2021 "Kozumo" Hatsu Basho discussion thread

[Benihana 1,901]

WHAT THE ****? How could Kotoshoho lose that? Wow. I hope Terutsoyoshi didn't aggravate the injury. Spirited rikishi of the basho award for him, please.

Edited January 23, 2021 by Benihana

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Textbook utchari by Terutsuyoshi.  Rookie of the year Kotoshoho really not having any luck!

Edited January 23, 2021 by Amamaniac

[Benihana 1,901]

14 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

Hoshryu started with 5 losses and won 9 in a row.  I have not seen such a turnaround before.  He must have found a new wonder drug, religion, motivation, sold his soul to the devil, ... Whatever it was, I want to know.  I can use it in my golf game.  

You want an enema from your uncle?

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Daieisho confirms at least a jun-yusho for himself.

[robnplunder 974]

A rare Takarafuji's win over Ichinojo today.  But I can see why Ichinojo owns him. 

Yeah, Daieisho!  This is his basho.  

 

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Solid feet from Takanosho. Okinoumi's tachiai barely moved him. KK for the sekiwake, so everyone except Takakeisho in sanyaku managed a winning record this basho.

[robnplunder 974]

2 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Solid feet from Takanosho. Okinoumi's tachiai barely moved him. KK for the sekiwake, so everyone except Takakeisho in sanyaku managed a winning record this basho.

Which brings up the question of where Daeisho will end up in the next basho?  M1, K, S?

Edited January 23, 2021 by robnplunder

[Eikokurai 3,433]

3 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

Which brings up the question of where Daeisho will end up?  M1, K, S?

Gotta be S. 12 wins is yusho-winning quality even if it doesn't win him this basho, and that deserves the biggest possible promotion.

That said, history doesn't give a clear answer:

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&form1_rank=M1-M4&form1_wins=12&form1_losses=3

Edited January 23, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Eikokurai 3,433]

What the hell was that?! Shodai snatches defeat from the jaws of victory twice. 

[robnplunder 974]

1 minute ago, Eikokurai said:

What the hell was that?! Shodai snatches defeat from the jaws of victory twice. 

It was just an awesome win by Terunofuji.  Shodai should have finished him off though.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

No idea how Terunofuji remained in the ring, especially after he was spun around.

Had a feeling Daieisho had the easier path to yusho given Shodai's remaining opponents. He has performed the best throughout this basho. If he can finish it off tomorrow, it will be a well-deserved yusho. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by Kaninoyama

[robnplunder 974]

7 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

Gotta be S. 12 wins is yusho-winning quality even if it doesn't win him this basho, and that deserves the biggest possible promotion.

That said, history doesn't give a clear answer:

http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&form1_rank=M1-M4&form1_wins=12&form1_losses=3

GTB is going to be interesting.

[Benihana 1,901]

WTF again?! Amazing bout by Terunofuji and Shodai. The chances for Daieisho to be the 6th first time yusho winner at a Hatsu Basho in a row, just rocketed into the sky.

[robnplunder 974]

58 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

 Rookie of the year Kotoshoho really not having any luck!

I hope he regroups and come back strong in the next basho.  What he needs is one of the M17 slots and he will be fine.  

[Eikokurai 3,433]

5 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Daieisho has performed the best throughout this basho. If he can finish it off tomorrow, it will be a well-deserved yusho.

He could even win with a two-bout margin of victory if he wins tomorrow and then Asanoyama wins the Ozeki H2H. That would silence any remaining doubters out there (if there are any).

Edited January 23, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

17 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

No idea how Terunofuji remained in the ring, especially after he was spun around.

Talent. How else does a 400 lb man with two knackered knees move like that?

[pricklypomegranate 730]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

What the hell was that?! Shodai snatches defeat from the jaws of victory twice. 

It was not twice, it had to be definitely more than that. There were numerous times I thought Terunofuji was done - when Shodai got him on the tawara the first time, then in a very disadvantageous angled stance so the Mongolian could not exert his full force, when he got the bad grip over the shoulder and when he exposed his back to the Ozeki, especially on the tawara. However in every single instance, Shodai’s dwindling strength denied him victory as he could not finish Terunofuji off - probably a result of the ankle injury denying him his 100% power and strength. The sloppy sumo Shodai showed over the past few days was finally not forgiven today. 
 

Masterful performance by Terunofuji - definitely one to remember. After being in most of the yusho races since his Makuuchi return, he hasn’t lost his sumo sense and has come up more tenacious and experienced. 
 

Daieisho’s fate will entirely be in his hands tomorrow. Hope he holds up. 

Edited January 23, 2021 by pricklypomegranate

[Jakusotsu 5,815]

12 minutes ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Daieisho’s fate will entirely be in his hands tomorrow. Hope he holds up.

Well, not *entirely*.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

While Daieisho's shot at the Top Division yusho is looking solid, down in Juryo, stablemate Tsurugisho gave up his two win cushion by losing to Ryuko.  Now he has three "trailers" to worry about: Daishomaru, Hidenoumi, and (wait for it) ... URA!  The torikumi matchups for tomorrow have yet to be released.  If it weren't for the stablemate taboo, I would definitely let Tsurugisho fight Daishomaru, but ...  The only Juryo opponent left is Tohakuryu in the bottom slot.  If they decide to add an extra Makuuchi bout for day 15, then Tsurugisho could face a Makuuchi opponent.  I guess we'll just have to see.

[Amamaniac 2,078]

Apparently, Takagenji rung Churanoumi's clock yesterday with his vicious harite.  Churanoumi was kyujo today.  

This tournament saw one too many possible concussions in the unsalaried ranks, and after the Shonannoumi incident, there seemed to be a public outcry demanding that the NHK adopt better concussion protocols.  Churanoumi did need assistance yesterday to leave the stadium, but he was walking on his own power.  Perhaps the decision to withdraw was made for Churanoumi.  Most wrestlers will go back into the ring even if their status is little better than the Black Knight's in Monty Python and the Holy Grail!  

One more reason to dislike Takagenji... 

Furthermore, J3w Churanoumi ends the tournament with a 7-7-1 record.  It will be interesting to see where he ends up on the banzuke in March!  

[robnplunder 974]

Daieisho gets Okinoumi on day 15.   Daieisho will beat him for his first yusho.  Even if he does not beat Okinoumi, Asanoyama's win over Shodai will give Daieisho the trophy.  It is Daeisho's basho and he fully deserves it.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

On 17/11/2019 at 16:22, Eikokurai said:

People need to start paying attention to Daieisho. This kid is looking more and more like the real deal to me. Not without his flaws of course, but frankly seems to have more in his toolbox than both Takakeisho and Mitakeumi.

I called it, btw. 

Incidentally, I posted that on day 8 of Kyushu 2019, after he'd beaten tomorrow's opponent Okinoumi.

Edited January 23, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Thorbjarn 214]

Say what you will about kyujos, pandemics etc, those were some really cool and unique matches today. 

Seconding @Amamaniac, that Utchari was straight out off a painting. 

[hakutorizakura 590]

Beautiful day of sumo! Excellent bouts and amazing moves here and there. I definitely am entertained!

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

We have a couple of brutal matchups early in tomorrow's top division line-up. Akua v Hidenoumi is a straightforward promotion/relegation play-off, and I'll take Hidenoumi to join his little brother in maku'uchi for March. I would have thought that Tokushoryu was just about safe with 3 wins, but the fact that he's been pitted against Daishomaru (J8 and 10-4) suggests otherwise.