Bench Women's Euros 2025

[Jejima 1,479]

Hi everyone!

Back in 2010, we had the inaugural Bench World Cup.  This is a fantasy sports game played during the football (soccer) World Cup.  Since then, there has been three further Men's Bench World Cups in 2014, 2018 and 2022, four Men's Bench Euros in 2012, 2016, 2021 and 2024.  We also had the first Women's Bench World Cup in 2023.

This year, I am hoping to have the inaugural Women's Bench Euros. 

 

Here are the basic rules of the game.  (There will need to be a slight rewriting, due to the smaller size of this competition, but they are pretty much 'fixed' as is.)

From previous experience, the game can be a little rushed to organise immediately after a sumo tournament.

So, I am starting this topic now, in order to get people to sign up to play and to volunteer be a 'refioji' (referee/gyoji - term originally coined by Achiyama). No need for prior experience to become a refioji.

Please 'sign up' on the list below if you would like to play.  We need 16 competitors, (plus a few reserves, ideally)

Preference is given to:
a) sumo game players (even better if you play Bench Sumo!)
b) regular players of 'Bench' football competitions
c) sumo fans
d) family (and friends) of the above

We also need four 'refiojis' - one person to look after each of the four groups in the group stages (so one refioji in charge of four players).
Those refiojis will then also be given games in the knock-out stages to look after.

Please register your interest to play below, and whether you would be able to kindly help out with the administration. 

Refiojis
1. Jakusotsu 
2. 
3. 
4. 

 

Reserves
First reserve: 
Second reserve: 
 

Players
1. Jejima
2. Fujiko
3. Baku
4. Kaba
5. Ganzohnesushi 
6. Fingall
7. Jakusotsu 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
 

Reserves - in case any of the above drop out at the last minute or don't make their squad selections in time.
First reserve:  Ryoshishokunin
2nd reserve: 
3rd reserve: 
4th reserve:  

Edited April 28 by Jejima

[Ganzohnesushi 546]

Yes, please.

Ganzohnesushi

[Finngall 35]

Sign me up.

[Jakusotsu 6,321]

Ready for ball and whistle.

[Ryoshishokunin 332]

In.   I... don't think I can commit to refiojiing at this point, but if we're short/need subs I can probably step in.

[Ganzohnesushi 546]

On 20/04/2025 at 12:14, Jejima said:

  We need 24 competitors, (plus a few reserves, ideally)

Why 24? Only 16 teams participating.

Ganzohnesushi

[Jejima 1,479]

Because I copied and pasted from previous topic! I'll correct now. Many thanks. 

[Athenayama 1,168]

I'll admit I'm not fully motivated by this event but I'll play (and usually that is when you win it !) and refioji if needed.

[Athenayama 1,168]

Kimyama would like to play !

[Jejima 1,479]

Half-way there!

 

Refiojis
1. Jakusotsu 
2. Athenayama
3. Jejima
4. 

Reserves
First reserve: Ryoshishokunin
Second reserve: 

Players
1. Jejima
2. Fujiko
3. Baku
4. Kaba
5. Ganzohnesushi 
6. Fingall
7. Jakusotsu 
8. Athenayama
9. Kimyama
10. Ryoshishokunin
11. Pitinosato
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 

Reserves - in case any of the above drop out at the last minute or don't make their squad selections in time.
First reserve: 
2nd reserve: 
3rd reserve: 
4th reserve:  

Edited May 14 by Jejima

[Pitinosato 126]

I want to play, too 

[Athenayama 1,168]

On 27/04/2025 at 21:10, Ryoshishokunin said:

In.   I... don't think I can commit to refiojiing at this point, but if we're short/need subs I can probably step in.

@Jejima  My understanding of this post is that he is in as  a player and reserve as a refioji. Am I correct?
@Ryoshishokunin could you confirm?

[Jejima 1,479]

1 hour ago, Athenayama said:

@Jejima  My understanding of this post is that he is in as  a player and reserve as a refioji. Am I correct?
@Ryoshishokunin could you confirm?

Yes, you are 100% correct

 

[Athenayama 1,168]

Calling out other Bench Word/Euro cup players just in cse they aren't aware of this thread.

@Koorifuu @Nekonishiki Banji (and family, friends...) @Asapedroryu @Achiyama (and family) @Terarno @Andonishiki (and family?) @Nantonoyama

@Bunbukuchagama (but it's a Euro...)

Only 5 spots left !

Edited May 14 by Athenayama

[Asapedroryu 243]

Yes, I'll play.

Thanks @Athenayama for the alert.

[Achiyama 1,264]

I would like to play.

My Grandson Krisachiyama would like to play as well.

I can do Refiojing as well.

[Koorifuu 1,099]

In the words of Neymar, "aimim!".

[Nekonishiki Banji 402]

Hi, sorry I didn't react earlier. I have already prepared my Excel table for next year's extended World Cup  so I think there will be no problem this year, either.

Count me as refioji and player. I asked Kuma Koma, too, however no idea if he is interested in.

[Jejima 1,479]

I think that we are good to go!

Refiojis
1. Jakusotsu 
2. Athenayama
3. Achiyama
4. Nekonishiki

Reserves
First reserve: Ryoshishokunin
Second reserve: Jejima

Players
1. Jejima
2. Fujiko
3. Baku
4. Kaba
5. Ganzohnesushi 
6. Fingall
7. Jakusotsu 
8. Athenayama
9. Kimyama
10. Ryoshishokunin
11. Pitinosato
12. Asapedroryu
13. Achiyama
14. Krisachiyama
15. Koorifuu
16. Nekonishiki

Reserves - in case any of the above drop out at the last minute or don't make their squad selections in time.
First reserve: ?Kuma Koma?
2nd reserve: 
3rd reserve: 
4th reserve: 

Edited May 17 by Jejima

[Nekonishiki Banji 402]

6 minutes ago, Jejima said:

First reserve: ?Kuma Koma?

He replied he didn't know if he has time for it this time.

[Jejima 1,479]

Just now, Nekonishiki Banji said:

He replied he didn't know if he has time for it this time.

That makes me feel better, as he is a regular for the game - and if he wanted to play, then I would have wanted him in. But the next one (2026) is the big one!

[Koorifuu 1,099]

I don't mind stepping away if any of the good ol' regulars wants to play!

[Jejima 1,479]

7 hours ago, Koorifuu said:

I don't mind stepping away if any of the good ol' regulars wants to play!

We welcome all

 

[Jejima 1,479]

Time to start the admin!

Remember this is to pick the team that you represent. The team in brackets is the counterbalance team. This has been calculated by taking the average from five major betting sites for outright winner for the tournament. The overall favourite is paired with the 16th favoured team, 2nd favourite with the 15th favoured team and so on. So, if your first choice team is one of the tournament favourites, the counterbalance team is likely to be an 'also-ran', and vice versa.

You are asked to pick your first choice team, then second and so on down to fifth choice team. Of course, do not pick the same team twice!  Also, as a bit of guidance (based on previous tournaments), it can be a bit of a waste of picks after your first choice if you select a team that is likely to go with the first round choices. - So think outside of the box with choices 3 to 5 perhaps?

Make your picks as soon as possible please.

Please go here to pick your representative team.

@Ganzohnesushi, @Finngall, @Jakusotsu, @Athenayama, @Ryoshishokunin, @Pitinosato, @Asapedroryu, @Achiyama, @Koorifuu, @Nekonishiki Banji

 

[Jejima 1,479]

Representation picks received from....

1. Jejima
2. Baku
3. Fujiko
4. Kaba
5. Nekonishiki
6. Asapedroryu
7. Koorifuu

Edited May 17 by Jejima