2022 60 wins again?

[Akinomaki 40,814]

The last time most wins of the year were 60 or more was 2016 - Is Wakatakakage the new yokozuna hope like the YDC wants him to be and will he achieve that or can Kotonowaka maybe evolve into Kotozakura II ?

Who will get most wins of 2022 and will it be at least 60 in these times of decay or maybe even a new low for 6 basho in a year  (Asanoyama with 55 in 2019 - 2020 with canceled Natsu had 51)?

The top 10 right now http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&columns=6&n_basho=6&sum_wins=39&sum_range=6&show_sum=on&form1_year=2022&form1_month=1&form1_m=on&sort_by=sum_wins

 

[Hankegami 537]

I voted Wakatakakage simply because the only guy who can catch up with him (barring kyujo and similar disasters) is Kotonowaka, who is 3 wins away. WTK is a 9-6 guy on average, so we can reasonably expect him to go at least 58. KNW is more of a question mark because he joined the joy very recently and we cannot be sure whether his recent slump from previous 11-4s to his last 8-7 is temporary or structural. Either way, I don't project KNW to pass over a 11-4 for the moment (57). Also, WTK is technically on a run for Ozeki (although most of us expect him to make a Sep-Nov-Jan race instead of a July-Sep-Nov one) with an outside chance to be promoted with a 14-1 (63). We can therefore envisage him to gambarize and try to win as many bouts as possible, allowing him to sketch either a 10-5 (59) or 11-4 (60).

Now, the problem is the 60 threshold. Once again, only a 11-4 WTK or a 14-1 KNW can get it. I doubt the latter will get such a big jump in just one basho, so my only viable candidate is WTK with his cold starts and all. Considering we are asking our favorite WakaBro to get his second-best performance ever once again, I am prone to be conservative and conclude that Wakatakakage will fall just short of the line, maybe exactly with a 10-5 (59).

[Benevolance 2,511]

I have faith that this current batch of sanyaku can achieve new lows never before thought possible.

[Oshirokita 192]

Hankegami outlined my deduction exactly.

Wakatakakage 10W --> 59

[Seiyashi 4,108]

By the looks of the poll he's convinced everyone else too, but considering the next candidates are Kotonowaka (who's arguably yet to look comfortable in the joi) and Hōshōryū (who has a tendency to blow hot and cold) I don't think there's any other realistic option. I went for <60 because it's more likely to happen, but if Wakatakakage's 11-4 from last basho is him turning a corner he might just be able to hit 60 and I'd be cheering for him to do it (and maintain his ōzeki run momentum)

[Godango 1,015]

I've backed Wakatakakage to get to 11 as a stretch goal, but my head says the 10 is more realistic. Still, 60+ it is.

[Churaumi 745]

Wakatakakage has enough of a lead I think he'll take it, even with a middling performance. Breaking 60 will be tough for him but he can do it.

[Akinomaki 40,814]

Wakatakakage with his win and Hoshoryu's loss today ensured to get most wins of this year in makuuchi. Most voters picked him and 14 of them opted for 56-59 wins, which it will be: he has 56 wins now, Hoshoryu and Kotonowaka with both 54 at the moment may still join him, nobody voted for them and Wakatakakage should get another win for kachikoshi to make it his alone. So we have a draw of 14 in another year of mediocre performances.

Wakatakakage is the 4th below y/o to get most wins of the year, the other 3 all made it later, Taiho, Taka(no)hanada and Asanoyama