TORCHBEARER 2016: invitation, rules, and your picks

[shimodahito 317]

good day all,
The 2015 prize is on the way to Jejima.
So it's time for the once-a-year invite to the easiest picking (guessing) sumo game ever. No need for daily picks, no need for pre-basho picks; just a pair of picks will last a whole year!

Here's how it works.
The symbolic TORCH starts with the last rikishi and last rank on the 2016 HATSU BANZUKE (rikishi/rank at the bottom of jonokuchi). If the rikishi wins his bout (called a TORCH MATCH), he keeps the TORCH. If he loses, the TORCH is passed to the winner. Through the year, the TORCH will eventually make way up the banzuke as it is always passed to the winner. The object of the game is to pick the one rank and one rikishi you think will end up with the most points throughout the year's six bashos. Points are awarded to every rikishi and rank involved in a TORCH MATCH; and to players who finish closest to the final TORCH position at the end of the year.

FINAL TORCH POINTS AT THE END OF THE 2016 KYUSHU BASHO:
25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rikishi.
25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rank.
PLUS...
10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rikishi.
10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rank.
9 points to the 2nd closest picks.
8 points to the 3rd closest picks.
7 points to the 4th closest picks.
6 points to the 5th closest picks.
5 points to the 6th closest picks.
4 points to the 7th closest picks.
3 points to the 8th closest picks.
2 points to the 9th closest picks.
1 point to the 10th closest picks.

(so if my math is correct, a minimum of 110 points (55 rank/55 rikishi) are guaranteed to be handed out at the end of the year)

TORCH MATCH POINTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR:
3 points for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rikishi wins.
3 points for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rank wins.
1 point for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rikishi loses.
1 point for every TORCH MATCH match your chosen rank loses.

The player with the most points at the end of the year will get a prize.

For historical reference, here's where the torch ended up in previous years:
2006, J2w
2007, Ms33w (highest position J7w)
2008, J7e (highest position J6w)
2009, J5e (highest position J3e)
2010, Ms58e (highest position J3e)
2011, J6e (highest position J4w)
2012, J2e (highest position J1e)
2013, Ms48e (highest position Ms4e)
2014, Ms49e (highest position Ms3e)

2015, J6w (highest position J1w)

Highest number of points: 59 by Profomisakari in 2009.

To play, please submit:
1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2015 Kyushu Basho.
and
2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2015 Kyushu Basho.

The deadline for entries is one minute before the first TORCH MATCH starts... JST. Send new entries or updated entries to shimodahito(at)yahoo.com, by message on the forum, or post on this sumo forum thread. For 2015 players who miss the deadline, your 2015 picks will carry over to TORCHBEARER 2016 (as long as your rikishi pick is still active).

A "wildcard" drone pick, by default will be the lowest rikishi and rank on the HATSU BANZUKE.

Good luck! The game is painless...one rank pick, one rikishi pick... no daily picks needed…. And a prize.

-shimodahito

[Ryoshishokunin 325]

Kiribayama, J6W.

Now to forget about this game for four months.

-

量子職人

[PhorCillic 51]

Homarenishiki, J3e

.

.

Where am I?

[Gurowake 4,109]

Daiki J12W

[charliki 16]

Ura

makushita 5e

Edited December 9, 2015 by charliki

[Tenshinhan 1,612]

Iwasaki

Ms3e

[Ayagawa 14]

1) Abi

2) ms7e

[Shokikogi 33]

Haguroho

J10e

Edited December 6, 2015 by Shokikogi

[Jejima 1,422]

J9E Onosho (identical pick to last year - and that turned out well :-))

[Achiyama 1,247]

Homarenishiki and J13e

[inhashi 2,363]

Takamisato

Ms42w

[Naganoyama 5,949]

Kotokamatani

J8E

Edit: What was I thinking?

Edited December 13, 2015 by Naganoyama

[orandashoho 720]

Iwasaki

J9E

[Wamahada 58]

Hirotsukasa

Ms4w

[Pitinosato 120]

J5W

Homarenishiki

Pitinosato

[Atenzan 1,084]

Chiyonoumi J5W. Not Chiyonofuji.

Edited December 27, 2015 by McBugger

[chishafuwaku 476]

Takaryu

J14W

chishafuwaku

[kotoshikona 5]

Ura

J11e

[Suwihuto 133]

Inoue, J8E.

[Profomisakari 874]

J8e Kyokutaisei

[Toratorii 11]

Shiba

J2w

[shimodahito 317]

Thanks to the new players who have entered so far. Welcome. There's still time for more new players.

And of course returning players are welcome to update their picks.

shimodahito picks:

RIKISHI: Nogami

RANK: Makushita 10 East

[Chisaiyama 11]

RIkishi Pick: Haguroho

Rank Pick: J 6 E

[Terarno 47]

Hi !

Dairaido, J13e. Thanks.

[Saruyama 1]

Not sure if I missed the deadline for this or not, but if not, then I'd like to pick:

Homarenishiki and Makushita 16E