Basho Talk Natsu 2018 (SPOILERS)

[Sakura 1,524]

1 hour ago, Tsubame said:

Am I the only one not seeing Tochinoshin winning against Hakuho?

This match will not be even close. I expect nothing more then a clear (and fast) victory by Hakuho.

I agree with you, but I'd be happy to be wrong.

[dingo 1,477]

Tochinoshin vs Kotoshogiku today was cool too see from another point of view - a former ozeki fights a future one. 

[Dwale 419]

3 hours ago, Tsubame said:

Am I the only one not seeing Tochinoshin winning against Hakuho?

This match will not be even close. I expect nothing more then a clear (and fast) victory by Hakuho.

One has to consider Hakuho the favorite in virtually any match he's in if he's even relatively healthy. We'll see what happens.

[Fukurou 534]

On 5/13/2018 at 09:27, Fukurou said:

I think maybe the Yusho might be a complication (can I weasel word that any more?). Yes, he won the yusho and 2 sansho, but he was also at M3w, and it's my understanding they don't like to include maegashira results in ozeki runs, although I'm sure it has happened. Two of the 3 Yokozuna were out and his loss was to the 3rd. Of the K-M3 contingent, he did not face Kw (withdraw after day 10), M1e or M3e.

The above was speaking of Toyonoshima's Tochinoshin's promotion chances with M3 (14-1Y) and S1w (10-5) as the 1st two basho in the run...

He's been looking nearly unbeatable, and his competition has been of the ranks you'd want to see, but they've all been rikishi ranked below him (and one win was by walkover). You can only face who's on your schedule, but that upcoming schedule will have him face only two of the 5 guys ranked ahead of him on the banzuke. Not his fault, but will the NSK hold it against him if he ends up at 13-2 or less, and the losses are to at least 1 (or both) of the yokozuna?

EDIT - because Tochinoshin is not Toyonoshima

Edited May 24, 2018 by Fukurou

[Rocks 1,810]

5 hours ago, Tsubame said:

Am I the only one not seeing Tochinoshin winning against Hakuho?

This match will not be even close. I expect nothing more then a clear (and fast) victory by Hakuho.

I can see Tochinoshin not winning, but if that happens it will be due to Tochinoshin's usual Yokozuna nerves. If it comes down to just sumo then Tochinoshin wins I think.

Tochinoshin has been doing better, if not terribly complicated,  sumo this basho than Hakuho IMO.  As far as a clear and fast Hakuho victory i would say that is the only way Hakuho wins tonight. Anything that settles into a strategic match will go to Tochinoshin. 

[Fukurou 534]

14 minutes ago, Asojima said:

 

oooppppps. corrected and thank you

[Philioyamfugi 378]

I think Tochinoshin Hakahou winner gets the yusho .. It's gonna go to the belts.... Should be a classic ! I'll be up early on the east coast  catching it live. 

[since_94 650]

8 hours ago, wanderer said:

I think Kakiryu is just preemptively sending a message to Tochinoshin, the main rival this time, to blunt his sharp attack. The M5 rikishi wasn't Kakiryu's main focus. 

Interesting take. Hadn’t considered the strategic value going forward. Thought it was more about Kakyuru just feeling desperate to keep himself in the hunt

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Toc-Hak is in the hands of the sumo gods. There’s little to tell between the two on current form and talent level. As so often in sumo it will come down to a fine margin – a shift of weight, a foot slightly out of place – and is thus impossible to call confidently either way.

[CT3* 331]

I think the shock loss to Abi served to wake Hakuho up as he's looked a lot more focused since. The winner of Hakuho/Tochinoshin will certainly have to work for it.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

12 hours ago, wanderer said:

I think Kakiryu is just preemptively sending a message to Tochinoshin, the main rival this time, to blunt his sharp attack. The M5 rikishi wasn't Kakiryu's main focus. 

Do you mean to make a Tochinoshin wary of henka and thus make him cautious at the tachiai? Interesting theory, but Tochinoshin seems to be more a receiver at the moment. He often stands to accept the charge of his aite, so I don’t see him being especially vulnerable to the sidestep.

[Jesse Kahoaalohakūpaʻa 7]

The muscle man from Takasago is just 1 win away from 7; at Makushita 57 east!

Good luck Asakishin! Looking real genki this tourney, brother!

[Asashosakari 20,249]

15 hours ago, Pandaazuma said:

Oh dear...am I really going to have to watch Terunofuji lose to Tobizaru by yorikiri tomorrow?? It was bad enough when Takekaze did that to him.

Lucky you, it wasn't yorikiri...

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Get in Tochinoshin. I let out a small cheer at my desk and alerted my colleagues to my stealth sumo watching. Haha. The yusho is his to lose now. Can he zensho? 

[Valdenor 3]

Tochinoshin looks absolutely ozeki now.

[Jakusotsu 6,392]

Tochinoshin is no Shodai, that's clear now.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

Just now, Valdenor said:

Tochinoshin looks absolutely ozeki now.

He looks like a Yokozuna to be fair. They should let him skip a grade.

[Jabbamaru 169]

Wow, the man got his ozeki rank in style!

[Valdenor 3]

Just now, Eikokurai said:

He looks like a Yokozuna to be fair. They should let him skip a grade.

I totally agree. He has so much power right now.

[Rigel 62]

9 minutes ago, Valdenor said:

Tochinoshin looks absolutely ozeki now.

He's absolutely clinched it now. He could lose out from here, not win the yusho, finish 12-3, and he'll still be promoted.

[d_golem 213]

From now on everytime I see a rikishi get Tochinosin-ed multiple times by the banzuke committee, I'm going to say, "That guy's a future Ozeki for sure".

[Philioyamfugi 378]

Pretty much was all Tochinoshin... Hakahou couldn't wag that grip off once those big mitts were in. He's on such a run he might be Yokozuna by the end of the year. Nice win by the Geek over the giant.  Ikioi put up a good fight as expected... Some wonderful sumo today !

Edited May 24, 2018 by Philioyamfugi

[since_94 650]

Kotoshogiku aquitted himself very well against Ichinojo. That was a great victory. I was really rooting for Ikioi, but I always do. Just found it easier to root against Kakuryu after his henka of the Geek. Seeing Endo fighting with one hand has not been pretty, nor will it be going forward. As for Tochinoshin, he just dominated the GOAT in honest sumo, so we can make of that what we will.

[since_94 650]

11 minutes ago, Rigel said:

He's absolutely clinched it now. He could lose out from here, not win the yusho, finish 12-3, and he'll still be promoted.

I don’t see anybody having what it takes to beat him right now, truth be told. Destiny seems to be in the air in the Kokugikan these days

 

[Yatagarasu 352]

Just now, Philioyamfugi said:

Nice win by the Geek over the giant.  

I'm really at a loss at how Ichinojo didn't win that.  It was basically a repeat of yesterday's bout between Kotoshogiku and Tochinoshin - Ichinojo had a good grip on the mawashi, went to execute the throw, had a height, weight and position advantage, but somehow just couldn't follow through.  Maybe Uncle Giku was better prepared this time, but I feel like it was more Ichinojo's loss rather than Kotoshogiku's win.

Pity the gyoji kind of got in the way in the Kakuryuu-Ikioi bout.  I think Ikioi came off the gas for a split second because he thought they'd career into him and then it was all over.  I don't feel he was robbed as such, but I felt like we didn't see the real ending.

Endou is not doing himself any favours by sticking around.  Once Kaisei had touched his injured arm it was all over.  He should stay home and get it seen to; the magical restorative essence of gambaru is just not going to be enough.  

Wedgie-noshin strikes again!  It's been so long since they've been face to face in tournament conditions, I think Hakuhou was surprised by the physical change in his opponent since their last outing.  He seemed genuinely nervous with that matta.  12-0 with a yokozuna scalp to boot is going to be hard for them to refuse.