Ozekis and Yokozunas for January 2020 - the top of the pops

[Jejima]

So, how will the top of the banzuke look in a little over a year from now?

Please leave your actual prediction for the top two ranks for the January 2020 banzuke in the comments below like this...

Mozart Y1 Beethoven
Bach Y2 Tschaikovsky
Handel O1 Chopin
Brahms O2 Liszt

etc

- then we can see who is closest at the end of the year, to award a yusho for this poll.
 

Previous polls:

2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012 - not polled
2011
2010
2009
2008

Edited December 3, 2018 by Jejima

[WAKATAKE]

Hakuho     Y1
Goeido      O1     Takakeisho
Takayasu  O2     Tochinoshin

 

The old guard is getting older, and while there aren't as many hungry younger guys as we thought there might be, one has definitely shown up. And I think he will make that drive in 2019. Two of the ozeki are in their 30's now and it remains to be seen whether they have that drive to make it to the top. Takayasu could do some great things but I think he has a bit of his stablemate's issues in him as well. The ozeki seems to be prone to injury as well.

As for the yokozuna, I believe Hakuho will continue to make good on his intentions to remain active until 2020 to perform the dohyo-iri at Tokyo 2020. And he would absolutely deserve it. As for his fellow yokozuna, I'm not sure what to think, other than injuries continue to plague them a lot more than it does for Hakuho. Kise is never going to be the man he was, and Kakuryu may be having to ponder what his next steps are. In the end I think that we will see the retirements of two yokozuna in 2019.

[MumboJumbo]

Hakuho Y1 Kakuryu

Takayasu O1 Tochinoshin

Mitakeumi O2 Takakeisho

Goeido O3

 

Things might get packed in the ozeki ranks with absent yokozunae. Takayasu next yokozuna...?

[chishafuwaku]

Kakuryu Y Hakuho

Takayasu Y

Goeido O Tochinoshin

              O Takakeisho

[Gurowake]

You are required to choose someone for Question One, when it's logically reasonable to choose no one.  I know this because I tried to enter a poll with just one particular name selected for the last question for comedy value.

[Jejima]

5 minutes ago, Gurowake said:

You are required to choose someone for Question One, when it's logically reasonable to choose no one.  I know this because I tried to enter a poll with just one particular name selected for the last question for comedy value.

Thanks for the catch.  I've changed the poll accordingly.  I hope that is the only mistake from the polls this year....

[Rocks]

Takayasu Y1 Hakuho
Tochinoshin O1 Ichinojo
Goeido O2

[just_some_guy]

Hakuho Y1 Kakuryu

Takayasu O1 Takakeisho

Tochinoshin O2 Goeido

[Churaumi]

Kisenosato will be retiring soon, Takakeisho will get promoted to ozeki. Hak and Kak will limp along. The ozeki trio will stay ozeki.

[Tenshinhan]

Hakuho         Y1        Kakuryu

Takayasu      O1       Goeido
Takakeisho   O2      Tochinoshin  
 

[ChickyStarr]

Hakuho Y1 Takayasu

Kakuryu Y2

Tochinoshin O1 Mitakeumi

[Asapedroryu]

Hakuho         Y1        Kakuryu

Takayasu      Y2

Ichinojo          O1       Goeido

Takakeisho   O2     

[Hakuhonofan]

Takayasu Y1 Hakuho 

Kakuryu Y2

Tochinoshin  O1 Goeido

[Jejima]

Hakuho Y1 Kakuryu
Kisenosato Y2
Takakeisho O1 Goeido
Takayasu O2 Tochinoshin

[Benihana]

Hakuho Y1 Kakuryu
Kisenosato Y2
Takakeisho O1 Goeido
Takayasu O2 Mitakeumi

[Oshirokita]

Hakuho Y1 Kakuryu

Takayasu Y2

Takakeisho O Ichinojo

 

Entirely possible that Takakeisho is the only Ozeki, but added Ichinojo for yucks

[Oortael]

Hakuho    Y1 Kakuryu
Takayasu Y2

Goeido O1 Mitakeumi
              O2 Tochinoshin

[Jejima]

Bump!  Last chance to enter!

[Pitinosato]

Hakuho  Y  Tochinoshin

Takayasu  O  Ichinojo

Pitinosato don't know

 

[TakaTochi]

Hakuhou Y Takayasu

Takakeishou O Tochinoshin

Tochiouzan O

[Jejima]

We all think that Hakuho will still be a Yokozuna going into 2020 - however the vast majority of us suspect that this will be Kisenosato's final year.  About a quarter of players think that Kakuryu, Goeido and/or Tochinoshin will be out of the top ranks this year.

Over half of us are predicting that Takayasu will be promoted to Yokozuna. Tochinoshin gets a solitary vote.  No one else is considered.

Takakeisho has a lot of support to be promoted to Ozeki.  Mitakeumi has decent support too.  Ichinojo still has his supporters - and lower down the banzuke, Onosho gets a couple of mentions!

Until November/December....

[WAKATAKE]

25 people off to a flying start with the unfortunate news.

[Jejima]

Somehow in my family's rush to leave Hong Kong and set up again in the UK, I forgot all about the 'annual polls'.

The January 2020 banzuke looked like this for the top two ranks...

Hakuho Y Kakuryu
Takakeisho O Goeido

I have gone through all of the predictions, and by a whisper I am awarding the yusho to @Kyokufuji . 
@Shinrei is awarded the jun-yusho after losing in a close-play off. 

Edited February 14, 2020 by Jejima