Guess Hokutofuji's Aite - May 2022 edition

[Jejima 841]

Announcing the May 2022 edition of Guess Kisenosato's Aite....

Guess Hokutofuji's Aite

All you have to do is guess M3E Hokutofuji's opponent each day, before the torikumi comes out. If you guess correctly, you get a shiroboshi. This is surprisingly more fun (or frustrating) and challenging than it should be. It also gets you to think a bit more about the 'inner-workings' of sumo.

Here is the current banzuke:-

Banzuke for May 2022

Sakura (Y1E 11-4)  Y1 
Reonito (YOW 10-5)  YO  Gurowake (YOE Kosho)
Oshirokita (S1E 9-6) S1 Jakusotsu (K1E 8-7) 
Hakuhonofan (S1W 7-5-3) K1  Andonishiki (M4W 8-5-2)
Profomisakari (K1W 7-8) M1 shimodahito (M1E 7-6-2) 
Seiyashi (M2W 7-8)  M2  WAKATAKE (M2E 4-7-4)
Jejima (M1W 3-12) M3  Ryoshishokunin (M3W Kosho)
The Kyokai (M3E 3-12)  M4 Chartorenji (mz) 5-8-2

Comment:
Oshirokita will be considered for promotion to Ozeki with a yusho or yusho equivalent in May.

The rules are as follows:-
1. Guess M3E Hokutofuji's opponents on each day of the basho.
2. Entries need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the previous day, except for the days 1 and 2 entries which need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the Friday prior to the start of the basho. If it turns out that the daily toriukumi is printed before these times, then any entry proved to have come afterwards is not allowed for that day (so enter early to be safe).
3. Tie-breakers to decide the Yusho.... We look at the result of the day 15 prediction, then day 14, and so on back to day 1. If still a tie, then the highest ranked on the banzuke can claim the Yusho.
4. If M3E Hokutofuji goes kyujo during the basho, we switch to M3W Tamawashi (M2W Kotonowaka, then M2E Kiribayama kept further in reserve, if needed due to a mass spate of kyujos) for the days after his fusensho loss (I.e. we can still guess who gets the freebie). For the immediate day afterwards, (unless it is known very soon after the event), everyone will get a 'kyujo'.
5. Players that are leading the Yusho race (especially in the final few days of the basho), are requested / expected to get their picks in very early (before all the other players, if possible) - in order to avoid suspicions of 'tactical picking'.
6. If the kyokai changes the originally posted torikumi for any day (such as for a late kyujo), the first version released will be used for the purpose of this game. (Highlighted, so that I will remember it, unlike in a previous basho!)
7. If the sumo forum goes down for a long period of time, you may still make your picks to Jejima or Jakusotsu at the 'obvious' gmail addresses or by any other method. 

Special prizes (many thanks to Yaochoyama):

1. Outstanding performance (shukun-sho) - the one who correctly picks the aite the most consecutive days. You have to have a minimum of three to win this prize.

2. Fighting spirit (kanto-sho) - the one who limits their incorrect aite picks to the shortest number of consecutive days (literally the one whose longest losing streak is the shortest). Any losing streak of 5 or more days would disqualify you from this prize.

3. Technique (gino-sho) - the one who is best at making correct picks when no one, or hardly anyone else does. A point system is used as follows and you need at least 3 points to claim this prize:

3 points if you're the only win to make the correct pick
2 points if you're one of two to make the correct pick
1 point if you're one of three to make the correct pick

New players () are cordially invited to this game!

[Reonito 337]

First draft:

1. Abi

2. Wakatakakage

[Andonishiki 156]

day 1: Abi

day 2: Wakatakakage

[Jakusotsu 4,423]

1. Abi
2. WTK

[Gurowake 3,034]

1. Abi

2. Wakatakakage

[Oshirokita 130]

1. Abi

2. Wakatakakage

[shimodahito 218]

1.Abi

2.Wakatakage

(would Wakatafuji be WTF?)

[Seiyashi 2,424]

Day 1: Abi

Day 2: Wakatakakage

[Sumo Spiffy 25]

1. Hoshoryu

2. Daieisho

[Sakura 1,134]

1 Abi
2 Wakatakakage

[Ryoshishokunin 200]

On 29/04/2022 at 02:23, shimodahito said:

1.Abi

2.Wakatakage

(would Wakatafuji be WTF?)

That would be wakatakakage and wakatakafuji :) (or maybe wakatafufuji...)

[Reonito 337]

Second draft:

1. Wakatakakage

2. Abi

[Sakura 1,134]

1. Wakatakakage
2. Abi

[Chartorenji 54]

1. Wakataka

2. Abi

[Gurowake 3,034]

1. Wakatakakage

2. Abi

[Jakusotsu 4,423]

1 - WTK
2 - Abi

[Jejima 841]

1. W5A

2. Abi

[WAKATAKE 2,219]

1. Wakatakakage

2. Abi

[Profomisakari 499]

No.

1. Abi,
2. Wakatakakage.

[Oshirokita 130]

I don't like to change my picks once I have made them, but I see that Ichinojo will be out with covid, so:

1. Wakatakakage

2. Abi

[Hakuhonofan 324]

1. Wakatakakage

2.  Abi

[Profomisakari 499]

If it's  not to late:

1. Wakatakakage
2. Abi

I didn't know the Corona news

[Sumo Spiffy 25]

phew, it's not 11:30 Japan time... I thought I must have been overthinking myself but I only now realized why. So, switching picks:

1. Wakatakakage

2. Abi

[Gurowake 3,034]

Day 4 looks to be the only interesting one week 1.

3. Hoshoryu

Edited May 6 by Gurowake

[Jakusotsu 4,423]

Three players didn't catch the news of Ichinojo's withdrawal.

Sakura (Y1e) 2-0
Reonito (YOe) 2-0
Gurowake (YOw) 2-0
Oshirokita (S1e) 2-0
Jakusotsu (S1w) 2-0
Hakuhonofan (K1e) 2-0
Profomisakari (M1e) 2-0
WAKATAKE (M2w) 2-0
Jejima (M3e) 2-0
Chartorenji (M4w) 2-0
Sumo Spiffy (mz) 2-0
Andonishiki (K1w) 0-2
shimodahito (M1w) 0-2
Seiyashi (M2e) 0-2
Ryoshishokunin (M3w) 0-0-2
The Kyokai (M3e) 0-2

Hokutofuji's aites: 1. Wakatakakage, 2. Abi