Guess Kisenosato's Aite

[Kofuji]

Grrr ... was at work until 11:15 pm last night and forgot to pick Tochiozan for another day :(

[Oshirokita]

Day 15 Goeido

[Jejima]

Day 15 - he is still in the yusho race, so Kitataiki undecided (Happy goodbyes...)

Edit: We can all see Yaochoyama's point now... If Goeido defeats Kitataiki tomorrow (if the banzuke making is delayed until after their bout), then he *could* be a favourite to face Kise.... Then again, if Goeido wins, Tochinoshin would also be a valid selection...).

We are predicting what the torikumi makers will do (for this game), and not the results of actual bouts (there are other games for that). So, if the torikumi makers are allowed to wait for the Goiedo vs Kitataiki bout to happen before deciding, shouldn't we also have that option?

Hmmmm, what do others think?

[NB: I think it is too late to change what I said this morning (i.e. not allowing such picks - but I was decaffeinated at the time....) for this basho, as Oshirokita has already made a day 15 pick.... But how about for future bashos? Now that I have had more time to think about it, I am warming to idea....]

Edited September 23, 2011 by Jejima

[Jakusotsu]

My (possibly faulty) line of reasoning is this:

M11w Gagamaru (10-3) has faced one Ozeki and two Sekiwake so far, while M11e Kitataiki (10-3) has faced none. But Kitataiki might as well get Kakuryu, so I concur with Oshirokita:

Day 15 - Goeido

[Profomisakari]

Perhaps should they set on day 15 Kakuryu vs Goeido and for Kise at last

Kitataiki

Profomisakari

[Jakusotsu]

This must be one of the most coin-flipping senshuraku decisions ever for as long as the game has been running. The longer I think about it, the less I can decide the Goeido/Kitataiki question.

Now watch them throw a curveball by giving him Tochinoshin instead. (I am not worthy...)

[Holleshoryu]

... and goeido for day 15 ...

[Kofuji]

Day 15 - Goeido

[Yaochoyama]

Are we to believe that Kitataiki's matches (no one higher than a M5 thru Day 14) are in the best interests of sumo and that the torikumi makers would never think of kissing up to Kitanoumi oyakata? (Brief pause while I fondly remember the days we use to hang together in Vegas. Though my friends somehow interpreted it as more like ambushing him after brunch.)

Well they pretty much have to feed Kitataiki a sekiwake for senshuraku to maintain any semblance of credibility, but I'm going to bet it's Kakuryu instead of Kise. With Goeido already spoken for, my pick:

Day 15 - Tochinoshin

[Yaochoyama]

The selections and standings for Day 14:

6 Kitataiki

3 Tochiozan (correct)

1 Goeido

2 (no pick)

Oshirokita takes sole possession of the leadwith Holleshoryu, Jakusotsu, Yaochoyama and Asashosakari a win behind.

Yaochoyama (Y1E 8-6) Y1

Asashosakari (O1E 8-6) O1 Profomisakari (O1W 7-7)

Gernobono (S1E Kosho) S1 Oshirokita (S1W 9-5)

S2 Chisaiyama (S2W 2-9-3)

Kuroimori (K1E 4-9-1) K1 XiaoTan (K1W 0-0-14)

Andonishiki (K2E Kosho) K2

Kofuji (M1E 4-8-2) M1 Holleshoryu (M1W 8-5-1)

Jakusotsu (M2E 8-6) M2 Hidariashiyama (M2W 0-0-14)

Kotoviki (M3E 5-5-4) M3 Jejima (M3W 4-9-1)

Anjoboshi (M4E Kosho) M4 Maguroyama (M4W 0-0-14)

Shimodahito (M5E 1-10-3) M5 Kameumi (M5W 0-0-14)

Kisenosato's aites: 1. M2W Yoshikaze, 2. M3E Takekaze, 3. K1E Toyonoshima, 4. K1W Aran, 5. M1W Okinoumi, 6. M1E Homasho, 7. S2E Kakuryu, 8. M5E Miyabiyama, 9. O1W Baruto, 10. S1E Kotoshogiku, 11. O1E Harumafuji, 12. Y1E Hakuho, 13. M11W Gagamaru, 14. M3W Tochiozan

[Kotoviki]

Day 15 Tochinoshin or anybody else!

[kuroimori]

Goeido for Day 15

[Chisaiyama]

Well it will make for an odd basho (and of course it IS an ODD basho in any case) to totally skip the M4 ranks as opponents although, so far, Kakuryu hasn't faced either of the M4s and Kotoshogiku has only faced Tokitenku, so maybe not so odd. My first, gut, feeling was to go with Tochinoshin but looking at Kisenosato's records against Tochinoshin and Goeido it is clear he "owns" Goeido having only lost to him once. His record against Noshine is good but not even close to that against Goeido. Since the Kyokai are setting up both Giku and Kise to be their next Japanese Ozekis it must be the "guaranteed" win:

Day 15: Goeido

[Jejima]

Day 15 - Tochinoshin, coz he's nex just coz.

[Asashosakari]

Day 15 Tochinoshin, although that means I have no chance at the yusho even if it's correct...

Are we to believe that Kitataiki's matches (no one higher than a M5 thru Day 14)

He faced Homasho today. I bet he's getting either Okinoumi or Miyabiyama on senshuraku. (And hopefully Gagamaru-Tochinowaka.)

Edited September 24, 2011 by Asashosakari

[shimodahito]

why did it take so long for tochiozan....

15.goeido

[Jakusotsu]

I'm glad this isn't Guess Kakuryu's Aite.

Congrats, Oshirokita! (Another year older...)

Edited September 24, 2011 by Jakusotsu

[Yaochoyama]

Special Prize Winners for Aki 2011

First comes the shukun-sho or outstanding performance prize for the one who correctly picks the aite the most consecutive days. Yaochoyama and the 'Sakari twins' (Asasho and Profomi) all tied for 4 straight wins on Days 10-13. Holleshoryu had a shot with 5 correct picks on the final 6 days, but was absent on Day 13.

The kanto-sho or fighting spirit prize is given to the one who limits their worse streak of incorrect aite picks to the shortest number of consecutive days. This was an easy win for yusho champ Oshirokita who limited his consecutive losses to two. Everyone else had a least 3 straight losses on Days 7 to 9 alone as the torikumi makers put us through the Kakuryu-Miyabiyama-Baruto grinder.

Finally there is the gino-sho or technique prize which works with a point system:

3 points if you're the only one 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

With only 12 participants this time it should have presented more scoring opportunities, but points were scored on only 3 days. Oshirokita picks up a second special prize, being the only one to pick Kakuryu on Day 7 and picking up another point with the key Day 14 selection of Tochiozan (to take sole lead of the yusho race after being in a 4-way tie).

To recap:

Shukun-sho

[Yaochoyama]

Let's post the final standings before it gets too late:

On day 15 there were a few viable options for aite for a change, with the following breakdown:

Goeido - 7 (correct)

Tochinoshin - 4

Kitataiki - 1

Yaochoyama (Y1E 8-7) Y1

Asashosakari (O1E 8-7) O1 Profomisakari (O1W 7-8)

Gernobono (S1E Kosho) S1 Oshirokita (S1W 10-5)

S2 Chisaiyama (S2W 3-9-3)

Kuroimori (K1E 5-9-1) K1 XiaoTan (K1W 0-0-15)

Andonishiki (K2E Kosho) K2

Kofuji (M1E 5-8-2) M1 Holleshoryu (M1W 9-5-1)

Jakusotsu (M2E 9-6) M2 Hidariashiyama (M2W 0-0-15)

Kotoviki (M3E 5-6-4) M3 Jejima (M3W 4-10-1)

Anjoboshi (M4E Kosho) M4 Maguroyama (M4W 0-0-15)

Shimodahito (M5E 2-10-3) M5 Kameumi (M5W 0-0-15)

Kisenosato's aites: 1. M2W Yoshikaze, 2. M3E Takekaze, 3. K1E Toyonoshima, 4. K1W Aran, 5. M1W Okinoumi, 6. M1E Homasho, 7. S2E Kakuryu, 8. M5E Miyabiyama, 9. O1W Baruto, 10. S1E Kotoshogiku, 11. O1E Harumafuji, 12. Y1E Hakuho, 13. M11W Gagamaru, 14. M3W Tochiozan, 15. M5W Goeido

We'll await the official yusho announcement and the new banzuke.

[Jejima]

Very sorry for the delay with this!

Thanks to the many players who helped out with the scoring.

Congratulations to Oshirokita on his yusho! :-)

New banzuke to follow soon....

Edit:

KK = 6-9

OQ = 8-7

Edited October 16, 2011 by Jejima

[Jejima]

New banzuke for November 2011

Yaochoyama (Y1E 8-7) Y1

Asashosakari (O1E 8-7) O1 Profomisakari (O1W 7-8)

Oshirokita (S1W 10-5) S1 Holleshoryu (M1W 9-5-1)

S2 Gernobono (S1E Kosho)

Jakusotsu (M2E 9-6) K1 XiaoTan (K1W Kosho)

Andonishiki (K2E Kosho) K2

Kuroimori (K1E 5-9-1) M1 Kofuji (M1E 5-8-2)

Chisaiyama (S2W 3-9-3) M2 Hidariashiyama (M2W Kosho)

Kotoviki (M3E 5-6-4) M3 Jejima (M3W 4-10-1)

Anjoboshi (M4E Kosho) M4 Shimodahito (M5E 2-10-3)

Banzuke-gai

Maguroyama (M4W 0-0-15)

Kameumi (M5W 0-0-15)

Comments: Oshirokita can be promoted to Ozeki with another OQ performance in November.

Edited October 16, 2011 by Jejima