Kotoshogiku Ozeki Run

[Gusoyama 104]

Because I was away for a while, I missed if anyone mentioned if he Natsu non-basho counted towards Kotoshogiku's Ozeki chances. Because if he gets 13 wins this basho, that would give him 34 all told, and a strong 3rd basho, which would normally mean a promotion. I'm guessing that it didn't count, but I could be wrong. And of course, 13 wins would be a very difficult thing, but 12 would not be out of the realm of possibility.

[Asashosakari 19,688]

Everything from May counts.

(I'm sure Kotooshu would prefer not to be kadoban...)

[Ashikawazu 43]

Go Giku!!!!

[EizoShita 0]

Everything from May counts.

(I'm sure Kotooshu would prefer not to be kadoban...)

?????

They are from same heya. What do you mean by that ? Too many yaochos for one beya ?

[tympsa 0]

Everything from May counts.

(I'm sure Kotooshu would prefer not to be kadoban...)

?????

They are from same heya. What do you mean by that ? Too many yaochos for one beya ?

I think only thing he meant was Osh would like if May results wouldnt count, but apparently they are and Kotooshu has to get 8 wins to stay ozeki.He probably will too.

As for Kotoshogiku ozeki run , even 12 seems very difficult to achieve and may be not enough.Lot depends if Baruto is 100% motivated tommorrow .Baruto has a habit to relax little bit after KK and drop matches more easily.

But if he gets at least 11 now, then maybe 12 in next basho would do the trick.

[tympsa 0]

nice win today over Baruto. You could see how motivated was man who wants this promotion badly . 12 wins seems very probable now.

[Harry 67]

Go Shogun!

Looks like Kaio just made room for him at the top.

[Asashosakari 19,688]

Looks like Kaio just made room for him at the top.

Lack of room wasn't the major issue for Giku, they've never shied away from promoting a 5th ozeki. (Though perhaps it'll become important for Kakuryu next basho if he finishes at least 10-5 this time...)

Assuming a loss against Hakuho tomorrow and an even 12-3 finish, Giku's case is going to test the presumed floor for the promotion standards. Based on recent promotions and non-promotions it should be something like "all three basho in sanyaku, first and second basho at least 10 wins, final basho at least 11 wins, total at least 33 wins", which he'd exceed only in the final-basho count. So in one sense Kaio might indeed have opened up a space for him, but it's that of "Japanese ozeki".

Giku and Kakuryu still need to face each other, that ought to become interesting.

[Gernobono 467]

Giku and Kakuryu still need to face each other, that ought to become interesting.

again i am thinking of much bigger terms (I am not worthy...)

my scenario is as follows

kotoshogiku is booked for ozekihood...

tomorrow he will beat hakuho

which opens the chance for a ketteisen between hakuho and harumafuji, with a hakuho-win against harumafuji on day 14 and in the process making aki-basho a tsunatori-basho for harumafuji

maybe it is too much fantasy, but we have seen much more complicated schemes come true

Edited July 19, 2011 by Gernobono

[tympsa 0]

Giku and Kakuryu still need to face each other, that ought to become interesting.

again i am thinking of much bigger terms (I am not worthy...)

my scenario is as follows

kotoshogiku is booked for ozekihood...

tomorrow he will beat hakuho

which opens the chance for a ketteisen between hakuho and harumafuji, with a hakuho-win against harumafuji on day 14 and in the process making aki-basho a tsunatori-basho for harumafuji

maybe it is too much fantasy, but we have seen much more complicated schemes come true

I think it is fantasy. Normally Hakuho is clearly better than Giku and with 10-0 record so far ,he has no wish whatsoever to drop a match here. He has bigger fish to fry( 15-0 win ) than to please Japanese crowd. Plus, anything may happen in kettei sen, Harumafuji has beaten Hakuho 9 times, more than any other active rikishi.Hak cant afford to fool around and risk to lose his yusho streak.

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

But what an Ozeki would Kotoshogiku be? Can anyone picture him seriously threaten the yusho? Me certainly not.

[Jakusotsu 6,052]

But what an Ozeki would Kotoshogiku be? Can anyone picture him seriously threaten the yusho?

Same with Yokozuna Harumafuji . . .

[Asashosakari 19,688]

But what an Ozeki would Kotoshogiku be? Can anyone picture him seriously threaten the yusho? Me certainly not.

I could picture him being the type of ozeki Chiyotaikai was for his first post-prime years, smashing the lower-ranked opposition 8-2 or 9-1 to start the basho, then folding against Hak and the fellow ozeki. I prefer that ozeki type over those who start 6-4 and 7-3 every basho (i.e. Kotooshu's first several years) because it at least holds the promise of something more from time to time, so I wouldn't mind Giku up there.

[Gernobono 467]

But what an Ozeki would Kotoshogiku be? Can anyone picture him seriously threaten the yusho? Me certainly not.

with hakuho being the yokozuna this counts for all the ozeki

i'd like to see a basho without hakuho to just know who is ready for a yusho.....

[Jakusotsu 6,052]

i'd like to see a basho without hakuho to just know who is ready for a yusho.....

Kaio, of course! Oh, wait.... (Sign of approval...)

[Fay 1,677]

Kotoshogiku has always been my 2nd favourite among the 2 top divisions. I really would wish that he makes it to Ozeki but I don't see him beating Hakuho and I also have my doubts that he beats Kakuryu. But I still can hope ...

As for his qualities, I can't see anyone among the current ozeki to seriously threaten the yusho, so he would be as good as any other Ozeki. He made a lot progress in the last two years and I don't believe he rests on his laurels, when he is Ozeki. So why shoudn't he one day fight for the yusho?

My wishful thinking makes a 1st stop when also my 1st favourite Kakuryu is Ozeki (Sign of approval...)

[Treblemaker 254]

The bout today was one of the best I'd seen in a long time. Geek stuck his ground, took the initiative against a guy fully capable of hoisting him over the bales, but it didn't happen.

Given the other activity today, this is a good sign that there's a replacement in the offing.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Treblemaker

[Randomitsuki 2,843]

The bout today was one of the best I'd seen in a long time. Geek stuck his ground, took the initiative against a guy fully capable of hoisting him over the bales, but it didn't happen.

Whoops... I have written on the German forum that this bout looked somewhat staged to me. Baruto did not really try very hard, and his attempts to squish Kotoshogiku's head looked like faux resistance. Not to speak of Baruto flinging himself across the doyho in the end.

Whether it was staged or not, Kotoshogiku has shown in the last two basho that he is on par with the other Ozeki (almost always good for eight, sometimes for more), so I would not mind if he gets some assists along the way.

[yorikiried by fate 2,029]

(Like so many other rikishi) Baruto is notorious for losing the bout directly following his eighth win. For that fact alone I wasn't particularly surprised. Sure, the Geek did what he had to do, but I tend to believe that Baruto was at least not particularly "in it".

[Kintamayama 45,552]

Whoops... I have written on the German forum that this bout looked somewhat staged to me. Baruto did not really try very hard, and his attempts to squish Kotoshogiku's head looked like faux resistance. Not to speak of Baruto flinging himself across the doyho in the end.

Whether it was staged or not, Kotoshogiku has shown in the last two basho that he is on par with the other Ozeki (almost always good for eight, sometimes for more), so I would not mind if he gets some assists along the way.

I am always game for a good cospiracy theory, but being one win behind the yusho leaders gives Baruto no reason whatsoever to throw a match. He has these days when he's totally clueless, add the morozashi and he had no chance to overcome it. I don't think he flung himself anywhere-he was pushing very hard and Shougiku just let go and let him fly on his own volition.

[Treblemaker 254]

(Like so many other rikishi) Baruto is notorious for losing the bout directly following his eighth win. For that fact alone I wasn't particularly surprised. Sure, the Geek did what he had to do, but I tend to believe that Baruto was at least not particularly "in it".

Whoops... I have written on the German forum that this bout looked somewhat staged to me. Baruto did not really try very hard, and his attempts to squish Kotoshogiku's head looked like faux resistance. Not to speak of Baruto flinging himself across the doyho in the end.

Whether it was staged or not, Kotoshogiku has shown in the last two basho that he is on par with the other Ozeki (almost always good for eight, sometimes for more), so I would not mind if he gets some assists along the way.

I am always game for a good cospiracy theory, but being one win behind the yusho leaders gives Baruto no reason whatsoever to throw a match. He has these days when he's totally clueless, add the morozashi and he had no chance to overcome it. I don't think he flung himself anywhere-he was pushing very hard and Shougiku just let go and let him fly on his own volition.

What struck me about this match being legit was the fact that Geeku tried at least twice to belly-bump Baruto out of there, without success... If this had been set up to aid the Geek's Ozeki run, Baruto would have been out with the first attempt. It actually was the best match of the day, in my mind. And yes, Geek's got Baruto beat hands down when it comes to sheer drive and sumo mentality, I think.

What I've found with Baruto is that he has trouble with moving targets. This time, you had a heavy moving target with a very low centre of gravity. And B was standing upright most of the time.

At best, this was a match Baruto couldn't lose if he hoped to stay with the leaders.

[Kuroyama 715]

At this point I would say yes.

[Jakusotsu 6,052]

again i am thinking of much bigger terms (I am not worthy...)

my scenario is as follows

kotoshogiku is booked for ozekihood...

tomorrow he will beat hakuho

which opens the chance for a ketteisen between hakuho and harumafuji, with a hakuho-win against harumafuji on day 14 and in the process making aki-basho a tsunatori-basho for harumafuji

maybe it is too much fantasy, but we have seen much more complicated schemes come true

Well, part one of the fantasy is in the books.

[tympsa 0]

I admit I was wrong. Giku was

[Asojima 2,874]

Shogi has Kakuryu on day 12. Their head-to-head record. So, which one does Fay root for??