Games Talk Nagoya 2017 - spoilers gotta spoil -

[kuroimori 1,634]

Since the GTB deadline has passed and 75 fearless contestants entered their banzuke, let me open the talk where we talk, discuss and sometimes also rant about the Sumo Games action before, during and maybe also after the upcoming Nagoya 2017 Basho.

I will start by posting my GTB entry - maybe it bodes some luck, which I didn't really have lately in this tricky game...

Hakuho   Y1   Harumafuji

Kisenosato   Y2   Kakuryu

Terunofuji   O1   Goeido

Takayasu   O2 

Tamawashi   S   Mitakeumi

Kotoshogiku   K   Yoshikaze

Shodai   M1   Takakeisho

Hokutofuji   M2   Tochinoshin

Endo   M3   Ikioi

Ura   M4   Kagayaki

Chiyoshoma   M5   Tochiozan

Ichinojo   M6   Onosho

Daieisho   M7   Aoiyama

Takanoiwa   M8   Ishiura

Okinoumi   M9   Chiyonokuni

Shohozan   M10   Tokushoryu

Takekaze   M11   Takarafuji

Arawashi   M12   Chiyotairyu

Daishomaru   M13   Sokokurai

Sadanoumi   M14   Kotoyuki

Nishikigi   M15   Chiyomaru

Gagamaru   M16

 

Let's see how that turns out.

[kuroimori 1,634]

I was quite thrilled when I calculated my score last night 59 (should have been 61 cos I mixed up the Geek and Yoshi at the K ranks...).

But 59 was not enough to crack into the Top 10 - 61 points would have made it, but alas...

I also got the rikishi pairs for the ranks M2 & M3 right, but I mixed up east and west - so that earned me just 4 points instead of 8 points...

Due to the very soft banzuke treatment of Takanoiwa, I only got 1 point from the previous "M3 & 4-11 loser twins" Daieisho & Aoiyama, both are just off by a half rank in total but unfortunately Daieisho got pushed from M7E to M7W = 1 point and Aoiyama from M7W to M8E = o points

The biggest gap between my GTB placement and the actual banzuke position is Chiyotairyu with 2.5 ranks (I had him at M12W, his banzuke rank is M10E).

No Master points, but at least a major upward trend compared to my previous GTB efforts this year.

Hope this good feel continues with the pre-basho and daily games!

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Congrats to Pandaazuma on becoming ozeki in Sumo Game!

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

4 hours ago, Asashosakari said:

Congrats to Pandaazuma on becoming ozeki in Sumo Game!

I know the guy who runs the game. He is very strict about promotions. And no one has ever been promoted to ozeki with only one basho of the ozeki run in sanyaku. So I didn't expect the promotion and was expecting to have to get 8 wins in Nagoya to seal the deal.

It is possible that the lack of an ozeki influenced his decision. But I will do my best to go to the yokozuna rank! 

Thanks to Pierre for the recognition. I am also astounded. No game is as infuriating as Sumo Game for the luck element.

[Gurowake 4,108]

I assume it's like the same thing as Bench; there really isn't all that much of a difference in strength of schedule in the top divisions, especially compared to Ozumo, so it's hard to say that the non-Sanyaku basho were against weaker opposition. 

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

4 hours ago, Gurowake said:

I assume it's like the same thing as Bench; there really isn't all that much of a difference in strength of schedule in the top divisions, especially compared to Ozumo, so it's hard to say that the non-Sanyaku basho were against weaker opposition. 

Yeah I think anyone ranked around M7 or higher (where you will meet sanyaku in week one) can have a slate just as tricky as those of the sanyaku themselves.

Very strong sanyaku this time, incidentally. Would be overjoyed with 4-3/3-3 in week 2.

Edited July 1, 2017 by Pandaazuma

[Ganzohnesushi 526]

Congrats Simon, I did not expect this promotion though it is well deserved. Now be ensured that everyone wants to beat you and grab a gin-boshi....

Ganzohnesushi

Edited July 1, 2017 by Ganzohnesushi

[Sakura 1,495]

I'm going to have to go Kosho from most daily games this time. Anyone know if I can Kosho in Toto?

[Asashosakari 19,667]

4 hours ago, Sakura said:

I'm going to have to go Kosho from most daily games this time. Anyone know if I can Kosho in Toto?

First-time absence = automatic kosho in all four games I do the banzuke for, so yes. You can still set the "I wish to be absent" button on the Toto game registration page if you want, but I don't get to see the effects of that anyway. 

[Jejima 1,415]

Just for the sake of it, I pressed the absent button on Toto...

The only two (okay three, I'll play Chaingang, as I am bound to get knocked out in the first week), daily games that I will be playing this basho are Bench Sumo and the Sumo Game, due to travelling mid-basho....

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Wow, I just noticed that after 8 years I'm going to get SB points in Paper Oyakata for the very first time...snuck into it at the 42nd position.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

24 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

Wow, I just noticed that after 8 years I'm going to get SB points in Paper Oyakata for the very first time...snuck into it at the 42nd position.

Yep...and I snuck in at 40!  That game is massive so it's a huge boost if you make the top fifteen or so.

[Ganzohnesushi 526]

Odd results in many games. Only 1 (!) correct bet in Odd Sumo (Congrats, Klaus!), only 5 correct predictions in TTT and Chain saw almost 50% players leave although 20 different Rikishi were picked today. But only 10 of these were winning i.e. 39 players survived and 37 players can take a rest for the remaining 14 Days.

Ganzohnesushi

[Yubinhaad 11,761]

With Kitakachiyama absent for the first time, Gawasukotto is the Ironman of Turn The Tide having been ever-present since the game's first proper basho. Today he made his picks for the 466th consecutive day, and marks the occasion by taking the top spot to boot.

[Gurowake 4,108]

The entire sanyaku lost Day 1 in Sumo Game.  In Ozumo and Bench this isn't possible, but the guy who does the torikumi for SG doesn't care about the whole spreading of sanyaku matches to every day.  Sanyaku also had a significantly lower average than the rest of the field.

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

Ganzo was pretty pessimistic about Daiamami's prospects in Oracle, I see! :(

[Ganzohnesushi 526]

6 hours ago, Pandaazuma said:

Ganzo was pretty pessimistic about Daiamami's prospects in Oracle, I see! :(

Complete blackout. Somehow I did not realize the system had not got my 8-7 pick and I didn't check afterwards. This will cost me big as Daiamami will finish easily with 8 wins. Crap!   

Ganzohnesushi

 

[Taka 33]

C A R N A G E 

 

The Tochiozan picks are the last ones standing as we speak!

I could see him lose too. We shall see.

 

edit: NOPE! Two players left then.

Edited July 12, 2017 by Taka

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Undefeated Chankoyama has a two-win lead in TTT after five days - amazing!

[Pandaazuma 1,310]

12 minutes ago, Jakusotsu said:

Undefeated Chankoyama has a two-win lead in TTT after five days - amazing!

A Japanese lass I know...massive sumo fan but she's a busy mother too...so she only plays a few games.  She knows her stuff. I emailed her tonight and asked her how the hell she picked Kagayaki today...she said it was the only pick to make! Genius gamer in the making!! :)))

[Asashosakari 19,667]

Heh, I cost myself a win in Quad by trying to be too clever...

Original lineup: Kise / Onosho / Myogiryu / Asanoyama

New lineup after the Endo kyujo: Kise / Ichinojo / two head-to-head guys

Shoulda known that trusting Kise for a "safe" point wasn't a good idea even against Ikioi.

[Haidouzo 78]

I'm getting a certainly false but powerful feeling that there's a chain of phone calls that goes something like this:

Stablemaster calls NSK to inform NSK of sekitori's withdrawal and files papers (approximately six hours before Juryo start time).

NSK begins calling every fantasy sekitori except me to inform them of the withdrawal (approximately five and a half hours before Juryo start time).

NSK wakes up webmaster to tell him to update the website's absence/withdrawal page (approximately three hours before start time).

Webmaster goes on one-hour break, then updates page some time in the two hours following.

[Fukurou 534]

24 minutes ago, Haidouzo said:

I'm getting a certainly false but powerful feeling that there's a chain of phone calls that goes something like this:

Stablemaster calls NSK to inform NSK of sekitori's withdrawal and files papers (approximately six hours before Juryo start time).

NSK begins calling every fantasy sekitori except me to inform them of the withdrawal (approximately five and a half hours before Juryo start time).

NSK wakes up webmaster to tell him to update the website's absence/withdrawal page (approximately three hours before start time).

Webmaster goes on one-hour break, then updates page some time in the two hours following.

I know you're making light. After all, I think pretty much everyone's missed a late kyujo or two in their gaming time. But for those who aren't aware, the NSK adds late kyujos in the top divisions to their website's kyujo list around noon Tokyo time. Also forum members who are hooked in to the Japanese media often post something about these late kyujos in the kyujo thread, sometimes an hour or two before that.

[Haidouzo 78]

Indeed, I know it is a "certainly false" feeling.  And it's far from my first missed kyujo, but in the past it's seemed like I wasn't just about the only one who missed it when I did.  (And it didn't cost me a badly needed win in SG then, either!)

Thanks for the heads up!

[Gurowake 4,108]

MIssing kyujos is a big problem for Quad, particularly in the early going when you're more likely to have their next day aite available and lots of head-to-heads both available and thus can try the strategy like Asashosakari outlined, having your win be contingent on only one match.  Today there are 2 kyujos so.....