Day 11 results and day 12 pairings

[Doitsuyama]

Kisenosato had a good tachi-ai against undefeated ozeki Harumafuji but that didn't help him as the ozeki made a henka to grab his arm and yank the former sekiwake out with a quick tottari. Kisenosato now is two wins behind the leading duo whhich stayed intact as Hakuho won a long bout against ozeki Kotomitsuki. Kaio is now out of the yusho race with the third loss as he didn't have much of a chance against yokozuna Asashoryu who stays one win behind the leaders. The two M11 Miyabiyama and Toyohibiki were the only makuuchi rikishi getting the kachi-koshi today as the four other rikishi all lost.

Iwakiyama's streak against Kakizoe still is alive at 16-0 but he needed a barn-burner of a fight this time to beat his favorite aite. Tokitenku and Aran even needed a mizu-iri break, and while Aran came out favourably after the re-start, Tokitenku was able to circle at the tawara and win the long bout.

Tamaasuka won against Kyokunankai to secure the kachi-koshi, his first kachi-koshi as a sekitori since his 9-6 makuuchi debut in Nagoya 2005 with seven make-koshi since then. Mokonami was the only other juryo rikishi getting kachi-koshi today, beating fellow lead juryo Tosayutaka. A makuuchi debut next basho for the 25 years old Mongolian seems very likely which will raise the number of Mongolians in makuuchi to 10, another rise after three basho with 9 Mongolians in the highest division. Tamaasuka and Mokonami also are the yusho leaders at 8-3 with eight rikishi following at 7-4 in a tight race.

Day 11

Juryo

J14e   Sagatsukasa (5-6)   oshidashi	  J13e   Okinoumi (3-8)
J11w   Kaiho (7-4)		 shitatenage	J12w   Kiyoseumi (7-4)
J13w   Tamaasuka (8-3)	 oshidashi	  J8w	Kyokunankai (7-4)
J7w	Hakuba (6-5)		yorikiri	   J7e	Ushiomaru (5-6)
J14w   Jumonji (7-4)	   hatakikomi	 J6w	Tosanoumi (7-4)
J9e	Kasuganishiki (7-4) tsukiotoshi	J6e	Koryu (6-5)
J12e   Kirinowaka (7-4)	yorikiri	   J5w	Kotokasuga (5-6)
J5e	Toyozakura (4-7)	hatakikomi	 J10w   Daishoumi (4-7)
J11e   Hoshihikari (5-6)   yorikiri	   J4w	Kotokuni (2-9)
J10e   Asofuji (6-5)	   oshitaoshi	 J3w	Sakaizawa (3-8)
J9w	Wakatenro (4-7)	 oshidashi	  J3e	Kitataiki (3-8)
J8e	Shirononami (5-6)   uwatenage	  J2e	Masatsukasa (4-7)
J1w	Mokonami (8-3)	  uwatenage	  J1e	Tosayutaka (7-4)

Makuuchi

M16e   Kimurayama (4-7)	oshitaoshi	 J4e	Kasugao (6-5)
M15w   Bushuyama (6-5)	 oshidashi	  J2w	Wakakoyu (6-5)
M14e   Kokkai (6-5)		yorikiri	   M15e   Shotenro (7-4)
M11e   Miyabiyama (8-3)	tsukiotoshi	M13e   Hokutoriki (3-8)
M9w	Yamamotoyama (6-5)  yorikiri	   M12e   Takamisakari (7-4)
M13w   Tochinoshin (7-4)   yorikiri	   M8w	Tamawashi (5-6)
M8e	Iwakiyama (7-4)	 yorikiri	   M14w   Kakizoe (5-6)
M12w   Dejima (5-6)		yorikiri	   M7e	Asasekiryu (4-7)
M11w   Toyohibiki (8-3)	yorikiri	   M6e	Kotoshogiku (7-4)
M10w   Shimotori (3-8)	 okuridashi	 M5w	Yoshikaze (3-8)
M10e   Futeno (4-7)		yorikiri	   M5e	Tochinonada (4-7)

M9e	Tokitenku (6-5)	 yorikiri	   M4w	Aran (4-7)
M2e	Takekaze (2-9)	  sotogake	   M3w	Toyonoshima (2-9)
M3e	Tamanoshima (4-7)   yorikiri	   M1e	Homasho (0-11)
K1e	Kakuryu (6-5)	   katasukashi	M2w	Kyokutenho (4-7)
K1w	Tochiozan (4-7)	 yoritaoshi	 S1w	Goeido (5-6)
M1w	Aminishiki (4-7)	hikiotoshi	 O3e	Chiyotaikai (5-6)
O1w	Harumafuji (11-0)   tottari		M4e	Kisenosato (9-2)
O1e	Kotooshu (7-4)	  uwatedashinage S1e	Baruto (3-8)
Y1w	Asashoryu (10-1)	yorikiri	   O2e	Kaio (8-3)
Y1e	Hakuho (11-0)	   yorikiri	   O2w	Kotomitsuki (7-4)

Day 12

Juryo

J14w   Jumonji (7-4)					  J11w   Kaiho (7-4)
J10e   Asofuji (6-5)					  J12w   Kiyoseumi (7-4)
J9e	Kasuganishiki (7-4)				J13w   Tamaasuka (8-3)
J8e	Shirononami (5-6)				  J13e   Okinoumi (3-8)
J14e   Sagatsukasa (5-6)				  J7w	Hakuba (6-5)
J6e	Koryu (6-5)						J12e   Kirinowaka (7-4)
J5e	Toyozakura (4-7)				   J11e   Hoshihikari (5-6)
J10w   Daishoumi (4-7)					J5w	Kotokasuga (5-6)
J4e	Kasugao (6-5)					  J8w	Kyokunankai (7-4)
J3e	Kitataiki (3-8)					J4w	Kotokuni (2-9)
J9w	Wakatenro (4-7)					J3w	Sakaizawa (3-8)
J2e	Masatsukasa (4-7)				  J6w	Tosanoumi (7-4)
J7e	Ushiomaru (5-6)					J2w	Wakakoyu (6-5)

Makuuchi

M13e   Hokutoriki (3-8)				   J1w	Mokonami (8-3)
J1e	Tosayutaka (7-4)				   M12w   Dejima (5-6)
M12e   Takamisakari (7-4)				 M11w   Toyohibiki (8-3)
M16e   Kimurayama (4-7)				   M10w   Shimotori (3-8)
M9e	Tokitenku (6-5)					M15w   Bushuyama (6-5)
M14w   Kakizoe (5-6)					  M9w	Yamamotoyama (6-5)
M8e	Iwakiyama (7-4)					M14e   Kokkai (6-5)
M7e	Asasekiryu (4-7)				   M13w   Tochinoshin (7-4)
M6e	Kotoshogiku (7-4)				  M15e   Shotenro (7-4)
M10e   Futeno (4-7)					   M5w	Yoshikaze (3-8)
M4e	Kisenosato (9-2)				   M11e   Miyabiyama (8-3)

M3e	Tamanoshima (4-7)				  M5e	Tochinonada (4-7)
M8w	Tamawashi (5-6)					M3w	Toyonoshima (2-9)
M2e	Takekaze (2-9)					 M4w	Aran (4-7)
K1e	Kakuryu (6-5)					  M1w	Aminishiki (4-7)
M1e	Homasho (0-11)					 K1w	Tochiozan (4-7)
M2w	Kyokutenho (4-7)				   S1w	Goeido (5-6)
O1e	Kotooshu (7-4)					 O3e	Chiyotaikai (5-6)
S1e	Baruto (3-8)					   O1w	Harumafuji (11-0)
Y1e	Hakuho (11-0)					  O2e	Kaio (8-3)
O2w	Kotomitsuki (7-4)				  Y1w	Asashoryu (10-1)

[Andreas]

Looks like Chiyotaikai is really in trouble now... he needs 3 wins out of 4 matches after his loss to Aminishiki. At least he has faced all the Yusho contenders already, but he will still need a lot of help from his fellow ozekis to maintain his rank.

His remaining opponents:

Kotooshuu

Kaio

Kotomitsuki

Baruto

Baruto is in bad shape, but its still hard to see Chiyotaikai get 3 honest wins against this competition.

Im really curious... will he be forced to retire or will some obvious ozeki backscratching take place?

[Sasanishiki]

I was thinking obviouos back-scratching myself. He faces three ozeki, all of whom are one win away froom KK or better. I'm sure he'll get to 6-6 tomorrow and get his eight beyond that. However, what is to say that he wouldn't beat a couple of the ozeki anyway? He has plenty of sumo nous, is in reasonable shape to have won 5 already this basho, even though he's had a rough ride the last few days. I think he could take care of the Sadogatake boys in the natural course of things.

[Asashosakari]

I'm sure he'll get to 6-6 tomorrow and get his eight beyond that.

The question is, can Kotooshu really afford a loss against Taikai tomorrow and drop to 7-5? Osh does have all three yusho contenders still remaining...

[ryafuji]

I'm sure he'll get to 6-6 tomorrow and get his eight beyond that.

The question is, can Kotooshu really afford a loss against Taikai tomorrow and drop to 7-5? Osh does have all three yusho contenders still remaining...

I predict that Taikai will drop to 5-7 tomorrow and then miraculously get his eight...

I was surprised to see him lose to Aminishiki seeing as how he had an 18-3 career advantage going in. Incidentally he's 6-15 against Oshu and has lost to him in 10 of their last 12 meetings.

Edited May 20, 2009 by ryafuji

[Kintamayama]

I was surprised to see him lose to Aminishiki seeing as how he had an 18-3 career advantage going in. Incidentally he's 6-15 against Oshu and has lost to him in 10 of their last 12 meetings.

I was too, but for a different reason. A hidden aspect of the back-scratcher club are those outside of the rank - the joi regulars who are veterans. They ALWAYS lose to a win-seeking Ozeki in trouble. That's why I think this win is a turning point. I'd call it earth-shattering if I were allowed to.

Chiyotaikai goes MK. Someone has decided that enough is enough.

I think he could take care of the Sadogatake boys in the natural course of things.

And, no, I don't think Chiyotaikai can beat any of the Sadogatake Ozeki honestly today, contrary to what Sasa says.

Edited May 20, 2009 by Kintamayama

[Asashosakari]

I was surprised to see him lose to Aminishiki seeing as how he had an 18-3 career advantage going in. Incidentally he's 6-15 against Oshu and has lost to him in 10 of their last 12 meetings.

I was too, but for a different reason. A hidden aspect of the back-scratcher club is those outside of the rank - the joi regulars who are veterans. They ALWAYS lose to a win-seeking Ozeki in trouble. That's why I think this win is a turning point. I'd call it earth-shattering if I were allowed to.

Chiyotaikai goes MK. Someone has decided that enough is enough.

Funny, I barely stopped myself from posting the same wild guess in my previous post. Perhaps it's indeed not the other ozeki who are going to help Taikai to his KK, but Taikai helping them to theirs as one last act before calling it quits. Not that it's particularly needed this basho except for Osh.

He's seemed oddly energetic and gung-ho this basho despite the 5-6 record, something I don't quite recall from his other recent kadobans. Like he's already made up his mind and is just enjoying the ride into the sunset now.

(Now watch Ryafuji's prediction come true and we'll be back here for take #14 in four or six months...)

[Kintamayama]

Funny, I barely stopped myself from posting the same wild guess in my previous post. Perhaps it's indeed not the other ozeki who are going to help Taikai to his KK, but Taikai helping them to theirs as one last act before calling it quits.

I didn't actually mean it that way, just that Aminishiki is better than Taikai these days, and simply won because he could, without bringing in other irrelevant considerations..

[Asashosakari]

I didn't actually mean it that way, just that Aminishiki is better than Taikai these days, and simply won because he could, without bringing in other irrelevant considerations..

I didn't mean to imply anything else. When I say "help them to their KK", I just mean "stay in the basho till the end but not ask for favours"...like you, I'm not particularly convinced that he can still beat any ozeki the honest way, so losing to them doesn't exactly mean he's gifting them wins.

Alternative reading of your posts: The "someone" who has "decided that enough is enough" must be Aminishiki, which would add an interesting layer to his already-existing reputation as gravedigger of prominent careers. (Being unsure...)

Edited May 20, 2009 by Asashosakari

[Gusoyama]

If Kaio beats him, I would say that's strong evidence against the backscratchers club, because Kaio has absolutely nothing to gain by winning. I'm pretty sure he'll be on cruise control for the rest of the basho, as he has in the past.

[Harry]

Nothing on his blog since December anyways... no running shoes to make me think he's retiring tomorrow (Showing respect...)

[skycruiser]

I'll take the odd and think that Takai will make makekoshi and intai after that.

His time has ran out and no amount of, supposedly, back scratching is going to help him this time.