Tigerboy1966

Gonna be interesting to see if Asanoyama (or Enho) can get the 7-0 needed for a sekitori return. I will definitely be setting an early alarm on Saturday 17th May if these two get to 3-0 (and if Asashosakari is correct about the ranking).

I cannot comment on any speculation about my promotion to yokozuna in May, when I would become the first 59-year-old and the first Englishman to attain the rank. But as the JSA has not explicitly issued a statement that this will not happen... well.. draw your own conclusions.

Just posted my entry. I am predicting a low scoring contest as too many placings that rely on "gut feeling". Least bad entry wins!

Did I miss something? Haven't seen any announcement about him retiring. Easy mistake as we have spent more time discussing Hokutofuji than any of the guys who have officially retired.

If Hokutofuji does retire now he will still be on the May banzuke at around Ms1. I understand that he has the right to retire whenever he wants to, but I would be a bit peeved if I was a wrestler who ended up at Ms6e or Ms16e.

Just checked and I could find only one example since Hakuho's retirement, That was Hoshoryu's 14-1D last November.

Alas not. He came equal third, so no jun-yusho. He does get a kanto-sho though.

To summarise I have... Up: Tamashoho, Roga, Kayo, Tochitaikai Down: Nishikfuji, Shirokuma, Takarafuji, Mitakeumi And... Nishikigi, Hidenoumi and Kusano tied for the last spot in maku'uchi... pick one!

Maku'uchi wins away from "by the numbers" safety after day 14: Missed by 1 win: Mitakeumi, Nishikigi Down: Nishikfuji, Shirokuma, Takarafuji With only 4 clear promotions from juryo, either Mitakeumi or Nishikigi could survive, with Nishikigi ahead by the numbers..

Juryo wins away from promotion (or promotability?) after day 15: Already achieved: Tamashoho, Roga, Kayo, Tochitaikai Missed by 1 win: Fujiseiun, Hidenoumi, Kusano With 5 demotable records in maku'uchi one of the "missed by 1 win" could be promoted, with Hidenoumi and Kusabo tied ahead of Fujiseiun.

I suppose the issue is this: there are not likely to be any men with records that force a promotion to sekiwake; there are however, likely to be several wrestlers with "sekiwake available if you need one" records.

So who would be most likely to take the vacant sekiwake slot? Would an 8-7 Kirishima get the nod or would he be leapfrogged by Takayasu or a 9-6 Wakatakakage?

Maku'uchi wins away from "by the numbers" safety after day 14: 1 win: Ryuden, Mitakeumi, Nishikigi Already demotable: Takarafuji Already down: Nishikfuji, Shirokuma

Juryo wins away from promotion (or promotability?) after day 14: Already achieved: Tamashoho, Roga, Kayo 1 win: Tochitaikai, Fujiseiun

Hands up if you thought Tokihayate would be in the yusho race going in to day 14... Liars!