    Wakanoyama (3-10)                  M14e   Gojoro (8-5)

M10e   Asasekiryu (4-9)                   M3w    Kotonowaka (6-7)

M2e    Tochinonada (8-5)                  M10w   Buyuzan (7-6)

M1e    Takanonami (7-6)                   M9e    Aminishiki (6-7)

M4w    Tamanoshima (7-6)                  M1w    Kyokutenho (7-6)

K1e    Dejima (8-5)                       M11e   Hokutoriki (8-5)

M5w    Kaiho (6-7)                        K1w    Tosanoumi (7-6)

M7w    Kyokushuzan (8-5)                  S1w    Kotomitsuki (5-8)

S2e    Wakanosato (8-5)                   M2w    Takamisakari (7-6)

O2e    Chiyotaikai (10-3)                 M9w    Miyabiyama (9-4)

Y1w    Asashoryu (10-3)                   O2w    Kaio (9-4)

[Kaikitsune Makoto 210]

Tomorrow all four leaders are fighting each other with Asashoryu

against Kaio and Chiyotaikai against Miyabiyama

If only Miyabiyama's marshmellow body is in condition to absorb Taikai's thrusts and he is able to withstand the inevitable pull down attempt in case of Taikai's oshi-failure, Miya could have a chance to make a nice 4-way tie on senshuraku. I assume Kaio would then face Miyabiyama as Taikai and Shoryu will lock the imaginery horns.

Of course the more probable scenario is that TAikai beats Miya and then it is all up to Kaio-Shoryu. Tomoe-sen on senshuraku would be super cool!

strong Takamisakari

Amazing streak! Mr Iron back is not only insanely popular and appeals to different types of fans, he has quality sumo with lot of endurance against upper body thrusts and is stunningly solid at the tachi-ai. Beating genki Dejima, Tosanoumi, Kotoryu and Miyabiyama in a row is a very good CV for any maegashira rikishi but even more so to a strictly yotsu-rikishi who weighs clearly less than average and who has been sidelined and burdened with severe knee problems in the past. Speaking of which few days ago he gave up his knee support for the first time since his ACL-operation! He only has this cosmetic thin support now and while observing the movements of his knee in twists and pressure-pivots, it looks very stable and healthy. That is good news! Takamisakari is good for sumo in every possible way! 7 kensho today was just amazing!

Kasuganishiki lost

Kasugao is such an ODD rikishi. He started the basho with horrible losing streak, then pulled an unpoignant ace from his mawashi in bout against Asasekiryu, lost to AMinishiki's ottsuke like a makushita and after that strong wins including amazing come-back against Kinkaiyama and finally this powerful throw against Kasuganishiki. There is so much unique ability in Kasugao but somehow it still seems he is an expert of an alien sport and has just started to learn sumo.....visiting star in a way :-P

Today only three of the seven leaders won

with Aogiyama, Tochisakae and Kakizoe

The bouts I have seen from Kakizoe promise a lot. Very powerful rikishi with dynamic throws and sharp movements. He even almost did a tsuriotoshi in one of his bouts but the landing occured inside the dohyo and his foe was not sideways enough to lose foot sole contact with dohyo so no spectacular kimarite recorded in that. Tochisakae is still very dominating in his wins but shows on-off features as his losses are often feeble. Aogiyama is Aogiyama.

Yotsu - ja Otsupotsu will have a fine senshuraku party as both have been pretty good (especially Otsupotsu in the last few days) and promotion to makuuchi is more or less probable.

[Guest Megumishiki]

In fear that my pc may slow down on me, I'll make this short. (Just thoughts from my amateur mind.)

There seems to have been a bit of surprises this basho which I think makes the tournament more exciting. With Asa and Taikai tied for 1st place facing Kaio and Miya respectively, I just wonder if there'll be a possibility of a four-way tie today. With a slow start, Kaio is back strong, talk about a spoiler. (I particularly like how he almost carried Kaiho out of the dohyo lately.) With Taikai, to me the biggest surprise was his loss with Tamanoshima. (Or I may have really underestimated Tama.) It's a shame though Tokitsuumi couldn't be a part of it all.

However, by tomorrow the most would be only two guys with 4 losses. I guess the reason why I would like to see a fight-off is that I didn't get to watch that showdown which featured Taikai and Tochiazuma last year. That would really be cool.

I also wonder about Asasekiryu...I was really looking forward to him making a big show on his makuuchi promotion.