Berlin-Basho

[Fay 1,677]

There will be a little sumo-tournament in Berlin next weekend - Berlin-Basho, Sumo Open.

Athletes from 9 countries and 4 continents will take part.

World champion Byambajav Ulambayar (Mongolia),

Thorsten Scheibler and Alexander Czerwinski (Germany). European champion Petar Stoyanow (Bulgaria),

Libor Desz

[Ossetian Yokozuna 1]

Pawel Babjuk is Russian or may be Ukrainian.

Edited April 7, 2008 by Ossetian Yokozuna

[Sasanishiki 57]

Just the big guys, I see. The prize money is 1500 Euro for first, 1000 for second, and 500 for third. Pretty good money for an evening's work. More info can be found here

[Ossetian Yokozuna 1]

Sasanishiki -

Is 1500 Euro so much?

Let us calculate

1500 - ( the cost of airlines tickets + hotel ) = ?

[Asashosakari 19,661]

Hmm, tempting...that's less than an hour from where I am.

[Ossetian Yokozuna 1]

Asashosakari -

Wow ...

If I would be fomer SHTAZI then it will be very easy for me to suppose that you are Thorsten Scheibler.

If so then we wish you good luck.

In any case we shall waite your report from tournement, if you will so kined.

[Asashosakari 19,661]

If I would be fomer SHTAZI then it will be very easy for me to suppose that you are Thorsten Scheibler.

Well, no, I suppose I'd be a few kilograms short of being competitive in an Open tourney, so I'll stick with being there as a fan if I'm going.

Anybody attended one of these before? I'm wondering whether I'll be able to still get a ticket at the door, or if I'll need to order in advance as they seem to be suggesting.

[Doitsuyama 1,192]

If I would be fomer SHTAZI then it will be very easy for me to suppose that you are Thorsten Scheibler.

Well, no, I suppose I'd be a few kilograms short of being competitive in an Open tourney, so I'll stick with being there as a fan if I'm going.

Anybody attended one of these before? I'm wondering whether I'll be able to still get a ticket at the door, or if I'll need to order in advance as they seem to be suggesting.

No personal experience here either, but other events have sold pretty well, so the claims might be for real. I might give it a go, even if it's more than an hour from my place (and yes, I am living in Berlin).

[Fay 1,677]

I think I will be there, visiting a former colleague, a bit sightseeing, sumo in the evening ... two busy days it seems.

[Isolinalacorvina 1]

There will be a little sumo-tournament in Berlin next weekend - Berlin-Basho, Sumo Open.

Athletes from 9 countries and 4 continents will take part.

World champion Byambajav Ulambayar (Mongolia),

Thorsten Scheibler and Alexander Czerwinski (Germany). European champion Petar Stoyanow (Bulgaria),

Libor Desz

[Erkhembulgan 0]

Another sumo tournament will take place in Hannover at the end of April. Probably the same guys will show up there (?).

http://www.hannovermesse.de/52757

Edited April 7, 2008 by Erkhembulgan

[Sasanishiki 57]

It interests to me to know Venezuela Team.

[Sasanishiki 57]

Another sumo tournament will take place in Hannover at the end of April. Probably the same guys will show up there (?).

http://www.hannovermesse.de/52757

Good spotting. I think there is a good chance that most will be competing. However, the Hannover tournament has other weight divisions and women's divisions as well. I would think there will be more competitors in Hannover, and this sounds more like an organised German Sumo Federation tournament for prestige and ranking rather than an entertainment one for money, like Berlin. Just my take on it from what I've read.

[aderechelsea 125]

I am not sure if Venezuela has ever competed in the World Sumo Championships before. If they have it would certainly be over ten years ago.

Sebastian will assure you they never competed even in the south american championships. That's why he is asking who are they ....

[Jakusotsu 6,049]

Added to that, I am not sure if Venezuela has ever competed in the World Sumo Championships before.

They even made a case for heavyweight sports at olympia!

(ok, now I probably lost any respect with Sasanishiki-san...) (Holiday feeling...)

[Asashosakari 19,661]

Well, just back home from the tourney...pretty interesting to see amasumo up close, although the skill differences between the (if I'm not mistaken) 14 competitors who showed up were quite considerable. Four Bulgarians (Petar Stoyanov, Hristo Hristov and two others whose names I didn't recognize and thus promptly forgot again), two Germans (Scheibler and Czerwinski), two Egyptians, two Mongolians (the fabled reigning world champion Byambajav and another guy named Naranbat-something who was also announced as an ex-pro; I guess it was Maenoyu? Apologies for my ignorance...), tall and heavy Haitham Alsadi from the Netherlands (195cm/170 kg or thereabouts, and in good shape), Libor Desz

Edited April 12, 2008 by Asashosakari

[Sasanishiki 57]

Thanks for the good report. I don;t think you need to make apologies for missing kimarite or anything. it is hard when a lot gets covered by the bum of the referee! Anyway, I was able to picture what was happening, but perhaps that is because I have seen about half the athletes in person and know their styles a bit.

Start fairly on time around 5.45pm. A raised dohyo was in use, which was nice to see...is that the usual standard in international amasumo nowadays? I recall seeing mostly the flat wrestling/judo type of ring in TV tapings in the past, but that was several years ago.

Clay raised dohyo is pretty standard now. The mat is only used in gynasiums and for smaller events that don't have the time or money to construct a proper one.

After a soul-crushingly long break of nearly 90 minutes we were back on for an intermediate round

Was there any kind of entertainment? Usually these things have an interlude of taiko drums or something (I am so sick of f***ing taiko drums and sumo)

It sounds like a lot of the results went according to form. Byamba is definitely the best. Stoyanov is a very good athlete, but likes to wear his mawashi low and tight which makes it hard to grab. Deszo is huge and relatively skillful but not quite top notch. It would have been good to see the other Mongolian fight, especially against these better athletes.

I look forward to the photos.

[Fay 1,677]

Thanks for the report!

I wanted to be there too, but I had to cancel everything cause my mom went ill.

[hoshi 0]

I know it is a bit late but here are some pics taken at the event. There are only a few because the lightning conditions were difficult...

[Erkhembulgan 0]

Thank you for the photos and report! On the last photo you captured my friend...(Laughing...)

[Asashosakari 19,661]

Wow, talk about late. (In jonokuchi...) Apologies for taking 2+ weeks...didn't have the time to investigate why I suddenly couldn't download pictures off my camera, and by the time I had time again I'd forgotten that I still needed to do it. D'oh. Anyway, a bunch of pics at varying quality levels:

the gym hall with things yet to get started:

Scheibler and Czerwinski waiting for the dohyo-iri:

Bulgarian team (Stoyanov, Hristov, generic sumotori #1, generic sumotori #2):

Alsadi, Gobbi, the two Egyptians:

most of the competitors (front side, left to right: Scheibler, Desz

Edited April 29, 2008 by Asashosakari

[ilovesumo 12]

Thanks a lot! (In jonokuchi...)

Man, Alex lost a lot of wight. about 50 kilos less?

[Sasanishiki 57]

What do his tattoos say?

[Asashosakari 19,661]

What do his tattoos say?

"La Vida Loca" and "Badboy", I think...