Hakuho!

[yamaneko]

Wow. Never seen the yokozuna thrown like that. Thought hakuho was going to take his arm off.

[aderechelsea]

he probably did ... he was holding his elbow afterwards.

great win.

Been a long time since i enjoyed a result so much.

[Zuikakuyama]

One thing about Hakuho is that he is probably at his most dangerous when going backwards when the other guy is under the false impression that they had him.

This one was almost a mirror image of the Nov. match he had with Kotooshu (the first one).

Tomorrow's Hakoho-Hokutoriki is going to be great. Key yusho decider and a replay of May '04.

[aderechelsea]

if Riki wins tomorrow then i don't know what is happening to Sumo ...

i hope Hakuho will do his duty.

(praying to all the Sumo gods out there)

[yamaneko]

Id like to see it work out so that kotooshu, hakuho, Tochiazuma, hokutoriki, and maybe that other guy all end up with 2 losses to have the biggest playoff in a while.

But why do i have a feeling asashoryu is still somehow going to end up with the yusho?

[Guest bnona]

Hakuho, you're the one.

Now think about how to fight againist Kotooshuu. Pleaase.

[Zuikakuyama]

There is also the problem with Tokitsuumi. Seems like all the tops guys are banging against each other in the next 3 days, and he has the softer schedule. Who is available to face him?

The NSK may have a real problem on their hands if he wins tomorrow against Kakizoe, but I suppose they can always eliminate him at the Kettei-Sen.

[Tatsuma Keiru]

Id like to see it work out so that kotooshu, hakuho, Tochiazuma, hokutoriki, and maybe that other guy all end up with 2 losses to have the biggest playoff in a while.

Well 2 losses for everyone would be impossible because they will all fight eachother (barring Hokutoriki messing things up) before the basho is done. But, in my dream world this would happen:

Oshu beats Asa, beats Tochiazuma, looses to Hakuho (because of nerves (You are going off-topic...) )

Tochiazuma beats Hakuho, looses to Asa

(given that Asa beats Ama and Hakuho beats Hokutoriki)

That would equal a 4 way playoff in a somewhat plausible way, the other guys hopefully will be taken care of by then. :-)

Edited January 19, 2006 by Tatsuma Keiru

[Kintamayama]

My guess- no playoff - Tochiazuma yusho.

In any case, Asashouryuu will NOT get the yusho. I stake all of what's left of my credibiltiy on this.

[Asojima]

My guess- no playoff - Tochiazuma yusho.

In any case, Asashouryuu will NOT get the yusho. I stake all of what's left of my credibiltiy on this.

Agree with your guess, your credibility notwithstanding.

[Guest Kotocabana]

Tochiazuma beats Hakuho

That already happened on Day 8. I see no chance for a 4 way playoff.

[Tatsuma Keiru]

Tochiazuma beats Hakuho

That already happened on Day 8. I see no chance for a 4 way playoff.

oh yeah, you're right. (On the banzuke...) But it doesn't really affect the chances of a 4 way playoff...

I don't really think it will actually happen, but everyone must agree it is possible. More likely Oshu and Hakuho will get bumped down to three losses each, while Asa will get Azuma on senshuraku and beat him twice in a row to take the title. More likely, but way less fun to think about. (Sign of disapproval)

Edit: oh by the way, Kintamayama, who do you think will give Azuma the third loss?

Edited January 19, 2006 by Tatsuma Keiru

[Blue_Wolf]

My guess- no playoff - Tochiazuma yusho.

In any case, Asashouryuu will NOT get the yusho. I stake all of what's left of my credibiltiy on this.

I think Tochiazuma will lose to Kotooshu tomorrow and to Asa on the final day. So i quess the yusho goes to Hakuho or Kotooshu. They'll fight for it. (On the banzuke...)

[Kintamayama]

Edit: oh by the way, Kintamayama, who do you think will give Azuma the third loss?

14-1, no more losses, sir.

[Tatsuma Keiru]

I think Tochiazuma will lose to Kotooshu tomorrow and to Asa on the final day. So i quess the yusho goes to Hakuho or Kotooshu. They'll fight for it. (On the banzuke...)

For a Hakuho-Kotooshu yusho race to be possible, Asa would have to loose tomorrow to Ama, which I would love to see. But remembering last basho, it is probably a long shot. (On cloud nine...)

Edit: Kitamayama: Nevermind.... I was confused... long day... I should probably take a nap.

Edited January 19, 2006 by Tatsuma Keiru

[AsaMoe]

In any case, Asashouryuu will NOT get the yusho. I stake all of what's left of my credibiltiy on this.

That is, i gain your credibility, if Asa wins ? What do i have to offer myself ?

[Flying_Monkey]

Hakuho was phenomenal today, (On the banzuke...) and he has been really destroying people with those nasty barred arm and arm-lock throws.

But I am not surprised. He had a bad, injury-blighted and nervous year last year, but I've been watching him for a while not from the lower ranks and I always thought he had more talent than even Kotooshu and would get to Ozeki if not Yokozuna. He would be the out and out favourite for this tournament basho too if the ref hadn't called his fight with Tochiazuma the wrong way - I mean there was no way that Tochiazuma was in any kind of control or that he hit ground level after Hakuho - at the very least it should have been a rerun.

I think Kotooshu will beat Tohiazuma, and there will be either a 3-rikishi or 4-rikishi fight-off, which anyone could win. I sispect Asa will not let this one slip but on present form, I'm hoping for Hakuho... he'll be Ozeki before too much longer anyway.

BTW, watch out for Mokonami, like a cross between Asa and Hakuho and rising up Juryo as we speak...

Edited January 19, 2006 by Flying_Monkey

[Doitsuyama]

BTW, watch out for Mokonami, like a cross between Asa and Hakuho and rising up Juryo as we speak...

I am watching Mokonami. But did you realize that Mokonami is almost a year OLDER than Hakuho? Even Baruto is older than Hakuho.

[Flying_Monkey]

BTW, watch out for Mokonami, like a cross between Asa and Hakuho and rising up Juryo as we speak...

I am watching Mokonami. But did you realize that Mokonami is almost a year OLDER than Hakuho? Even Baruto is older than Hakuho.

Indeed. I sometimes forget how young Hakuho still is - his sumo is certainly not naive. Weren't Mokonami and Hakuho part of the same entry? It was my understanding that Mokonami was intitially rated as more of a prospect than Hakuho too...

[Doitsuyama]

Weren't Mokonami and Hakuho part of the same entry? It was my understanding that Mokonami was intitially rated as more of a prospect than Hakuho too...

You are right on the mark here. Both had Hatsu dohyo in Haru 2001, and Hakuho was 3-4 in his first basho, Mokonami 5-2. Hakuho's faster development can also be seen in the weight development... Mokonami was 99 - 110 - 115 - 124 - 136 while Hakuho was 80 - 89.5 - 101.5 - 135 - 141 and now more than 150 kg. (All weight data from Sumo magazine May issue 2001 to 2005)

Edit: Oh yes, and there is the height issue of course. Mokonami grew from 184 cm as a 17 years old to 186 cm now. Hakuho entered with 180 cm at 16 years, and is 191.5 cm now...

Edited January 19, 2006 by Doitsuyama

[Kintamayama]

In any case, Asashouryuu will NOT get the yusho. I stake all of what's left of my credibiltiy on this.

That is, i gain your credibility, if Asa wins ? What do i have to offer myself ?

No, I just lose all my credibility and go home. My credibility, once it leaves me, disappears into thin air.

[Coo-cook]

I feel everything would depend on Tochiazuma-Kotooshu bout.

If Tochiazuma beats Kotooshu tomorrow he has yusho in his bag.

Hakuho's sleepless night before the bout and Asa's lightly twisted arm may kill their chances.

We will see.

It hasn't been that exciting for a while.

Of course, personally I prefer Asa's eight straight yusho (so, he can "relax" in March).

[aderechelsea]

i don't get the "if Zuma wnis tomorrow he will get the yusho for sure" .. he still has to face Asa on senshuraku and he is just one win ahead of him ...

[AsaMoe]

Independent of who wins the basho, it looks like there one with a Yusho equivalent. Then, the next basho could become really interesting.

[Asashosakari]

Independent of who wins the basho, it looks like there one with a Yusho equivalent. Then, the next basho could become really interesting.

Well, this could still drop to a 12-3 playoff, and I don't think 12-3D will be considered yusho-equivalent, what with the current emphasis on 13 wins. At any rate, this only matters for Tochiazuma and Kotooshu, not Hakuho, for obvious reasons. If it's a 13-2 playoff between Asashoryu and Hakuho (or God help us, involving 'riki or 'tsuumi), we're still at square one on the Yokozuna front.