Day 4 results and day 5 pairings

[Asashosakari 19,660]

Day 4

Juryo

Ms2w   Tokusegawa (3-0)	yoritaoshi	 J13e   Okinoumi (1-3)
J12e   Kirinowaka (3-1)	yorikiri	   J13w   Tamaasuka (2-2)
J12w   Kiyoseumi (3-1)	 uwatedashinage J14e   Sagatsukasa (2-2)
J14w   Jumonji (2-2)	   yorikiri	   J11e   Hoshihikari (2-2)
J11w   Kaiho (2-2)		 hikiotoshi	 J9w	Wakatenro (1-3)
J8e	Shirononami (2-2)   shitatenage	J10e   Asofuji (2-2)
J8w	Kyokunankai (2-2)   yorikiri	   J10w   Daishoumi (1-3)
J9e	Kasuganishiki (3-1) uwatenage	  J7w	Hakuba (1-3)
J6e	Koryu (4-0)		 oshidashi	  J5e	Toyozakura (0-4)
J5w	Kotokasuga (2-2)	okuridashi	 J7e	Ushiomaru (2-2)
J6w	Tosanoumi (3-1)	 hikiotoshi	 J4w	Kotokuni (1-3)
J3w	Sakaizawa (1-3)	 uwatenage	  J2e	Masatsukasa (1-3)
J1e	Tosayutaka (4-0)	okuridashi	 J3e	Kitataiki (2-2)
J4e	Kasugao (4-0)	   tsukiotoshi	J1w	Mokonami (3-1)

Makuuchi

M14w   Kakizoe (3-1)	   sukuinage	  J2w	Wakakoyu (1-3)
M13e   Hokutoriki (2-2)	yorikiri	   M14e   Kokkai (2-2)
M13w   Tochinoshin (3-1)   yorikiri	   M15w   Bushuyama (1-3)
M12e   Takamisakari (4-0)  yorikiri	   M16e   Kimurayama (0-4)
M11w   Toyohibiki (3-1)	oshidashi	  M15e   Shotenro (1-3)
M10e   Futeno (2-2)		yorikiri	   M12w   Dejima (1-3)
M11e   Miyabiyama (2-2)	hikiotoshi	 M10w   Shimotori (1-3)
M9w	Yamamotoyama (3-1)  uwatenage	  M8e	Iwakiyama (1-3)
M9e	Tokitenku (3-1)	 yoritaoshi	 M8w	Tamawashi (2-2)
M5e	Tochinonada (2-2)   tsukiotoshi	M7e	Asasekiryu (1-3)
M4e	Kisenosato (4-0)	yoritaoshi	 M6w	Chiyohakuho (2-2)

M6e	Kotoshogiku (3-1)   yorikiri	   M4w	Aran (2-2)
M3w	Toyonoshima (1-3)   tsukihiza	  M5w	Yoshikaze (0-4)
S1e	Baruto (2-2)		kotenage	   K1w	Tochiozan (1-3)
O2e	Kaio (3-1)		  hikkake		M3e	Tamanoshima (1-3)
O1w	Harumafuji (4-0)	uwatenage	  S1w	Goeido (3-1)
O1e	Kotooshu (3-1)	  oshidashi	  M1w	Aminishiki (1-3)
K1e	Kakuryu (1-3)	   yorikiri	   O3e	Chiyotaikai (2-2)
O2w	Kotomitsuki (2-2)   yorikiri	   M1e	Homasho (0-4)
Y1e	Hakuho (4-0)		uwatenage	  M2w	Kyokutenho (2-2)
Y1w	Asashoryu (3-1)	 oshidashi	  M2e	Takekaze (0-4)

Day 5

Juryo

J14w   Jumonji (2-2)					  J13w   Tamaasuka (2-2)
Ms3e   Sotairyu (1-1)					 J12w   Kiyoseumi (3-1)
J14e   Sagatsukasa (2-2)				  J10w   Daishoumi (1-3)
J10e   Asofuji (2-2)					  J13e   Okinoumi (1-3)
J8e	Shirononami (2-2)				  J12e   Kirinowaka (3-1)
J11e   Hoshihikari (2-2)				  J7w	Hakuba (1-3)
J7e	Ushiomaru (2-2)					J11w   Kaiho (2-2)
J9w	Wakatenro (1-3)					J6w	Tosanoumi (3-1)
J9e	Kasuganishiki (3-1)				J5w	Kotokasuga (2-2)
J5e	Toyozakura (0-4)				   J8w	Kyokunankai (2-2)
J6e	Koryu (4-0)						J2w	Wakakoyu (1-3)
J2e	Masatsukasa (1-3)				  J4e	Kasugao (4-0)
J4w	Kotokuni (1-3)					 J1w	Mokonami (3-1)
J1e	Tosayutaka (4-0)				   J3w	Sakaizawa (1-3)

Makuuchi

M14e   Kokkai (2-2)					   J3e	Kitataiki (2-2)
M13e   Hokutoriki (2-2)				   M15e   Shotenro (1-3)
M12e   Takamisakari (4-0)				 M15w   Bushuyama (1-3)
M13w   Tochinoshin (3-1)				  M11w   Toyohibiki (3-1)
M11e   Miyabiyama (2-2)				   M16e   Kimurayama (0-4)
M14w   Kakizoe (3-1)					  M10w   Shimotori (1-3)
M9e	Tokitenku (3-1)					M12w   Dejima (1-3)
M10e   Futeno (2-2)					   M8w	Tamawashi (2-2)
M9w	Yamamotoyama (3-1)				 M6w	Chiyohakuho (2-2)
M5e	Tochinonada (2-2)				  M8e	Iwakiyama (1-3)
M7e	Asasekiryu (1-3)				   M4w	Aran (2-2)

M4e	Kisenosato (4-0)				   M5w	Yoshikaze (0-4)
M6e	Kotoshogiku (3-1)				  M3w	Toyonoshima (1-3)
M1w	Aminishiki (1-3)				   S1w	Goeido (3-1)
S1e	Baruto (2-2)					   O2w	Kotomitsuki (2-2)
O2e	Kaio (3-1)						 M2w	Kyokutenho (2-2)
M2e	Takekaze (0-4)					 O1w	Harumafuji (4-0)
O1e	Kotooshu (3-1)					 K1w	Tochiozan (1-3)
O3e	Chiyotaikai (2-2)				  M1e	Homasho (0-4)
M3e	Tamanoshima (1-3)				  Y1w	Asashoryu (3-1)
Y1e	Hakuho (4-0)					   K1e	Kakuryu (1-3)

[shumitto 418]

Some brief notes:

Tokusegawa visited Juryo today to take on Okinoumi against whom his record was 1-3, but the Mongolian won his third this Basho and is one short of a likely first promotion to Juryo after many years of elevador in up Makushita.

The Juryo division is very even with only Toyozakura winless and three guys in Tosayutaka, Kasugao and Koryu with an 0 to right side of the ~seiseki~. Kasugao and Koryu (inverted both for the last EDIT) both look like returning to their former self, while the latter is running on to a very possible Yusho contention.

Now moving to the top flight, Mr. False Start Kakizoe profited from the lack of experience on the other side to add a 3rd victory with his very first display of aggressive sumo this time around. Kokkai boogied without much coordination as usual and Hokutoriki did, de facto, his very own sumo with some hold on the mawashi in the end to have his first yorikiri after a gazilion years (May.2008); Tochinoshin obtained his favourite right-hand inside grip from the beginning and after some due resistance and lateral defensive movements by Bushuyama he eventually won by yorikiri.

Kimurayama then 0-3 went all out against Takamisakari, with one more show of forward sumo, but it was the veteran who prevalied with right arm inside, left arm out and force out win; Kimurayama better return to his fave left-inashi tachi-ai now that is winless at 0-4. Toyhibiki won his own way and Futeno had a tough bout with moto-Ozeki Dejima just to reveal once more how vulnerable Dejima currently is. Shimotori tried for any mawashi grip although he never succeeded, Miyabiyama with some decent pushes and thrusts unbalanced his opponent after a rather long time for his hikiotoshi win and an even record of 2-2.

In a bout between Yamas Yamamoto won with a close call. It was Iwaki`s body touching the dirt first and Yamamoto did not have to pay for having his hips lifted and body unbalanced in the middle of the dohyo. Tokitenku exhibited all of his flexibility after taking Tamawashis aggresive tachiai, to which he had no answer but a rather upright and passive attitude, but Tamawashis nage attempts all failed and Tenku obtained his favourite migi-yotsu grip. It was only a matter of time, and Tenku won it throughout Yoritaoshi. Tochinonada won his second straight following a slow start, with Asasekiryu falling as the victim.

-

Kisenosato steamrolled Chiyohakuho so intensely with double mawashi hold, the defender apparently twisted his right knee. Tomorrow we will see if it is OK.

Making up for the slow initial charge of yesterday, today Kotoshogiku had a very fast start, full of impetus, and Aran had no way to go but back and out; Baruto, just for a change, charged high with virtually no aggression, Tochiozan took advantage from it, however, by means of a clever turn the Estonian turned the tables and kotenage was the kimarite. Good Sumo, but it came from an undesired way- a Sekiwake is not expected to have such a bad tachi-ai.

Kaio moved again to the right, grabbed Tamanoshimas bandaged left arm and put it under the stress of a hikkake. The only thing one can say is: I hope it is OK.

The highlight bout of Today the two hidari-yotsu guys fighting migi-yotsu (EDIT- Goeido is migi-yotsu, so give another plus to Harumafuji). Goeido started it off better with the bout under control and the initiative on his side. Subsequnetly to circa two frustated nage attempts by the Sekiwake, which saw the Ozeki firm, his legs more or less astride doing the right job to keep him stead on the ground and resist, Harumafuji made of use of his experience to win this one, his fourth bout won with solid sumo. By far his best tournament in the rank.

Another Ozeki living up to the expecations is Kotooshu. It is the first year in the rank it is hard to find something to complain about his sumo, and today was no expection. With a powerful tachi-ai the Ozeki commanded the bout in every aspect against Aminishiki to better his record to 7-11 in this particular head-to-head.

Chiyotaikai was the lowlight of the rank in this 4th round with feeble sumo and nothing really to show today. Kakuryu, after the morozashi, prevailed very easily. At 2-2 the kachi-koshi is more like a pie in the sky, if you allow this expression.

Kotomitsuki this time around did not let the win slip through his fingers like he did on other occasions, but it should be said Homasho was all defence and with this kind of sumo at this level, Homasho has unfortunately little to look forward to.

Hakuho had today one more chapter of his so far tranquil novel with Kyokutenho, who by no means threatened.

Asashoryu, now fired up, conveyed in his pugnaciousness the image of guy trying to revert the misfortune belonging to the past. At any rate, he won and tried to look convincing. Takekaze had to pay the price.

Edited May 13, 2009 by shumitto

[Doitsuyama 1,192]

Thanks to both of you for putting up the results and especially the comments. This allows me to make the game entries for tomorrow somewhat more relaxed. (Another year older...)