Day 11 results and day 12 pairings

[Doitsuyama]

Asashoryu won against Tamanoshima to ward off the likely last attempt this basho to get a kinboshi off him. He still leads with two wins over ozeki Chiyotaikai who get another of his wins against Kotomitsuki. Jumonji lost to Asasekiryu to leave Chiyotaikai alone at 9-2. Kaio, Kotooshu, Hakuho, Roho and makuuchi returnee Tochinohana all got their kachi-koshi today. Good for Kaio especially as he shakes off the kadoban status.

The sanyaku isn't doing bad this basho as the two ozeki, Kotooshu and Hakuho already are kachi-koshi and Kotomitsuki at 7-4 and even Kyokutenho at 6-5 (faced almost all sanyaku already) have all chance to get kachi-koshi as well. Tamanoshima and Miyabiyama are doing good in the joi-jin ranks but might get stuck in the maegashira ranks if Kotooshu doesn't get a promotion to ozeki.

The shikona change didn't bring Ishide any luck, as he 2-9 now under his new shikona of Shunketsu and almost demoted already - another loss seals it. It would for Tochinonada too who beat Tosanoumi today with the very rare koshikudake. Takanowaka is in big danger too meanwhile as a 3-12 means demotion for him and he already is 1-10, so is allowed only one more loss.

The juryo division has five leaders now at 8-3 with Toki, Yoshikaze and Toyozakura winning key bouts against co-leaders. Tokitsuumi is expected to be there but Dairaido is a bit surprising.

--

Doitsuyama

Day 11

Juryo

J12w   Takanotsuru (6-5)   yorikiri	   J14w   Kakuryu (4-7)
J13w   Ryuho (7-4)		 oshidashi	  J9w	Kyokunankai (5-6)
J9e	Kobo (5-6)		  yorikiri	   J14e   Yotsukasa (0-11)
J13e   Toki (8-3)		  hatakikomi	 J8w	Daimanazuru (7-4)
J7w	Dairaido (8-3)	  oshidashi	  J12e   Kanbayashi (6-5)
J10w   Asofuji (7-4)	   yorikiri	   J6w	Harunoyama (5-6)
J5w	Yoshikaze (8-3)	 oshitaoshi	 J11e   Otsukasa (7-4)
J5e	Senshuyama (4-7)	oshidashi	  J10e   Chiyotenzan (4-7)
J4e	Kaiho (3-8)		 oshidashi	  J11w   Masatsukasa (3-8)
J3w	Tokitsuumi (8-3)	shitatenage	J2w	Kitazakura (6-5)
J3e	Daishodai (5-6)	 yorikiri	   J2e	Tamakasuga (4-7)
J1w	Toyozakura (8-3)	hikiotoshi	 J7e	Ushiomaru (7-4)
J1e	Tochisakae (5-6)	oshidashi	  J6e	Buyuzan (5-6)

Makuuchi

M16e   Katayama (5-6)	  yorikiri	   M13w   Shunketsu (2-9)
M13e   Hakurozan (7-4)	 uwatenage	  M16w   Kasugao (6-5)
M12w   Asasekiryu (7-4)	tsukiotoshi	M17e   Jumonji (8-3)
M15e   Kasuganishiki (7-4) oshidashi	  M11w   Kotonowaka (5-6)
M17w   Tochinonada (4-7)   koshikudake	M11e   Tosanoumi (4-7)
M12e   Wakatoba (4-7)	  oshidashi	  M10w   Takanowaka (1-10)
M14e   Tochinohana (8-3)   oshidashi	  M10e   Kyokushuzan (6-5)
M9w	Takekaze (6-5)	  yorikiri	   M8w	Toyonoshima (5-6)
M8e	Roho (8-3)		  yorikiri	   M9e	Takamisakari (7-4)
M7e	Kotoshogiku (4-7)   yorikiri	   M5w	Ama (5-6)

M7w	Tokitenku (7-4)	 hatakikomi	 M4e	Miyabiyama (7-4)
M6e	Aminishiki (5-6)	shitatenage	M3w	Dejima (3-8)
M4w	Iwakiyama (3-8)	 yoritaoshi	 M2w	Kakizoe (2-9)
M1w	Hokutoriki (2-9)	oshidashi	  M2e	Futeno (1-6-4)
K1w	Hakuho (8-3)		yorikiri	   K1e	Kyokutenho (6-5)
S1e	Kotooshu (8-3)	  yorikiri	   M6w	Kokkai (5-6)
O2w	Kaio (8-3)		  uwatenage	  M5e	Kisenosato (4-7)
O1w	Chiyotaikai (9-2)   hatakikomi	 S1w	Kotomitsuki (7-4)
Y1e	Asashoryu (11-0)	yoritaoshi	 M1e	Tamanoshima (6-5)

Day 12

Juryo

Ms1w   Kotokasuga (3-3)				   J14w   Kakuryu (4-7)
Ms5e   Kinkaiyama (4-2)				   J11w   Masatsukasa (3-8)
J10e   Chiyotenzan (4-7)				  J13w   Ryuho (7-4)
J9e	Kobo (5-6)						 J12e   Kanbayashi (6-5)
J10w   Asofuji (7-4)					  J8w	Daimanazuru (7-4)
J7e	Ushiomaru (7-4)					J13e   Toki (8-3)
J6e	Buyuzan (5-6)					  J12w   Takanotsuru (6-5)
J11e   Otsukasa (7-4)					 J6w	Harunoyama (5-6)
J5e	Senshuyama (4-7)				   J14e   Yotsukasa (0-11)
J3e	Daishodai (5-6)					J4e	Kaiho (3-8)
J5w	Yoshikaze (8-3)					J3w	Tokitsuumi (8-3)
J1e	Tochisakae (5-6)				   J9w	Kyokunankai (5-6)
J7w	Dairaido (8-3)					 J1w	Toyozakura (8-3)

Makuuchi

J2e	Tamakasuga (4-7)				   M17w   Tochinonada (4-7)
M17e   Jumonji (8-3)					  M16w   Kasugao (6-5)
M13e   Hakurozan (7-4)					M16e   Katayama (5-6)
J2w	Kitazakura (6-5)				   M13w   Shunketsu (2-9)
M11e   Tosanoumi (4-7)					M12e   Wakatoba (4-7)
M14e   Tochinohana (8-3)				  M11w   Kotonowaka (5-6)
M15e   Kasuganishiki (7-4)				M9w	Takekaze (6-5)
M8e	Roho (8-3)						 M12w   Asasekiryu (7-4)
M10e   Kyokushuzan (6-5)				  M7w	Tokitenku (7-4)
M8w	Toyonoshima (5-6)				  M6w	Kokkai (5-6)

M4e	Miyabiyama (7-4)				   M9e	Takamisakari (7-4)
M10w   Takanowaka (1-10)				  M4w	Iwakiyama (3-8)
M2e	Futeno (1-6-4)					 M7e	Kotoshogiku (4-7)
M5e	Kisenosato (4-7)				   M2w	Kakizoe (2-9)
M3w	Dejima (3-8)					   M1w	Hokutoriki (2-9)
K1e	Kyokutenho (6-5)				   M1e	Tamanoshima (6-5)
S1e	Kotooshu (8-3)					 K1w	Hakuho (8-3)
M6e	Aminishiki (5-6)				   O1w	Chiyotaikai (9-2)
M5w	Ama (5-6)						  O2w	Kaio (8-3)
Y1e	Asashoryu (11-0)				   S1w	Kotomitsuki (7-4)

[Kashunowaka]

I am watching the bouts at banzuke.com (in alphabetical order).

Aminishiki has been so-so this basho, but somehow managed 5 wins with today's win. The meat-grinder is really ground to mince this basho, so kachikoshi would probably take him far (too far).

You must admire the yokozuna's will power.

Futeno is strangely helpless against Mr Hyde, err Hokutoriki.

Iwakiyama won in a close bout against Kakizoe. No mono-ii as someone pointed out elsethread, but looked correct to me.

Is Kasuganishiki finally re-establishing himself in makuuchi? It's nice to see him back and uninjured.

Kisenosato is picking up experience. I think he does the right thing by facing Kaio head on, even if he is no match for the ozeki at the moment.

The strange thing about Kotomitsuki-Chiyotaikai isn't that Taikai won or how he won, but why does Mickey so willingly play Taikai's game? Instead of regaining his footage when he has the chance, he charges forward without any balance and is promptly slapped down. Stupid sumo.

Yesterday Kotooshu rushed it when he had Tamanoshima wrapped up and ready to go. Today he makes no such mistake. He patiently fends off Kokkai's attacks, gets hidari-yotsu and walks him out. Excellent sumo. Ozeki sumo.

Foot fault by Ama.

A year and a half ago, Tochinohana was makushita 30. He is Hero of the Basho. Does he look content after his eighth win, or what? (Chucking salt...)

Hakuho is 4-2 against Kyokutenho and seems to have some respect for the Mongolian veteran. I wish he didn't.

Miyabiyama in good form (7-4) is up against small Tokitenku - and he goes for henka! How pathetic is that. Dishonourable mention goes to the ex-ozeki.

I really miss juryo this basho.

No nonsense sumo by Roho, but why that extra shove at the end? Roho lives up (down) to his image as ozumo's Bad Boy.

I expected Toyonoshima to be over-ranked after 14-1 last time, and he has in fact done better than I thought he would. Today Takekaze gets in the groove and wins rather easily.

Tochinonada wins by getting left-hand outside grip and making an uwatedashinage-like move to get Tosanoumi stumbling down. Surprising win? Not really. You never know with these two. It feels kind of sad to see them with a combined rank of maegashira 28. Three basho ago they were sekiwake and maegashira 2.

Takanowaka takes a huge step outside the dohyo, and then resolutely throws down Wakatoba. Doh! I am sorry, but when Takanowaka finally drops to juryo after not going anywhere in makuuchi for two years, I am not going to miss him.

[Jakusotsu]

Hakuho is 4-2 against Kyokutenho and seems to have some respect for the Mongolian veteran. I wish he didn't.

(Chucking salt...) Huh? Hakuho won convincingly, what else do You want?

[Kashunowaka]

Hakuho is 4-2 against Kyokutenho and seems to have some respect for the Mongolian veteran. I wish he didn't.

(Chucking salt...) Huh? Hakuho won convincingly, what else do You want?

Hakuho's sumo doesn't convince me. Granted, he wins most of his bouts. But he doesn't quite feel like a dominant force on the dohyo. Earlier this year, we were more or less convinced that by now he would be number two in ozumo.

[Kaikitsune Makoto]

Granted, he wins most of his bouts. But he doesn't quite feel like a dominant force on the dohyo. Earlier this year, we were more or less convinced that by now he would be number two in ozumo.

I disagree. Hakuho's sumo is very convincing now. Elequant sumo with VERY strong yotsu and good defense too. He is fatter than before though. He'll destroy Osh tomorrow.

[Avitohol]

He'll destroy Osh tomorrow.

no way. (Chucking salt...)

[Kashunowaka]

He'll destroy Osh tomorrow.

That I do believe. But let's see them fight first. (Chucking salt...)

[Avitohol]

He'll destroy Osh tomorrow.

(Punk rocker...) :-)

[Kashunowaka]

I am glad that Osh won. Basically I thought that Kotooshu would self-destruct under the pressure and yield to Hakuho. But he didn't, and I still cannot see any reason to be elated about Hakuho's sumo.

[Yubiquitoyama]

I am glad that Osh won. Basically I thought that Kotooshu would self-destruct under the pressure and yield to Hakuho. But he didn't, and I still cannot see any reason to be elated about Hakuho's sumo.

I kind of agree. I thought Hakuho seemed to be extremely talented and with a potential maybe even beyond that of Asashoryu, but although that wasn't very long ago, he rather seems to have moved backwards than forwards. Mind you, I haven't seen todays bout, but he has been a bit hesitant in several of his bouts, and that is hardly the sumo one was to expect of him by now. Anyway, I still believe he will become Ozeki and most probably Yokozuna eventually, but it doesn't seem all that clear as it used to. Anyway, I don't mind a bit of hesitant sumo if it still means a win (I mean, I am a Tochiazuma fan and all), but it could very easily become losses instead...

EDIT: Before anyone mentions it, I am sure Hakuho was somewhat hyped up earlier in his career, but I don't normally get particularly hyped up about rikishi even when the general discussion on the forum does. There is no doubt Hakuho is still a very good (and young) rikishi with a record up to now surpassed by very few, and nothing can take that away from him. Except age, injuries, bad records... Eh, time will tell...

As for Kotooshu, he doesn't really have to self-destruct to not get his needed 2 wins out of 4 matches against Hakuho, Asashoryu, Chiyotaikai and Kaio (Nodding yes...)

Edited November 24, 2005 by Yubiquitoyama