AsaMoe

Maybe only one step will be needed ? Last time he fought uninjured in Juryo he made a Jun-Yusho. And he definiteley has improved since then.

After three days from originally around 160 players 120 are still in the yusho race. This comes mostly due to the winning streak of Wakanosato, Hakuho and Baruto (!) I wonder, what will happen, if any one of these three loses. Anyway. Does any one of the older players remember, that a Juryo rikishi was so "successful" in Chaingang ?

I am sure, that this is a proper sport. I object man, who are not interested in the sport, but in the woman.

While checking the old entries, i realized, that i did not introduce myself. Well, i am Martin Ottmann, 32 years and live in Munich, Germany. I work in the Financial Service Industry and are responsable for all MO chess and MO bridge hits, not the scientology ones. (i promise) I have never been involved in any martial arts, but i like the tradition, the fast decision (ever watched 1.5 hours of soccer or formula 1 and nothing happened ?), the different styles and the absense of secondary motifs (beach volleyball, women tennis!) I like Asashoryu, because he is the best and i like Tochiazuma, because of his warriorship. And i hate waiting ten weeks for a fast internet access and i fear, that Tochiazuma will become Yokuzuna and i cannot watch this.

Heeeeeh - there should be quite more than you. Anyway, i wonder, why i always here this now or never stuff. If Tochiazuma develops like Kaio, he still has 4 years of growth before him, including 4 Yusho and 5 chances for a promotion. The problem is more, that his competitors are younger than him and that in the beginning of 2006 the old Ozeki are no match anymore and that the younger one did not have reached their full strength. And then, the health situation with Kotoosho and Asashoryu could also help.

Of course, i will not interfere with your priotization. For me, there are a few private projects, which are important, than the Haru Basho and then sumo gaming.

Yusho: Asashoryu - no doubt Tochiazuma will lose 2-3 early and will either go for a small kk or dive Hakuho will also lose 2-3 early but will make 9/10 in the end, but no promotion Kaio will eventually fail to recover and intai, while Chiyotaikai will cheaply safe his rank one more time. Kotoosho will profit from the lack of interest in his sumo and will jun-yusho (last time i was absolutely sure, that Tochiazuma will yield up a kk and stay there, so take my guess not to serious)

I will still play 3 games; but i do not have to play them every day. Bench Sumo simply costs to much time.

Hi, after one year of sumo gaming, i found out, that i love sumo more than sumo gaming and will retire from daily games. Furthermore, i do not have the time to participate on a daily basis. I have already retired my shikona at the bench sumo home page. Do i have to do any more ?

I am sure, this is explained somewhere, but after a search for a quarter of an hour, i did not find anything. Is there a possibility to see old topics ? I am looking for the one, where Japanese-knowledgable members suggested kanjis for shikonas. Thank you for your help

This time i am satisfied with all of my games. Unfortunately i decided to cut down on the four most important one, so this is not a big deal. But anyway: ISP: 8-7 after 0-3 Chaingang: 6 or 7 rounds until Toki started, giving my a tied 8-17th place Bench: 8-7 and one not so good: Hoshitori: 14-1, which is a good score, but imagine, what i could have achieved, if i did not have TOchiazuma on 8.

I have no clue about this time, but looking back, i have the impression, that it was clear to everyone, that Takanohana would become a greater Yokuzuna. Back then, the could have had the idea, that a Dai-Yokuzuna should have higher standards than a normal Yokuzuna. Finally, it looked like they were correct, when Takohana made one of the most sucessfull Yokuzuna promotions (actually noone else made more than 28 wins before promotion)

Maybe i have expressed myself. Of course, i do not think, that Tochiazuma can only become Yokuzuna, if he wins more than 15 Yusho. But in my opinion he has to show, that he is really capable of beating Asashoryu, i.e. only two Yusho in a row will be sufficient. And in my opinion it will also be acceptable, if Tochiazuma score 14-1 after Asahoryu with 15-0, because he has won a sound Yusho in Hatsu. I simply do not like the idea, that someone becomes Yokuzuna with two 13-2 "Yusho-equivalents". And i do not like the idea, that a second rikishi will become Yokuzuna, when Asashoryu wins 5 or 6 basho a year.

I dont think, that we disagree. If he wins two bashos in a row, he deserves it. And if Asashoryu wins enough bashos to prevent any other rikishi from winning two bashos, well than bad luck, but than there will be only one Yokuzuna.

Two opinions of mine: 1) Making Tochiazuma Yokuzuna puts him on the same level as Asashoryu, which will not ok, if Asashoryu constantly wins all bashos. If Asashoryu is strong enough to hinder everyone else winning two bashos in a row, there is no place for a second Yokuzuna. Bad Luck. 2) Even if Tochiazuma becomes Ozeki, he will not be comparable to Asashoryu. It may even be, that he will never win a basho afterwards and retire early. I would like him to become Yokuzuna, but only if he really deserves it.

We all agree, that this was the most exciting basho for a long time. BTW, has anyone a statistics about the number of posts in this forum per basho ?

I would be very surprised, if a 12-3 will not lead to a promotion. In case 1 or two Ozeki retire, even a sound 11-4 will be enough.

I do not remember well, but i think a lot of guys predicted, that Hakuho will be Yokuzuna in 2005. Becoming Ozeki is very difficult and whenever you do not perform at your best for one basho, you can start from the beginning. So wait and see what is happening

After you will keep your credibility on the Not-Asashoryu Yusho, i start to believe, that you are right in all other points too. Could you please pass me your thougts for Haru, that i could make my game entries ?

Actually, there are Tochiazuma supporters. But, 1) Asashoryu is the outstanding rikishi in the last year and no one at the moment could match his skill. Any other rikishi will always be compared with him and will look mediocre. 2) Unlike Hakuho and Kotoosho Tochiazuma is not young any more. That is, he has already reached his maximum skill. And noone would ever say something like: "he will be better than Asashoryu, when he is more experienced.

???? Sumo is a sport, where this should not matter. And Asashoryu is strong enough, that he does not need the help of others to win the yusho.

Independent of who wins the basho, it looks like there one with a Yusho equivalent. Then, the next basho could become really interesting.

That is, i gain your credibility, if Asa wins ? What do i have to offer myself ?

I am a bit puzzled, that only one person (me) picked the obvious Daishodai. This is the second time, that Toki killed me in Chain Gang. BTW, am i prominent ?