Natsu basho 2021

[Eikokurai 3,433]

No kachikoshi for Hoshoryu. Takayasu moves to double digits and maintains his outside chance of a return to Ozeki with a big score in July (current record 20/29).

Edited May 22, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Katooshu 3,135]

The opponents Hoshoryu has beaten are overall much better than the ones who beat him. He has the tools but needs to work on applying them every match and being motivated for each opponent, whether it's an ozeki or the blandest maegashira.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Katooshu

[Seiyashi 4,071]

17 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Takanosho can't do better than 6-9 at S1w and that's never been good enough to stay in sanyaku.

Moot point after today's loss to Ichinojo. Surely 10 losses will send you out of sanyaku regardless of position.

(Yes, I know, tempting fate here.)

[Seiyashi 4,071]

3 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

The opponents Hoshoryu has beaten are overall much better than the ones who beat him. He has the tools but needs to work on applying them in every match.

Yeah, he's not had a very memorable basho outside of the two ozeki scalps, but for a first-timer on the edges of the joi he'll have done well to keep it to 7-8 or even a 6-9. He's just a little too light and not assertive enough in his sumo, so he can always be discomfited by oshi types, but a little weight and some training will do him good.

[Benihana 1,901]

1 minute ago, Seiyashi said:

Yeah, he's not had a very memorable basho outside of the two ozeki scalps, but for a first-timer on the edges of the joi he'll have done well to keep it to 7-8 or even a 6-9. He's just a little too light and not assertive enough in his sumo, so he can always be discomfited by oshi types, but a little weight and some training will do him good.

Training should do it. Bodywise he's in Harumafuji-territory.

[Saburo 18]

Torinaoshi please...

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Ouch. Double crashdown right in front of Isegahama and a mono-ii.

Seems like video replay is having trouble telling too. The shimpan are just standing around waiting.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Thorbjarn 214]

Endo to me. But I'm always bad at interpreting dead body and such. 

[Benihana 1,901]

A lengthy mono-ii!

[hakutorizakura 590]

!!!!!

Looooong monoii.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Holy..... this could be big. 

And there's Endo's tongue again!

Up to Takakeisho to force a playoff again, same as with last basho. Endo took away Takakeisho's hopes then put them right back.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Benihana 1,901]

Ok, now things get a bit more interesting.

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Endo!!!!!

Why such a long mono-ii to declare the obvious? 

[yohcun 393]

Isegahama must be really ruing head shimpan duty by now.

[Saburo 18]

Holy. Crap. Sashichigai!

Off to senshuraku!

[hakutorizakura 590]

Sansho for Endo 

Great bout!

[Thorbjarn 214]

Right call, fantastic match imo, albeit a quick one. 

[Benihana 1,901]

Just now, Eikokurai said:

Endo!!!!!

Why such a long mono-ii to declare the obvious? 

There wasn't a proper camera angle, but Endo's hanging mage could in fact have touched earlier.

[yohcun 393]

I know he's basically a lock-in for one, but Endo better get a special prize at the least for that bout alone.

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

Terunofuji has blown his first chance to win it. Two more to come.

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Very picturesque finish with two legs in the air. In some ways though Isegahama made the right call. Terunofuji can still win tomorrow, as he just needs to win one bout against Takakeisho, and Terunofuji's yusho will always be dogged by favouritism if Isegahama rules for his deshi now.

Endo's rubbing me the wrong way with the smugness after winning though. Against Hakuho I can buy that as payback for that kachiage last time; against Terunofuji when they're 4-4 it just smacks of arrogance to me.

NHK is discussing the possibility of a tomoe-sen playoff tomorrow if Endo and Takakeisho both win to leave all of them on 12-3.

Edited May 22, 2021 by Seiyashi

[Godango 956]

2 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Terunofuji has blown his first chance to win it. Two more to come.

Bit harsh. Very narrowly lost a spectacular match. 

[Benihana 1,901]

So, tomorrow Endo - Shodai and Terunofuji - Takakeisho?

[Eikokurai 3,433]

Yes! Now we have two pathways to a playoff. If Takakeisho beats Terunofuji tomorrow, they’ll meet again in a two-man ketteisen. If Endo has also won already, a three-man tomoesen awaits. 

Edited May 22, 2021 by Eikokurai

[Seiyashi 4,071]

Somehow Takakeisho seems a bit more ruthless this basho in all respects other than his forward thrusting. It cost him dearly against Endo yesterday, but he's had a few bouts where he just landed one good smack in combination with a dodge and the opponent just goes cartwheeling past him.