Aki 2023 discussion (results)

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

What a slapping match! 

[Akinomaki 39,755]

Wow, Inosuke doing the kaobure on day 13 - that must be a first. And recently they had waited for the day 14 torikumi to decide for quite a while as well, so he couldn't do it anyway.

[rhyen 1,808]

Midorifuji-Kotoshoho will be hard to top.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Six straight wins for an impressive come-from-behind katchikoshi by Midorifuji. 

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Hokuseiho with the highest hatakikomi ever recorded. Takanosho, who's no midget, was standing almost straight up. 

Edited September 22, 2023 by Kaninoyama

[Akinomaki 39,755]

And 7 straight for always straight up Hokuseiho now - a playoff and he gets the yusho

Edited September 22, 2023 by Akinomaki

[Akinomaki 39,755]

I stay with my claim that the present shimpan are the most inept we had in years, of course not all of them, but in general they are on Inosuke level

[Hankegami 412]

Well, well, well. The yusho race is wide open again, and a 11-4 is still on the table. Whelp, a 10-5 yusho is still on the table technically.

Pressure was clearly over Atamifuji. He definitively improved in the last three tournaments from his usual vanilla KK (13-2J (Ju), 11-4Y (Ju), 10-3 (Ma) and counting), but it's too early for him to face the best of the best. The boy likes belt game, and seemed to have no clue on how on earth getting a grip on Daieisho and Takakeisho. He tried to win an oshi battle, but he simply could not best oshi specialists at their own game. Aside from that, Atamifuji is a big boy and in due time he will certainly able to do this much one day, but that day is not today.

So, race wide open. Takakeisho can smell the yusho and he has enough assets to secure it. He seemed out of steam at times this basho, but he recovered well in the last few days. The question is whether him or Atamifuji are going to keep their 3 losses, or if the yusho line will fall to 11-4 altogether. That's a huge question mark for Atamifuji, who is at his first try of the joy-jin (Abi tomorrow), but Takaeisho's schedule is no joke. He will get 6-7 Hoshoryu tomorrow, who is at a same time extremely pissed off from Kirishima's HNH from today, and seeking to avoid kadoban status with only one loss away from that. That is, henka alarm full on for Takakeisho. Were him to avoid this danger unscathed, I believe that he will get KK Kirishima on day 15, that is a relatively less belligerent foe.

Who else could get the yusho? Daieisho will probably give a think as things are shaping out. He will likely get the Takakeisho schedule in the last two days, just reversed: Kirishima tomorrow, and Hoshoryu on Day 15. Depending on how Hoshoryu vs. Takakeisho will end up, the Nephew could still be with a chance of saving himself at 7-7, and could be extra dangerous. Takayasu is another obvious contender, but after today's loss to Hokutofuji I believe he's mostly out of steam. Kinbozan and Hokuseiho? Not sure whether they are aiming for an upset from down there. Lastly, I don't know whether the 5 losses bunch will give an actual shot for a 10-5 scoreline. Most probably they will wait for whatever results there will be after tomorrow.

[Akinomaki 39,755]

Asanoyama can still reach his goal of double digits this basho, apparently healing on the dohyo works for him

[Koorifuu 886]

Another day where both Hakuyozan and Tohakuryu put their... unique talents... on display.

Now that Tohakuryu might FINALLY get to a promotable score, I'm really intrigued to see how his aggravating tactics work on the maegashira boys. Shame Aoiyama seems to be on his way down.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Koorifuu

[Bakayokozuna 52]

How does a 7 man play off works ?

Like a top8 with one lucky guy (highest rank?) Getting a round1 bye?

[Jakusotsu 5,806]

7 minutes ago, Bakayokozuna said:

How does a 7 man play off works ?

Like a top8 with one lucky guy (highest rank?) Getting a round1 bye?

Correct, but not by highest rank but by drawing lots.

[Djihi 33]

The forecast for tomorow: Hoshoryu henka imminet. 

Cogratz to Midorifuji, great comeback!

Edited September 22, 2023 by Djihi

[Asashosakari 18,783]

1 hour ago, Hankegami said:

Well, well, well. The yusho race is wide open again, and a 11-4 is still on the table. Whelp, a 10-5 yusho is still on the table technically.

10-5 will only remain feasible if all four 9-4 rikishi lose tomorrow (and obviously the 10-3 leaders as well), because none of the 9-4's have met Takakeisho yet and that would be the obvious way to ensure an 11-win scoreline for somebody on senshuraku if at least one of them manages to join the ozeki at 10-4 tomorrow. And speaking of that...

1 hour ago, Hankegami said:

Who else could get the yusho? Daieisho will probably give a think as things are shaping out. He will likely get the Takakeisho schedule in the last two days, just reversed: Kirishima tomorrow, and Hoshoryu on Day 15. Depending on how Hoshoryu vs. Takakeisho will end up, the Nephew could still be with a chance of saving himself at 7-7, and could be extra dangerous. Takayasu is another obvious contender, but after today's loss to Hokutofuji I believe he's mostly out of steam. Kinbozan and Hokuseiho? Not sure whether they are aiming for an upset from down there. Lastly, I don't know whether the 5 losses bunch will give an actual shot for a 10-5 scoreline. Most probably they will wait for whatever results there will be after tomorrow.

I think if Takakeisho loses to Hoshoryu and Daieisho beats Kirishima (both kinda likely), they'll do Takakeisho-Daieisho for Day 15 and scrap the Taka-Kiri match. Possibly even if Takakeisho wins.

[Hankegami 412]

31 minutes ago, Asashosakari said:

I think if Takakeisho loses to Hoshoryu and Daieisho beats Kirishima (both kinda likely), they'll do Takakeisho-Daieisho for Day 15 and scrap the Taka-Kiri match. Possibly even if Takakeisho wins.

Very right. I admit I am not really expecting for Daieisho to win tomorrow, however. Kirishima won their last 3+1 encounters since last March, including last time in which he ended up kadoban (here). On top of that, the kimarite was always tsukiotoshi, i.e. Kirishima sidestepped on the edge and let Daieisho to fall on his own. It sounds like a well-oiled plan to me at this point, and Daieisho looks much the usual Daieisho in this tournament, big thrusts and endangered balance. Anyway, if Daieisho manages to overcome his Kirishima problem, he certainly deserves the musubi no ichiban on Day 15.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Hankegami

[dingo 1,159]

Takakeisho did what is expected of an ozeki and took the yusho co-lead. However tomorrow he's facing a desperate Hoshoryuu, whereas Atamifuji gets a less desperate Abi who's already kachikoshi. I'm rooting for Takakeisho to at least stay in the yusho running, but we're looking at a quite high likelihood of an 11-4 makuuchi yusho. 

Kinbozan was asking to be henkad today with that tachiai. He's gonna fall for a juicy one at some point.

I the ex-ozeki battle Mitakeumi vs Asanoyama the difference in power level was quite apparent. While Mitakeumi may seem to be doing better, Asanoyama is leagues ahead at this point.

I was waiting for a pulldown for the entire (not so long) bout between Ura and Meisei and in the end Ura delivered. Both of them were leaning forward a lot so I'm surprised it took even that long.

Poor Takayasu, once again his yusho dream crushed. That unfortunate loss where he apparently hurt his back was probably the final blow this time.

Kotonowaka had a pretty easy time with Abi after absorbing the initial strangling attempt. Was half expecting Abi to unleash another henka but I guess he wouldn't rely on it too often. 

Some fiery slapping between Daieisho and Gounoyama, but the latter has to work on his slapping skills a bit more. Already looking forward to future bouts between the two.

[kumoryu 88]

26 minutes ago, dingo said:

Poor Takayasu, once again his yusho dream crushed. That unfortunate loss where he apparently hurt his back was probably the final blow this time.

The other day, I was reading a blog about the old 60s TV show Doctor Who which I loved so much when I was a boy. It pointed out that every episode ended with a cliffhanger where either the Doctor or his companion were in mortal danger, but as a viewer you KNOW that the next episode will begin by resolving the cliffhanger and everything will be OK: nevertheless, you needed to watch the next episode, not because you thought the Doctor might die, but to find out how the cliffhanger would inevitably be resolved.

Being a Takayasu fan is like that, but in reverse. It seems like every basho there comes a cliffhanger where you think "This time, he just might get the yusho," but you KNOW it's all going to go wrong somehow. You need to keep watching, not because you think he'll do it this time, but to find out how it's going to go wrong. 

It's heartbreaking, but utterly compelling. I love him so much.

[Sue 481]

1 hour ago, kumoryu said:

Being a Takayasu fan is like that, but in reverse. It seems like every basho there comes a cliffhanger where you think "This time, he just might get the yusho," but you KNOW it's all going to go wrong somehow. You need to keep watching, not because you think he'll do it this time, but to find out how it's going to go wrong. 

It's heartbreaking, but utterly compelling. I love him so much.

Being a Cleveland sports fan is like that. I'm a Pittsburgh sports fan, but I managed to pick up the Guardians as my main baseball rooting interest because A) I went to university there, and B) my grandfather was the team doctor the last time they won the World Series. In 1948.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Sue

[Benevolance 2,478]

I've enjoyed Takakeisho's aggression this tournament. He looks like he wants to win. His extra shove on Atamifuji last night to take a co-lead was *chef kiss* - perfect combination of making sure his opponent was out, whilst saying, "This is MY basho!" I doubt Hoshoryu is going to get any sort of OBSC hand-out tonight from Takakeisho, and it'll be interesting to see how Atamifuji fares against Abi. Match ups are in Abi's favour, but he's already secured his kachikoshi and is too far back to be in contention even if he wins. 

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

4 hours ago, kumoryu said:

Being a Takayasu fan is like that, but in reverse. It seems like every basho there comes a cliffhanger where you think "This time, he just might get the yusho," but you KNOW it's all going to go wrong somehow. You need to keep watching, not because you think he'll do it this time, but to find out how it's going to go wrong. 

It's heartbreaking, but utterly compelling. I love him so much.

Think positively: "How will he get Jun-Yusho this time?"

[Octofuji 327]

11 hours ago, rhyen said:

Midorifuji-Kotoshoho will be hard to top.

I seriously thought YouTube was on the wrong speed setting for that match (the possibility had already crossed my mind when Takarafuji shoved Chiyoshoma several rows into the crowd).

Some glorious sumo today 

[Adz_517 21]

Congratulations to Kitaharima, 21.5 years in professional sumo and just banked his first Yusho at age 37! 

[Yamanashi 3,723]

5 hours ago, kumoryu said:

The other day, I was reading a blog about the old 60s TV show Doctor Who which I loved so much when I was a boy. It pointed out that every episode ended with a cliffhanger where either the Doctor or his companion were in mortal danger, but as a viewer you KNOW that the next episode will begin by resolving the cliffhanger and everything will be OK: nevertheless, you needed to watch the next episode, not because you thought the Doctor might die, but to find out how the cliffhanger would inevitably be resolved.

Being a Takayasu fan is like that, but in reverse. It seems like every basho there comes a cliffhanger where you think "This time, he just might get the yusho," but you KNOW it's all going to go wrong somehow. You need to keep watching, not because you think he'll do it this time, but to find out how it's going to go wrong. 

It's heartbreaking, but utterly compelling. I love him so much.

It's like the phrase, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" -- except when I imagine Takayasu in a bridesmaid's dress, then I bring up a little of my lunch.

[Gurowake 3,915]

4 hours ago, Benevolance said:

Match ups are in Abi's favour, but he's already secured his kachikoshi and is too far back to be in contention even if he wins. 

Abi is fighting for a potential sanyaku berth.  He needs to keep pace with Asanoyama the last two days and hope that Tobizaru drops one and Kotonowaka wins one.

[Morty 1,480]

Imagine if Midorifuji was 6 inches taller and about 30 kilos heavier.... Terrible luck to be a small man in an open weight combat sport, regardless of how skilled you are.