Kyushu Basho 2018 Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Eikokurai]

1 minute ago, robnplunder said:

IMHO, I think Tochiozan is having a good basho so far but may be the 1st one to vow out of the yusho race.   He's not in the same class/level as Takayasu, Takakeisho looks just so darn dominant in this basho, and there are others who are still in contention who can beat Tochiozan on normal day.   But sumo is unpredictable and Tochiozan can take the yusho just to spite my HO.   

He faces Takayasu today so one of them is going to drop off the pace. I imagine it will be Toc, but then he has already managed wins against two Sekiwake, one Ozeki and a Yokozuna, while Tak has only faced one of the sanyaku guys so far – an injured Kaisei.

[robnplunder]

21 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Ura at 2-0 with a match picture that has the best use of the Force I've ever seen in a sumo match

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/photonews/photonews_nsInc_201811140000364-0.html

Ura is a funny dude.   Love him!

 

Did others notice?   I think Ura has been winning the conventional ways since his return.   Perhaps, Sandanme rikishi level does not require Ura to run around like a chicken with his head cutoff to eek out a win.   I don't know if orthodox Ura is to my liking .

 

 

Edited November 15, 2018 by robnplunder

[Asojima]

17 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

 I don't know if orthodox Ura is to my liking .

Ura has added a lot of Kg which is probably slowing him down.  He appears to have learned that his previous antics made him very injury prone.  Orthodoxy is going to be his new approach to longevity.

[Gurowake]

This will be Tochiozan's last "hard" match (Sekiwake or higher).  But even if he wins and even if he also beats Takakeisho (who I'm projecting he'll meet Day 10), he'll choke against other maegashira and/or Kaisei.  That's who he is: Choke-i-ozan.

[WAKATAKE]

Tochinoshin magic number for most wins of 2018 is now 6

Mitakeumi has 48 wins through day 4, can max out at 59 if he wins the remainder of his matches for Kyushu
Tochinoshin has 54 wins through day 4

[Akinomaki]

Not one hint on NHK that Kise might retire. All want him back for another try, he said he'll return to the dohyo, and next time it's again do or die, like last basho. Those 10 wins got him some leeway.

[Eikokurai]

Some fun bouts today, including Meisei v Endo and Takanoiwa v Yoshikaze. Both very entertaining. Shodai v Asanoyama and Myogiryu v Ryuden were enjoyable too.

Takakeisho showed great balance and footwork to escape an Ichinojo attack. He's found another level this basho. A decent double-figure KK and he could start an Ozeki run. Heck, with 9-6 last time at Komusubi this could even count as the middle basho in an Ozeki run, especially if he gets a jun-yusho or better.

Mitakeumi is blowing his own Ozeki hopes though. With only 10 possible wins left on the table, he needs a win rate of 90% to get 33/45. The way things are going though he'll be lucky to even put up numbers good enough to keep the run alive. I can see him having to start all over again in January.

Oh, and Goeido is doing a Goeido. Nice win for Nishikigi though. Gets him off the mark in his joi debut.

Hokutofuji showed a bit of emotion on the dohyo after beating Tochinoshin. I know it's not good etiquette, but I like to see rikishi being human.

Holy crap. How good is Tochiozan right now? Takayasu got dumped out. Tochiozan must be in line for a sansho after the damage he's done to the sanyaku ranks.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Eikokurai

[robnplunder]

Yeah, Takakeisho is showing much better balance.   He lost number of bouts after losing balance in the previous basho.   So, staying on foot and bullying the taller opponents into submission is working for him well.   Keep the bandwagon rolling ... zensho for T-sho.  

Mitakeumi has to wait a long time before Shikona change .

 

Tochioshan!!!!!!!!!   Are you for real?

Edited November 15, 2018 by robnplunder

[Otokonoyama]

Damn! Great bout Tochiozan.

[Akumazeki]

YESSSS, Tochiozan has now almost all of them. Two Sekiwake, Two Ozeki and Yokozuna. Now he is after Komosubis

[Amamaniac]

3 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Tochinoshin magic number for most wins of 2018 is now 6

Tochinoshin lost today, and IMHO he is out of contention for the yusho.  The good news for him was that both chasers (Mitakeumi and Takayasu) lost their bouts.  So he still has a chance at most Top Division wins in 2018.  Could well end up being a sad total.  If I knew how to search the database, I'd be interested in knowing what the lowest "most annual wins" total was.  Could this year set an embarrassing record?

[Yatagarasu]

4 hours ago, Asojima said:

Ura has added a lot of Kg which is probably slowing him down.  He appears to have learned that his previous antics made him very injury prone.  Orthodoxy is going to be his new approach to longevity.

Indeed.  Why push himself anything more than necessary right now in order to get the job done but preserve his bodily integrity?  

I don't know why everyone here has been talking about Kisenosato not wanting to overshadow a Takayasu yusho with an intai.  To my mind, since taking ozeki Takayasu has never put in a performance that has convinced me he was yusho material.  Sure, he has a few good days which make hopes rise but then implodes later on like a badly made souffle.  He has been seriously outshone by a lot of other lower-ranked contenders.  He has the strength and build, and a merciless killer instinct, but something else seems to be lacking.  Sure, he's been injured here and there, but hasn't everybody?

[Eikokurai]

7 minutes ago, Yatagarasu said:

Indeed.  Why push himself anything more than necessary right now in order to get the job done but preserve his bodily integrity?  

I don't know why everyone here has been talking about Kisenosato not wanting to overshadow a Takayasu yusho with an intai.  To my mind, since taking ozeki Takayasu has never put in a performance that has convinced me he was yusho material.  Sure, he has a few good days which make hopes rise but then implodes later on like a badly made souffle.  He has been seriously outshone by a lot of other lower-ranked contenders.  He has the strength and build, and a merciless killer instinct, but something else seems to be lacking.  Sure, he's been injured here and there, but hasn't everybody?

Perhaps because a Takayasu yusho remains a very real possibility? Is it guaranteed? No. Sumo is way too unpredictable for that. But the field has been wide open since day one and until today he was co-leading it. If there is a chance Takayasu could take the yusho, why wouldn’t Kisenosato bear that in mind? He knows more than we do what his mate is capable of. He trains with him every day.

[Kamitsuumi]

46 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Tochinoshin lost today, and IMHO he is out of contention for the yusho.  The good news for him was that both chasers (Mitakeumi and Takayasu) lost their bouts.  So he still has a chance at most Top Division wins in 2018.  Could well end up being a sad total.  If I knew how to search the database, I'd be interested in knowing what the lowest "most annual wins" total was.  Could this year set an embarrassing record?

It has been compiled on the Japanese Wikipedia. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/年間最多勝

The lowest was last year, with Hakuho having 56-9-25. Edit: Tochinoshin is at 54.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Kamitsuumi

[mikawa]

When they said that this basho was all for grabs...... it's turning out to be a bit like Natsu 2012, can Tochiozan go all the way though?

[Akumazeki]

5 minutes ago, mikawa said:

When they said that this basho was all for grabs...... it's turning out to be a bit like Natsu 2012, can Tochiozan go all the way though?

I hope he can. He have to face two Komusubis and 8 Maegashiras. Tochinoshin and him is from same stable, so they do not fight.  I think it is doable for Tochiozan

Edited November 15, 2018 by akumadzeki

[Philioyamfugi]

I was routing for Tochinozan for some reason, solid win. Hoktofuji looking strong too. Takakeisho is just in the zone. Toyonoshima won and is 4-1, he is same weight and a bit shorter than Takakeisho. I hope to get to see them fight !

Edited November 15, 2018 by Philioyamfugi

[Amamaniac]

53 minutes ago, Yatagarasu said:

Takayasu has never put in a performance that has convinced me he was yusho material.  Sure, he has a few good days which make hopes rise but then implodes later on like a badly made souffle.

While I agree with what you say, one could say the same thing about Kyokutenho when he was in the Top Division.  Then along came the 2012 Summer Tournament, and he was holding the Emperor's Cup!  In short, there are certain tournaments (like this one) where there is an opportunity for someone other than the usual suspects to win a yusho.  But with today's loss, I fear that Takayasu will not get the glory of a yusho.  

Oddly enough, Tochiozan is in the mix.  He was in the running back in the summer of 2012. Perhaps he will prevail this time.  At this point in the tournament, the match up between Tochiozan and Takakeisho will be a decisive bout.  I am eagerly awaiting that match-up!

P.S., Loved the shuffle reference!

What today's bouts revealed was that the top of the banzuke is in shambles. The five top-ranked wrestlers left in the tournament all suffered upsets!  Three Yokozuna struggling with injuries.  Three Ozeki unable to up their game.  And two Sekiwake who are just plain disappointing.  Maybe what Takanoiwa was saying when he got his head bashed in was true...  I am becoming increasingly eager for some new blood, a new power structure at the top.

[Morty]

17 hours ago, CT3* said:

It's odd to me to see some folks talking as if Takayasu has this basho pretty much locked up. There's still a whooooole lotta sumo left to this tournament.

This. Every basho this happens and then half way through rikishi crash back to earth and (usually) Hakuho ends up winning. That obviously won't happen this time, but the basho is never "somebody's to lose" after just two or three days. I'd say given the current volatility that anyone who has three wins after today is still in with a crack

Edited November 15, 2018 by Morty

[Morty]

3 hours ago, Eikokurai said:

Hokutofuji showed a bit of emotion on the dohyo after beating Tochinoshin. I know it's not good etiquette, but I like to see rikishi being human.

 

Not surprised after Tochinoshin blasted him off the dohyo at the matta. I was yelling for Hokutofuji to win that one after that.

[Yatagarasu]

40 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

While I agree with what you say, one could say the same thing about Kyokutenho when he was in the Top Division.  Then along came the 2012 Summer Tournament, and he was holding the Emperor's Cup!  In short, there are certain tournaments (like this one) where there is an opportunity for someone other than the usual suspects to win a yusho.  But with today's loss, I fear that Takayasu will not get the glory of a yusho.  

I agree insofar as this year and a half there has been some nokozuna basho or ones without Hakuhou - it's opened up the field (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy this unpredictability immensely).  The thing is, Takayasu hasn't stepped into this breach convincingly despite appearing to be the natural successor.  Both Tochinoshin and even Mitakeumi surpassed him in getting their maiden yushos.  Still, it's all part of the rollercoaster of sumo.  :)

[Eikokurai]

9 minutes ago, Yatagarasu said:

I agree insofar as this year and a half there has been some nokozuna basho or ones without Hakuhou - it's opened up the field (and don't get me wrong, I enjoy this unpredictability immensely).  The thing is, Takayasu hasn't stepped into this breach convincingly despite appearing to be the natural successor.  Both Tochinoshin and even Mitakeumi surpassed him in getting their maiden yushos.  Still, it's all part of the rollercoaster of sumo.  :)

Takayasu hasn’t looked all that convincing since his Ozeki promotion, but we have to consider the wider field. Who are his rivals? Tochinoshin has had two very underwhelming basho in a row thanks to injuries, Mitakeumi has been faltering badly since his yusho, Kisenosato obviously has his issues and Goeido is Goeido. That puts Takayasu, even not at his best, right in the mix. I don’t think he’s the main contender, but a contender he is nonetheless. At least in this field. A rikishi doesn’t have to be all that special to win a championship right now.

[Dwale]

This basho is pure insanity. Well, a lot can happen in ten days, so we'll just have to wait and see.

[Kintamayama]

Abi yusho. How on earth can't you all see this?

[YoungSumo]

And like everyone expected Takakeisho and Tochiozan are leading the pack after 5 days. What a basho.