Promotion/Demotion Discussion
Ignoring the yusho races, which are discussed elsewhere.
Sanyaku
It has not been a good basho for the Sanyaku. Asanoyama was out of his first tournament back in Sanyaku with yet another jungyo injury. Terunofuji was in no shape to compete but did and lost on Day 1 before withdrawing. Takakeisho did likewise and will be kadoban next basho. Kirishima, who was kadoban is still very injured and left the tournament and will be demoted to Sekiwake. Finally, Wakamotoharu injured his toe during the basho and had to sit out for a few days.
At the moment Wakamotoharu and Asanoyama will be leaving Sanyaku. Everyone else will stay. Kirishima will take one of the Sekiwake slots, so unless Onosato can force another slot, there will only be one open position. Daieisho is in pole position for that slot.
Result
East
Rank
West
Result
0-2-10
Terunofuji
Y
8-4
Hoshoryu
O
Kotozakura
9-3
0-2-10
Takakeisho
O
Kirishima
1-6-5 (x)
(x) 3-6-3
Wakamotoharu
S
Abi
8-4
(x) 0-0-12
Asanoyama
K
Onosato
9-3
5-7
Atamifuji
M1
Daieisho
8-4
6-6
Hiradoumi
M2
Gonoyama
5-7
6-1-5
Takayasu
M3
M4
Ura
6-6
5-7
Onosho
M5
Meisei
8-4
M6
M7
Mitakeumi
8-4
M8
Kotoshoho
8-4
M9
9-3
Shonannoumi
M10
Juryo <-> Makushita
Juryo demotion queue: 13w Chiyomaru (3-9), 13e Oshoumi (3-9), 14w Kazekeno (6-6), 12w Tsushimanada (5-7), 8w Hakuoho (3-5-4), 14e Tochitaikai (7-5). The guys in bold will need 3 wins and a miracle to save them; the others need 2 wins by the numbers (but one could be enough), except for Tochitaikai, who needs one and could get away with zero. I'm sure it's been mentioned elsewhere, but Hakuoho is back to fight for his sekitori status, starting with Hakuyozan tomorrow.
Makushita promotion queue: 1w Kayo (5-1), 1e Akua (3-3) with a win, 11e Fujiseiun (6-0) with a win, 2w Nabatame (4-2), 3e Kiryuko (4-2), 3w Daiseizan (3-3) with a win, 4e Kitaharima (3-3) with a win, 4w Kotokuzan (4-3).
A lot to sort out here. We only have two obvious openings, which could get sticky if Akua and Fujiseiun both win to add near-automatic promotion claims to Kayo's. Daiseizan et al. can finish no higher than 4th in the promotion queue, which probably means they're out of luck even with kachi-koshi. Other than the Fujiseiun-Kusano yusho decider, there is no relevant Day 13 action in Makushita, so Day 12 results in Juryo will guide the scheduling for the final weekend. If they are not involved in potential exchange bouts, Akua and Kitaharima haven't met, and neither have Nabatame and Kiryuko.
