Aki 2023 discussion (results)

[hakutorizakura 590]

Really fun day with nice bouts and close calls (some are questionable though)! Is this basho shaping up to be a hell of a ba-show in the 2nd week?

[dingo 1,159]

Lots and lots of hairline decisions today.

Midorifuji got into his giant killing groove again. No burger flipping this time, though he was trying to repeat it. Seems like Ura took over the flipping duties at least for today. 

Wow, Takayasu just cleaned house with Gounoyama today. He's taken a bit of a gatekeeper slash senior upstart blocker role this basho - yesterday was Shonannoumi, today Gounoyama.

Hokutofuji was back today after 2 consecutive losses. Not the best win but 4-2 is a pretty good result for him after 6 days.

Abi is a bit of a mystery for me this basho. He has some strong bouts for example against the ozeki, but then some weird losses like today. His sumo seems to always succeed or fail in a rather spectacular manner. Or well I typed all of this before seeing the slowmo, where it seems he had a pretty good claim for a torinaoshi at least.

Kotonowaka again today with some very Kisenosato-like sumo. Strong, calm and moving forward.

Asanoyama offered really strong challenges to the two fresh ozeki, but in both bouts lacked that little something. Still, I'm looking forward for more evenly matched bouts ahead as Asanoyama settles down in the joi once again. 

Edited September 15, 2023 by dingo

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

3 hours ago, Koorifuu said:

The expected Day 4 matchup of Takerufuji vs Tochikamiyama might very well be an early makushita yusho / juryo promotion decider, barring any surprise. There's plenty of quality on the remaining 3-0 makushiteans, but IMO not necessarily close to those two.

They need to win out to get promoted; no guarantees.

[Benihana 1,901]

Someone must have mixed some speed in today's chanko. Holy mochi...

[Yarimotsu 522]

Takahashi's efforts and style are starting to look like what I like about Takarafuji. Would be nice if someone could carry that torch going forward, and I see no reason why he won't become a makuuchi mainstay.

[Koorifuu 886]

48 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

They need to win out to get promoted; no guarantees.

Yes, that was the whole premise of my post.

[Reonito 1,335]

54 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

They need to win out to get promoted; no guarantees.

Given how things are going in juryo and in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, I wouldn't rule out a 6-1 promotion for Takerufuji just yet

[Hoshotakamoto 256]

13 hours ago, Yarimotsu said:

Since 1951 (arbitrary cutoff to make sure 15 bouts were fought) in the 11-win yusho circumstances for Makuuchi, of which there are 3: https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&form1_wins=11&form1_year=>1950&form1_y=on&form1_m=on 

There would have been an 8-way playoff in Hatsu 1972 had Ozeki Kiyokuni won on day 15. (10-4 v 10-4 not forced).

Kyushu 1996 was very different as strong contenders almost won out early, so 11-4 was the minimum.

Aki 2017 forced 11 with Goeido v Harumafuji on 11-3, 10-4 on day 15 but had Goeido lost on the day prior to Takanoiwa and Harumafuji to Mitakeumi, 10-5 seems possible. Onosho, Kotoshogiku and Asanoyama were all runner-ups, all (not asa) won out their last 2 to reach 10 wins, Onosho and Kotoshogiku already faced the leaders and each other before day 11, and Asanoyama was on the very bottom rung of the banzuke, not to be brought up unless necessary.

So I'd say that Aki 2017 also counts as a recent basho where 10-4 v 10-4 was not forced and 10-5Y was very possible.

Yeah, Day 14 of Aki 2017 looks pretty dire -- a very stunning array of lousy KK records. I was surprised to see how wrong I was in assuming that there's a 10-x vs 10-x match (or 11-x v 11-x, or 12-x vs 12-x) on a long streak of recent basho ... it's very much not the case. One mitigating factor I was able to find was that in cases where, for example, Terunofuji is running away with the yusho, they don't necessarily manufacture a bunch of same-win-count matchups. But at the same time these cases don't create much risk of a 10-5 yusho. Maybe it would have to go like this https://sumodb.sumogames.de/Banzuke.aspx?b=201901#M (Hakuho starting 10-0, which depletes the win totals of the other contenders, then pulling out injured).

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

2 hours ago, Reonito said:

Given how things are going in juryo and in the Ms1-Ms5 promotion zone, I wouldn't rule out a 6-1 promotion for Takerufuji just yet

This would be situational. The bottom of Juryo is unusually strong - except Shimanoumi, but he wears The Cloak Of Infinite Sekitorihood, as we all know.

[WAKATAKE 2,631]

Even though Abi was still in the air when Meisei fell, his were past the bales, hence the win for Meisei. Mita vs Atami was fun

[Reonito 1,335]

8 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

This would be situational. The bottom of Juryo is unusually strong - except Shimanoumi, but he wears The Cloak Of Infinite Sekitorihood, as we all know.

Wakatakakage is getting demoted. Shima is 1-5. He'll certainly survive with 5 more wins, and they might even find a way to keep him with 4, but if he can't manage that... You're right though, it looks light on demotions, and at least a couple of Ms1-Ms5's should post winning records.

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

Can all subscribers please pray to whatever deities they revere or worship to get behind Satonofuji tomorrow? The old bow-twirler may have his last chance of a yusho at 46 after 28 years in the game. If you don't have a preferred deity, pray to Wesley Snipes or Cameron Mitchell or Lou Reed.

[Fashiritētā 169]

I will pray to the great cat for Satonofuji, 

results may vary, no deposit, no return 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Fashiritētā

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

8 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Can all subscribers please pray to whatever deities they revere or worship to get behind Satonofuji tomorrow? The old bow-twirler may have his last chance of a yusho at 46 after 28 years in the game. If you don't have a preferred deity, pray to Wesley Snipes or Cameron Mitchell or Lou Reed.

Submitted my prayers to the Flying Spaghetti Monster. 

I am also a dudeist, but the absence of a specific deity doesn't make prayer possible; however, I will meditate and recite the mantra "Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man" while focusing my mind on this picture:

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Bunbukuchagama

[Tigerboy1966 1,376]

6 minutes ago, Bunbukuchagama said:

I am also a dudeist

Satonofuji abides.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Great. The one day I'm traveling and miss the festivities and everyone's gushing about yesterday's matches. 

[bettega 427]

20 minutes ago, Kaninoyama said:

Great. The one day I'm traveling and miss the festivities and everyone's gushing about yesterday's matches. 

Don't botter... a couple of good Ozeki bouts only.

[Koorifuu 886]

4 hours ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Can all subscribers please pray to whatever deities they revere or worship to get behind Satonofuji tomorrow? The old bow-twirler may have his last chance of a yusho at 46 after 28 years in the game. If you don't have a preferred deity, pray to Wesley Snipes or Cameron Mitchell or Lou Reed.

This would directly mean hoping that Shiroma goes kyujo. Wesley Snipes could take care of that matter but I'm not so confident about the other two.

Edited September 16, 2023 by Koorifuu

[sumojoann 1,256]

1 hour ago, Kaninoyama said:

Great. The one day I'm traveling and miss the festivities and everyone's gushing about yesterday's matches. 

I overslept and missed it too, probably due to staying up every night til 4:00 AM watching the live broadcast.  But our friend Kintamayama came through as usual.  I'm so grateful to have a second chance to watch the bouts I've missed.  I thought yesterday was pretty spectacular.  In addition to the Ozeki bouts, Ura vs Daieisho was amazing.  Ura did a sideways backflip and won, Midorifuji once again defeated Hokuseiho, Wakamotoharu thwarted Tobizaru's attempted leg pick and the Mitakeumi vs Atamifuji bout had a mono-ii, a torinaoshi and another mono-ii.  Lots of excitement.  Here is Day 6 --

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by sumojoann

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Alas, gods didn't answer our prayers. 

[Katooshu 3,132]

Well I can't blame them, he is Saton after all 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Katooshu

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

38 minutes ago, Katooshu said:

Well I can't blame them, he is Saton after all 

Even divine beings cannot conjure miracles of such magnitude...

[Wakawakawaka 136]

Atamifuji looking like a whole new rikishi from his first top division basho! Exciting match with Mitakumi today for sure. Overall looks focused and calculating.

[Bunbukuchagama 688]

Kotoeko got robbed.

[Kaninoyama 1,694]

Shonannoumi v. Kotoeiko. Sure looked to me like Shonan's arm touched down first. A mono-ii was warranted there.