Guess Kisenosato's Aite

[Jejima]

Announcing the November 2009 edition of an incredibly popular game!

All you have to do is guess Komusube East Kisenosato's oppents each day, before the torikumi comes out. If you guess correctly, you get a shiroboshi. This is surprisingly more fun (or frustrating) and challenging than it should be. It also gets you to think a bit more about the 'inner-workings' of sumo.

Here is the current banzuke:-

Yaochoyama (O1E 7-8) O1

Maguroyama (S1W 6-6-3) S1 Profomisakari (S1E 5-10)

S2 Gernobono (M1W 5-10)

Oshirokita (M2W 5-9-1) K1 Jakusotsu (K1E KOSHO)

Kofuji (K1W KOSHO) K2

Jejima (M3E 5-9-1) M1 Hidariashiyama (M4W 4-11)

Sokkenaiyama (M2E KOSHO) M2 ilovetochinoshin (K2E 2-9-4)

Harry (S2W 1-5-9) M3 Chisaiyama (M1E 2-10-3)

Holleshoryu (M4E 3-12) M4 XiaoTan (M3W 2-12-1)

Ganzohnesushi (M5E 0-5-10) M5

The rules are as follows:-

1. Guess Komusbi East Kisenosato's opponents on each day of the basho.

2. Entries need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the previous day, except for the days 1 and 2 entries which need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the Friday prior to the start of the basho. If it turns out that the daily toriukumi is printed before these times, then any entry proved to have come afterwards is not allowed for that day (so enter early to be safe).

3. Tie-breakers to decide the Yusho.... We look at the result of the day 15 prediction, then day 14, and so on back to day 1. If still a tie, then the highest ranked on the banzuke can claim the Yusho.

4. If Kisenosato goes kyujo during the basho, we switch to K1W Goeido (S1W Kakuryu, then S1E Baruto kept further in reserve, if needed due to a mass spate of kyujos) for the day after his fusensho loss (I.e. we can still guess who gets the freebie).

5. Players that are leading the Yusho race (especially in the final few days of the basho), are requested / expected to get their picks in very early (before all the other players, if possible) - in order to avoid suspicions of 'tactical picking'.

Special prizes (many thanks to Yaochoyama):

1. Outstanding performance (shukun-sho) - the one who correctly picks the aite the most consecutive days. You have to have a minimum of three to win this prize.

2. Fighting spirit (kanto-sho) - the one who limits their incorrect aite picks to the shortest number of consecutive days (literally the one whose longest losing streak is the shortest). Any losing streak of 5 or more days would disqualify you from this prize.

3. Technique (gino-sho) - the one who is best at making correct picks when no one, or hardly anyone else does. A point system is used as follows and you need at least 3 points to claim this prize:

3 points if you're the only win to make the correct pick

2 points if you're one of two to make the correct pick

1 point if you're one of three to make the correct pick

New players are very welcome to join this slightly unpopular game.

[Jejima]

Day 1 = Hakuho

Day 2 = Harumafuji

[Holleshoryu]

day 1 - hakuho

day 2 - kotooshu

[XiaoTan]

Day 1 Hakuho

Day 2 Kotomitsuki

Day 3 Chiyotaikai

Clueless as usual,

Neko

[Oshirokita]

Day 1 = Hakuho

Day 2 = Harumafuji

[Asashosakari]

What's the over/under on the number of people lamenting that they missed the first entry deadline again? (Whistling...)

[Yaochoyama]

Day 1 - Hakuho

Day 2 - Harumafuji

[Kofuji]

Day 1 - Hakuho

Day 2 - Harumafuji

[Jakusotsu]

Day 1 - Hakuho

Day 2 - Kaio

[Gernobono]

hakuho on day 1

harumafuji on day 2

Edited November 12, 2009 by Gernobono

[Profomisakari]

day 1 Hakuho

day 2 Kaio

Profomisakari

[Jejima]

On day 1, Kisenosato will face Hakuho - who'd thought it? Everyone apparently, who entered a pick.

Yaochoyama (O1E 1-0) O1

Maguroyama (S1E 0-0-1) S1 Profomisakari (S1W 1-0)

S2 Gernobono (S2W 1-0)

Oshirokita (K1E 1-0) K1 Jakusotsu (K1W 1-0)

Kofuji (K2E 1-0) K2

Jejima (M1E 1-0) M1 Hidariashiyama (M1W 0-0-1)

Sokkenaiyama (M2E 0-0-1) M2 ilovetochinoshin (M2W 0-0-1)

Harry (M3E 0-0-1) M3 Chisaiyama (M3W 0-0-1)

Holleshoryu (M4E 1-0) M4 XiaoTan (M4W 1-0)

Ganzohnesushi (M5E 0-0-1) M5

On day 2, our picks were more spread out amongst various ozekis - who would be correct? Only Jakusotsu and Profomisakari with Kaio. These two take the early lead, and so are invited to make early day 3 picks.

Yaochoyama (O1E 1-1) O1

Maguroyama (S1E 0-0-2) S1 Profomisakari (S1W 2-0)

S2 Gernobono (S2W 1-1)

Oshirokita (K1E 1-1) K1 Jakusotsu (K1W 2-0)

Kofuji (K2E 1-1) K2

Jejima (M1E 1-1) M1 Hidariashiyama (M1W 0-0-2)

Sokkenaiyama (M2E 0-0-2) M2 ilovetochinoshin (M2W 0-0-2)

Harry (M3E 0-0-2) M3 Chisaiyama (M3W 0-0-2)

Holleshoryu (M4E 1-1) M4 XiaoTan (M4W 1-1)

Ganzohnesushi (M5E 0-0-2) M5

Kisenosato's aites: 1. Y1W Hakuho, 2. O2W Kaio

[Chisaiyama]

When will I remember that Thursday in California is Friday in Japan? Oh well, once again I will start with a 2 day deficit!

Day 3 Chiyotaikai

[Profomisakari]

Oh yes, Chisayama-san,

the world is a round thing.

But my guess here in Germany is the same as yours in California:

Chiyotaikai!

Profomisakari

[Jakusotsu]

Not to stray from the professor:

Day 3 - Chiyotaikai

[Maguroyama]

This is SOOO frustrating. Like Chisayama, I once again bungle days 1 and 2.... AAAAAAAAARGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

And since I can NEVER figure out when to enter for day 3, here goes:

KOTOOSHU

[Holleshoryu]

day 3 chiyotaikai

[Hidariashiyama]

Day 3 - Chiyotaikai

[Kotoviki]

(Clapping wildly...)

I always miss the first two days even though I know.... when the torikumi comes out! grrrr :-( (Shaking head...) (Shaking head...)

I'd like to go with my pics for Hatsu for Kisenosato now, is that ok?

Asashoryu, Harumafuji day 1 and day 2

Ok, now on to Kyushu!!!

Day 3 Chiyotaikai

[Gernobono]

chiyotaikai on day 3

[Jejima]

Chiyotaikai does seem the obvious choice..... But I want to catch up here, so Baruto for me for day 3 :-)

[Kofuji]

I like Baruto for Day 3 as well ...

[Yaochoyama]

Day 3 - I'll go with the crowd and take Chiyotaikai (though Harumafuji would be my 2nd choice).

[Hidariashiyama]

Day 4 - Kotomitsuki

[Oshirokita]

Day 3 Kotomitsuki