Itachi

Here are the win/loss records after day 5; projected win/loss average out of 15; and projected # of kk. Fay (21-18) ; 8.1 ; 7 Itachi (26-11) ; 10.5 ; 7 Sekihiryu (19-18) ; 7.703 ; 6 Tamanogijima (19-16) ; 8.14 ; 4 Doitsuyama (22-13) ; 9.4286 ; 6 Drone (23-14) ; 9.32 ; 6

I think you missed a couple of guys. By my count I am 19-11. You can always use the Customized Sumo Results of the Sumo Information site to create lists of rikishi and even bookmark that. This should make it much easier for you. Thanks Doitsuyama! I probably shouldn't bother staying up late to post the results since my eyes aren't much good by the time NSK posts them. I still haven't succeeded in extracting the data in a form I can use to automatically calculate results each night but the customized sumo results page is easier to read results from and I've corrected my previous work. Here are the revised (and hopefully correct) win/loss records so far + # 2-0 riksihi (expected kk) Fay (18-12) +6 Itachi (21-9) +6 Sekihiryu (16-14) +5 Tamanogijima (16-14) +2 Doitsuyama (19-11) +5 Drone (19-11) +5 Once again, if there is something not correct, let me know so I can improve my system. Based only on wins and losses so far, here are the projected wins out of 15. Fay 9 Itachi 10.5 Sekihiryu 8 Tamanogijima 8 Doitsuyama 9.5 Drone 9.5 Factoring in projected kk (only 2-0 counted, not 1-1) Fay 8.625 Itachi 9.9375 Sekihiryu 7.625 Tamanogijima 7.25 Doitsuyama 8.9375 Drone 8.9375 Fay and I seem to be in the best position to win groups and possibly the yusho with our 6 undefeated rikishi but it is still quite early. Stay tuned, things can change quickly as each bout represents a large % of each rikishi's total (as you know from the Makushita Game) Itachi

Here are the results after 4 days. I'm half asleep as I prepare this so there may be something I've missed but I will verify everything against the hoshitori later in the tournament so not to worry. If you think I've missed something, let me know. Win-Loss records for our teams after four days are as follows: Fay (18-12) Itachi (22-6) Sekihiryu (17-11) Tamanogijima (17-11) Doitsuyama (18-10) Drone (20-8) Torideyama will not be joining us this tournament after all. We can look forward to his participation next time I am told. Only Fay has mamaged 2 matches per rikishi. The rest of us are two bouts short. Did I miss a couple of guys? (I am updating the results manually). Good luck on day 5. Itachi

Here are the win-loss records for our teams of 15 after day 3. Fay (14-8) Itachi (20-2) Sekihiryu (16-10) Tamanogijima (17-8) Doitsuyama (15-6) Drone (20-6) Torideyama (?-?) - still waiting for him to resend his entry since it seems to have disappeared into my wife's trash bin. I've since changed my email settings so everything from here should go to the one I use - nmatsuo@shaw.ca I wonder if there are any other potential players who sent their entries to the wrong address. Even without Torideyama's selections, we have picked 50 of the 200 sandanme rikishi for this game. 2 of those are unique to the drone because there weren't any popular picks in groups 13 and 14 - each of us selected a different rikishi. The most popular pick, Gagamaru, is now 2-0. All of us appear on course for kachikoshi. Itachi

Sorry Torideyama, There is no trace of your e-mail but I think if you had sent it to my yahoo account, my wife may have deleted it. I requested the entries be sent to nmatsuo@shaw.ca due to the fact that my wife has taken over our yahoo account and so things sent there don't always get to me. Once again, let me have a fresh copy of your entry at nmatsuo@shaw.ca Thanks for playing! Itachi p.s. Yes, I see that my email account for sumoforum is set at the yahoo one. I will change this soon but now I am due back at work - got to go!

Here are the win/loss results for your rikishi after day 2. Every one of our riksihi has had a match. I am a bit embarrased by my good start. I should not be winning at the game I administer. I'm sure things will even out after a few days. As for the drone, popular picks are often good ones in lower division games and I think that at this level youth trumps experience on average. If the drone does too well we may have to adjust it's selection formula for next time. Fay (8-7) Itachi (15-0) Sekihiryu (10-5) Tamanogijima (10-5) Doitsuyama (12-3) Drone (12-3) Top points stealers were popular but losing Yamasaki and Ako. Gagamaru is the only unanimous pick and did not disappoint.

Results after Day 1 This is only the total win/loss recrd of our 15 rikishi so far. Shikona Record Fay (5-4) Itachi (6-0) Sekihiryu (5-3) Tamanogijima (5-3) Doitsuyama (3-0) Drone (5-1) I have set up a formula to project our final results as a win/loss record out of 15 without factoring in the bonus for yusho. The initial projections are meaningless since many of our rikishi haven't had a bout but all of us appear headed for kk. Itachi

I hope this is readable! Here is a list of everyone's selections including the Drone. The Drone decided to take the most popular rikishi in each group unless there wasn't one in which case it took the youngest rikishi. I'll try to find a convenient way to produce and post results as time allows. Thanks to everyone for playing! Itachi Group Fay Itachi Sekihiryu Tamanogijima Doitsuyama Drone 1 Kaishoryu Sadanofuji Sadanofuji Sadanofuji Shimada Sadanofuji 2 Gokenzan Shironishiki Shironishiki Futasegawa Shironishiki Shironishiki 3 Kakureizan Kakureizan Kyokuryudake Fujinokaze Kachimori Kakureizan 4 Enatsukasa Orora Yamasaki Yamasaki Sadanoshima Yamasaki 5 Kyokushoten Maenoyu Maenoyu Maenoyu Maenoyu Maenoyu 6 Kotohikari Kaonishiki Asahisakari Yuminosato Asahisakari Asahisakari 7 Wakamifuji Morioka Morioka Wakamifuji Morioka Morioka 8 Asahanada Masuhikari Masuhikari Masuhikari Masuhikari Masuhikari 9 Gagamaru Gagamaru Gagamaru Gagamaru Gagamaru Gagamaru 10 Takashoma Ginkakuzan Ako Ako Kabasawa Ako 11 Shinzan Daitensho Daitensho Wakamigo Wakatora Daitensho 12 Kotomisen Takunishiki Takakiho Takunishiki Takunishiki Takunishiki 13 Kotootori Yoshinoryu Kabutoiwa Kakushoma Kirinishiki Hatayama 14 Seiryu Seifu Ikemoto Oseumi Bungonishiki Isetsukasa 15 Masunoumi Masuko Masuko Masuko Masuko Masuko P.S. If you find any errors in your team please let me know. Good Luck!

I've been wrong most of the time in the later rounds and I shouldn't even be allowed to continue playing but since no one set up guards around this topic here goes my last mad dash about the field. Italy 1-0 in 120 minutes. The younger legs finally break the 0-0 tie in the last minutes. Way to go France for making it this far!

Sekihiryu wrote: it all sounds greek to me! Itachi: Sorry - I tend to over explain things and end up making them sound even more confusing sometimes. Sekihiryu: The scoring system for the Makushita game seems be be working, you dont want to adopt that? Itachi: I am very happy with the way the Makushita game works but I had my own idea I wanted to try with this game. The scoring is easier to add up since 1 win = 1 point, kk = 1 point, best in group = 1 point. So far the scoring is similar to the Guess the Yusho Winners game. We want to produce records out of 15. We have 15 rikishi. With 9 points possible for each rikishi we are 15 short of a convenient total of 150 so I thought 15 points for the yusho would be a suitable bonus (with 15 tries, I think most of us will guess the yusho winner). Our scores will be out of 150 then and so a tenth of that gives a nice sumo-like record. If kk proves unreasonably difficult, we can just increase some of the bonuses next time. Thanks to all who have entered or who have considered entering. There are only 19 playing the Makushita game so far so we have a few more potential entrants I hope. Itachi

I'll have to take out Daishoyu due to his injury and replace him with Takunishiki sd63e

Be aware that Sd 62w Daishoyu is rumoured to be kyujo for the start of the tournament. Even if he returns mid-basho there are good prospects who should easily outscore him in the Sd 61 - 70 group. I see a lot of visits to this thread but so far only two of us have made entries. I hope a few more of you take a chance to make this alpha test a bit more interesting for us. I am stubborn enough to try again next tournament but I'd like to see whether the proposed scoring system will produce a reasonable number of kk records amongst us. Here is an example of how the scoring might work. Suppose you can average 4 wins per rikishi with your 15 selections. Suppose also that 8 of your 15 earn kk. (Given an average of 4 wins, that seems about right.) Suppose 4 of those 8 actually win their group. You would score 4 x 15 = 60 for wins plus 8 for kk plus 4 for winning groups for a total of 72 points. If you didn't include the yusho winner amongst your 15 selections then that is all the points you earn. 72/10 = 7.2 which rounds to 7 wins. Not good enough for kk. Is kk too tough to achieve? Suppose also that one of your 15 rikishi is the yusho winner. Now you earn 15 bonus points for a total of 87. 87/100 = 8.7 which rounds to 9 wins. Not bad. Too good for such an average performance? I wonder if the points awarded for the yusho should be adjusted to allow for points for yusho equivalent records. I would like to stick with allocating only 15 points in total with the yusho winner getting the bulk of it. Perhaps awarding 10 points to the yusho winner with the remaining 5 to be split amongst those with equivalent records would work. I think it should be at least 10 because that way it is still possible to earn a 15-0 record.

Considering the small number on entrants and the relative ease in setting up a spreadsheet to track the game, I will pledge to post results along the schedule kept by Oshirokita in his game. Maybe not every day for the first 10 days or so but each day during the last days of the tournament. I found it easy to import the sandanme banzuke to excel but I haven't found a convenient way of grabbing results. I will be updating the sandanme hoshitori manually unless I get some good advice on how to do it (the last machine I wrote code for was a C-64). Don't be shy - send me an entry! This is only the first trial run so don't worry about it if you feel under prepared. I need a few more entries so I can work out the bugs and find an efficient way of trackiing this game. There are 15 groups. Pick one from each group. Group 1: Sd 1-5 Group 2: Sd 6-10 Group 3: Sd 11-15 Group 4: Sd 16-20 Group 5: Sd 21-25 Group 6: Sd 26-30 Group 7: Sd 31-35 Group 8: Sd 36-40 Group 9: Sd 41-45 Group10: Sd 46-50 Group 11: Sd 51-60 Group 12: Sd 61-70 Group 13: Sd 71-80 Group 14: Sd 81-90 Group 15: Sd 91-100 Each riksihi will receive one point for each win, one more for kachikoshi, and one more for having the best record in his group (or tied for best). There will be 15 points awarded for the rikishi who wins the yusho (should this be shared with yusho equivalent record rikishi?) so that the maximum possible socre is 150. (9x15+15=150) Divide by ten and round to nearest integer for an integer score out of 15. Can we average a kachikoshi? Will the scoring system require adjusting? Comments? Even if you are not going to play, if you are one of the 55 visitors to this thread, please offer your opinions to help me shape this game. Itachi

Many of you have visited this thread but only 2 of us have sent in their picks (including myself). I figured that no one who doesn't play the Makushita Game would be interested in playing this one so there are 35 potential players (excluding potential new ones). Oshirokita's Guess the Yusho Winners has even more players on the banzuke (was it 43?) and so there are players who are willing to ponder rikishi selections below Makushita. 2 of 35 seems quite low. I am hoping that thee will be a flood of entries in the final days before the tournament. If you are waiting because of the risk of a kyujo, do not worry. It is not my intention to have unexpected kyujo affect the results. If a riksihi on your list fails to enter the tournament - is listed as kyujo from day 1 - you will have the opportunity to replace him with any rikishi (in his group) who has not yet had a match (there should be a few) or by the default pick (the rikishi with the best record last tournament as in Oshirokita's game). To accept the default replacement, do nothing (post your intention if you wish but the replacement will be assumed). To select another rikishi, email me (or post) your selected replacement. To be fair, I will only accept selections who have not yet fought. Itachi

I'm just wondering how many have their picks in for the Makushita Game so far? There are 35 on the banzuke - how many kyujo? I wouldn't be surprised if July was the weakest month for participation. I've only got 2 entries for my new Sandanme game (and 1 is mine!). I thought more than 2 of 35 Makushita followers would try a Sandanme version - is everyone waiting until the last day to see who is kyujo? Is the concept of a Sandanme game just too absurd? Don't be shy, don't be afraid, don't hesitate, humour me and send me your list of 15 Sandanme rikishi (but only after Randomitsuki has your list of 15 Makushita guys). See the Sandanme Game post (as you have 55 times so far) for further details. Thanks again to Randomitsuki for organizing this game and for inspiring me to go ahead with the Sandanme game. Don't worry, I have no plans to push for a Jonidan game (too many rikishi and too few destined for greater things). Itachi

I'll say 3-1 Germany in 90 minutes because I think they play a loose enough game to get scored on.

Well, I thought Portugal had a better team at the start of the tournament and now I'm not as sure but those old guys playing for France are bound to fall a step behind as fatigue sets in. Portugal 1-0 in 120 minutes.

I'll say 2-1 Germany in 90 minutes as well

There are two entries already and only two selections in common out of 15. Here is a look at last tournament. The yusho went to Maikaze (from the Sd 26-30 group) who was the only 7-0 rikishi. The winner (and cowinners) of 9 of the groups finished 6-1. The remaining five groups were lead by 5-2 record holders. Two of the groups had 3 co-leaders. Two groups had two co-leaders. The other 15 groups had a clear winner. Only one group had more than half the rikishi finish with kachikoshi (the Sd 16-20 group). The weakest group was the Sd 1-5 with only 3 of 10 earning kk, a 5-2 winner (Wakasuruga), a total kyujo, a partial kyujo, and 5 other makekoshi finishes. For information to help with selections I recommend www.scgroup.com for the past four tournament results and Doitsuyama's full banzuke (posted on this forum) for current rank and vital statistics. Good luck with your picks! Send them to me at nmatsuo@shaw.ca Thanks, Itachi

Rats! I missed the 1 st round of quarter finals games. Well, I missed the first day of the first round games as well so I was already pretty much out of contention in this game but I'll soldier on. I agree with the gamemaster on England. 1-0 in 90 minutes over suspension plauged Portugal. I disagree on the other game. I believe Brazil will prevail. 3-2 for Brazil in 120 minutes (it'll be 2-2 after 90). Itachi

Sd 62w Daishoyu

Jd 21w Sakaizawa

Ok Kinta-zeki, I understand why you include the 'u' to indicate long vowels for shikona and I appreciate that you prefer the 'tilda' or whatever the long vowel mark is properly called. I also like the 'tilda' transliteration style but I've come to prefer foregoing any indication of proper vowel length for simplicity. To defend my preferred style of transliteration against your precision argument I offer a comparison with a language I expect you to be familiar with, Hebrew. Normally, vowels are not explicitly written (as is the same with Arabic, I believe). The reader must determine the proper pronounciation from the context and a familiarity with the vocabulary. For learners, I agree that it is preferable to include as many hints as possible (I love furigana over kanji) but in day to day informal communications, I question the necessicity. As for the problem of popularizing mis-pronounciations, I sympathize but I expect that those who care about getting it right can probably discover the correct way with very little effort (just listen to Dale's videos and hear the names as they are called out or check out the audio banzuke (is that yours?)) In the end, it doesn't bother me either way so write the shikona how you wish. I always look forward to reading your posts and thanks for all the work you put in to keeping us informed. Itachi

Kotokanyu is a great pick but I'm going with Satoyama (and I'm still not the first one). Kotokanyu is the oldest one to fit, I think Satoyama is the most recent. Satoyama.

I wonder if Yasumiya is from Aomori. There is a village on Lake Towada by that name and it is the spot tourists tend to end up at when visiting that beautiful region.