Break The Curse (Aki 2025)

[Sakura]

Welcome to Break The Curse (The Nigate Game) 

No need to register. Just start making your picks.

It's an easy game to play, but you have to pick wisely.

In this daily game, you have to choose three Makuuchi bouts where you think a rikishi with a losing head-to-head record against his opponent will win. Post your guesses either here with spoiler tags or PM me on this forum.

The Virtual Cup awarded to the Yusho winner is now the Gernobono Cup. In memory and in honour of the great performances produced in this game.

Rules

1) Every day, choose three Makuuchi bouts listed for that same day. The bouts must follow this form:

                A) The first bout must contain a rikishi from Sanyaku (any bout with a  Y/O/S/K can be chosen).

                B) The second bout must contain a rikishi ranked M1 through M8.

                C) The third bout must contain a rikishi ranked M9 or lower. A lower ranked Makuuchi rikishi against a Juryo rikishi can be chosen.

2) Some bouts will fit in multiple categories (e.g. a Y vs M1 bout can be chosen for the first or second bout). However, you may not choose the same bout twice (or more). If you do, the second (or third) instance of the bout will score you 0 points.

3) Any bouts that do not fit the criteria will not score points.

4) You will score points if the rikishi with the losing record in head-to-head wins. E.g. if RIKISHI A has a 30-20 winning record over RIKISHI B and RIKISHI B wins, then you score points. If RIKISHI A wins, then you score 0 points.

5) The number of points you score is calculated by the difference in head-to-head score prior to the bout. E.g. if RIKISHI A has a 30-20 winning record over RIKISHI B and RIKISHI B wins, then you score 30-20=10 points. These points are called base points.

6) When determining points, any previous bouts between the two rikishi that were in a playoff or decided by fusen do not count. I'll be using the head-to-head stats from the database, so if it gives a head-to-head of 5[-1]-8[+1], then that will be used as a 4-8 record in the calculations.

7) Fusen: If your rikishi wins by fusen, then you get half of all points (including the bonus points in rule 9) rounded up to the nearest integer.

8) The Kotoshogiku Rule. This rule has been named in honour of Kotoshogiku's extremely lopsided head-to-head result with Hakuho. The maximum number of base points on any match-up is 20. If RIKISHI A has a head-to-head winning record of 50-5 over RIKISHI B then the base points will be 20, not 45.

9)  In addition to  the points given as described above there will be an additional  3 points for picking a winning rikishi. This should make some of the lower scoring but low risk bouts more attractive to pick. 

10) For any day, due to timezones, it may be that I cannot get to posting the points scores until well after the torikumi is out. You may choose to wait for me or calculate them yourselves.

11) Entry deadline is start of Juryo

Winning

The winner is the one with the most points and the end of the basho. The tiebreaker is decided by the bonus points system.

@Athenayama will be collating the scores.

[Athenayama]

Day 1 torikumi

Sanyaku :

1: Aonishiki (vs Onosato)
7: Tamawashi (vs Hoshoryu)
6: Abi (vs Kotozakura)
3: Hakuoho (vs Wakatakakage)
1: Oho (vs Kirishima)
1: Takayasu (vs Atamifuji)

M1-M8

7: Tamawashi (vs Hoshoryu)
6: Abi (vs Kotozakura)
3: Hakuoho (vs Wakatakakage)
1: Oho (vs Kirishima)
1: Takayasu (vs Atamifuji)
3: Gonoyama (vs Hiradoumi)
2: Kotoshoho (vs Wakamotoharu)
2: Ichiyamamoto (vs Onokatsu)
1: Kusano (vs Takanosho)
3: Midorifuji (vs Kinbozan)

M9+

3: Midorifuji (vs Kinbozan)
2: Shodai (vs Churanoumi)
2: Roga (vs Mitakeumi)
1: Meisei (vs Tokihayate)
5: Sadanoumi (vs Asakoryu)
1: Shonannoumi (vs Tobizaru)
2: Nishikigi (vs Tomokaze)
1: Hitoshi (vs Ryuden)
 

[Sakura]

Tamawashi
Gonoyama
Nishikigi

 

[shimodahito]

abi
ichiyamamoto
sadanoum

[Jakusotsu]

Abi
Gonoyama
Roga

[Sumo Spiffy]

Abi

Gonoyama

Shodai

[WAKATAKE]

Takayasu

Kusano

Nishikigi

[RaeucherLax]

Abi

Gonoyama 

Roga

[lonewolf]

Day 1
Sanyaku: Takayasu 
M1-M8:  Midorifuji
M9+: Nishikigi
 

[Xiongmao]

Fujisan's entry today:

Abi

Kusano

Shodai

[Bunbukuchagama]

Day 1

Takayasu

Kusano

Roga

[Athenayama]

Day 1

Sanyaku : Tamawashi
M1-M8 Kusano
M9+ Hitoshi

[Wamahada]

Looked always for the start, however, missed the first day as game started too late. Will join with the second day now.

[Athenayama]

Hi everyone and welcome to this new edition of BTC.

A legend is missing and our thoughts go to his family. Still difficult to accept that loss.

Another legend is back, thanks @Sakura for playing again !

Entries received Day 1 :
(winners in bold)

Slow start, the best the field could do is one correct guess out of three. I'm sure we can do better. 

	Athenayama	Tamawashi	Kusano	Hitoshi
	Sakura	Tamawashi	Gonoyama	Nishikigi
	shimodahito	Abi	Ichiyamamoto	Sadanoumi
	Jakusotsu	Abi	Gonoyama	Roga
	Sumo Spiffy	Abi	Gonoyama	Shodai
	WAKATAKE	Takayasu	Kusano	Nishikigi
	RaeucherLax	Abi	Gonoyama	Roga
	lonewolf	Takayasu	Midorifuji	Nishikigi
	Fujisan	Abi	Kusano	Shodai
	Bunbukuchagama	Takayasu	Kusano	Roga
	Tetsuarashi	Abi	Gonoyama	Roga

Standings after Day 1 :

shimodahito takes the early lead. What else could we add? Oh yes, three players are still without any point.

	Shikona
	shimodahito	5	3	8
	lonewolf	3	3	6
	Jakusotsu	2	3	5
	Sumo Spiffy	2	3	5
	RaeucherLax	2	3	5
	Fujisan	2	3	5
	Bunbukuchagama	2	3	5
	Tetsuarashi	2	3	5
	Athenayama	0	0	0
	Sakura	0	0	0
	WAKATAKE	0	0	0

[Sakura]

Day 2 torikumi

Sanyaku

7: Hoshoryu: (vs Takayasu)
2: Tamawashi (vs Onosato)
1: Hakuoho (vs Kotozakura)
4: Abi (vs Kirishima)
4: Oho (vs Wakatakakage)
1: Atamifuji (vs Aonishiki)

M1-M8

2: Tamawashi (vs Onosato)
1: Hakuoho (vs Kotozakura)
2: Abi (vs Kirishima)
4: Oho (vs Wakatakakage)
1: Atamifuji (vs Aonishiki)
2: Gonoyama (vs Wakamotoharu)
4: Kotoshoho (vs Hiradoumi)
1: Onokatsu (vs Takanosho)
2: Kinbozan (vs Oshoma)
1: Midorifuji (vs Ura)

M9+

1: Midorifuji (vs Ura)
14: Shodai (vs Daieisho)
1: Roga (vs Meisei)
2: Tokihayate (vs Mitakeumi)
1: Asakoryu (vs Shonnanoumi)
3: Tobizaru (vs Sadanoumi)
1: Nishikigi (vs Ryuden)
1: Shishi (vs Tomokaze)
1: Oshoumi (vs Hitoshi)

Edited September 14 by Sakura

[Masutarida]

Shit I missed the first one…

Hoshoryu

Kinbozan

Shodai

[Jakusotsu]

Oho
Kotoshoho
Tobizaru

[lonewolf]

Day 2
Sanyaku: Hakuoho 
M1-M8:  Kotoshoho
M9+: Roga

[shimodahito]

abi
kotoshoho
shodai

[Athenayama]

To everyone,

I sent a message to @Sakura but most probably the timezone doesn't help.

I think the first Sanyaku pick should be :

7: Hoshoryu (vs Takayasu)

If someone who has already submitted wishes to change, please proceed and post a new entry.

Thanks for your understanding.

[RaeucherLax]

Takayasu

Gonoyama

Tobizaru

[Fujisan]

Abi

Kotoshoho

Shodai

[Sumo Spiffy]

Hoshoryu

Oho

Shishi

Edited September 14 by Sumo Spiffy

[Sumo Spiffy]

Oh, @Sakura, quick note: Abi should only be worth two points. Kirishima leads the H2H 10-8. I have no idea why the db is so bugged and has them listed as 4-0.

[Sakura]

21 minutes ago, Sumo Spiffy said:

Oh, @Sakura, quick note: Abi should only be worth two points. Kirishima leads the H2H 10-8. I have no idea why the db is so bugged and has them listed as 4-0.

Thanks for noting. That's incredibly bugged.