2019 Kyushu Basho Discussion (spoiler alert)

[since_94 650]

3 hours ago, dada78641 said:

Black eye.

I liked this shot of the arena just before the final bout:

Still quite a few seats empty, here and there.

Hakuho vs Endo:

Blood on Hakuho's chest:

Takekaze on security duty in the first pick. Hope to meet him one day.

[WAKATAKE 2,660]

Ura wins, 3 way playoff for jonikuchi

[Rocks 1,809]

Terunofuji takes the Makushita Yusho. Have to say I'm surprised he got back this fast. We'll see how he handles wrestling everyday next basho.

[robnplunder 975]

23 minutes ago, Rocks said:

Terunofuji takes the Makushita Yusho. 

That brings up the question of whether he will be promoted to juryo or not.  Anyone has thoughts on this?   It seems he'd need help and luck to get to juryo in the next basho.   

[Jakusotsu 5,981]

32 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

That brings up the question of whether he will be promoted to juryo or not.  Anyone has thoughts on this?

There's only been one famous case of non-promotion in the Ms15 zone:
http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&form1_rank=ms1-ms15&form1_wins=7&form1_losses=0&form1_ms=on&form2_ms=on

[Benevolance 2,501]

Kaisei weirdly non-aggressive in his bout against Tochiozan. Was Tochi actually that good to neutralize Kaisei, or does Kaisei not want a promotion?

[cyclonicleo 19]

Disappointed with Nishkigi this basho. If his eyesight is *that bad*, has he contemplated corrective procedures, like LASIK? Surely a laser eye clinic would love some publicity by helping a top end rikishi, right? No? Ok.

Ishiura has had some cracking bouts this time around - certainly Enho might try to pick up a thing or two, if not already. Enho could do with more muscle as his speed isn't really enough, as most of the division has kinda twigged to his tactics.

Great to see fmr-Kisenosato on guest commentary yesterday too - more of that would be great. 

Finally, i'm a bit unhappy with Hakuho - I sense a lot of frustration from him and its starting to show in his demeanor and matches. Forearm here, the odd push back there, some of it being behaviour that, for me, isn't becoming of a man in his position. Am I being a bit too harsh? Probably.

 

[Tigerboy1966 1,449]

Naruto's Motobayashi wins sandanme and takes his career record to 21-0.

[robnplunder 975]

8 minutes ago, Benevolance said:

Kaisei weirdly non-aggressive in his bout against Tochiozan. Was Tochi actually that good to neutralize Kaisei, or does Kaisei not want a promotion?

IMO, Kaisei is not one I'd describe as aggressive.   He got morozashi'd and couldn't exert all his power behind his push.   

[WAKATAKE 2,660]

15 minutes ago, Tigerboy1966 said:

Naruto's Motobayashi wins sandanme and takes his career record to 21-0.

Motobayashi becomes the 7th wrestler in the modern era to get 21 straight wins from debut. He is now tied with Kototenzan aka Earthquake and sumo's de facto mascot, Enho.

[robnplunder 975]

One day, Enho is going to injure his neck.  Shodai almost separated his head today.

Yusho is all but decided.   With so many kyujos, there isn't much drama left.  Am looking forward to the next basho.   

[Eikokurai 3,437]

8 minutes ago, robnplunder said:

One day, Enho is going to injure his neck.  Shodai almost separated his head today.

Yusho is all but decided.   With so many kyujos, there isn't much drama left.  Am looking forward to the next basho.   

I’m holding onto a very slim hope that Abi will win today and we’ll go into the weekend with Shodai and Asanoyama just one behind Hakuho, so at least tomorrow there’s suspense until Hakuho wins.

[Koorifuu 1,003]

Is it just me or is Asanoyama silently in an unlikely ozeki run? 20 wins so far in these basho as either joi or sanyaku, he needs 13 more in the next 15+2 bouts to get those 33.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

7 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

Is it just me or is Asanoyama silently in an unlikely ozeki run? 20 wins so far in these basho as either joi or sanyaku, he needs 13 more in the next 15+2 bouts to get those 33.

It's been speculated, but he's relying on the generosity of the kyokai since his rank-record combination isn't what would usually be required. Last basho he managed 10-5 at M2, which ordinarily would only really get counted if it preceded a yusho or equivalent. Compare his situation to that of Takakeisho, who got turned down for Ozeki despite getting 33 wins as Komusubi/Sekiwake, which included a yusho and a jun-yusho. At that time though there was less "need" to promote anyone as the Ozeki corps was full.

If Asanoyama manages 12 wins this time and repeats the feat in January, he may get the nod, if only because the sanyaku are in ill health and/or under-performing. Sometimes you need a little external luck in promotion matters.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Eikokurai

[robnplunder 975]

5 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

It's been speculated, but he's relying on the generosity of the kyokai since his rank-record combination isn't what would usually be required. Last basho he managed 10-5 at M2, which ordinarily would only really get counted if it preceded a yusho or equivalent. If he manages 12 wins this time and repeats the feat in January, he may get the nod, if only because the sanyaku are in ill health and/or under-performing. Sometimes you need a little external luck in promotion matters.

They might give to him just to restock the depleted Ozeki house. 

[Amamaniac 2,079]

45 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I’m holding onto a very slim hope that Abi will win today and we’ll go into the weekend with Shodai and Asanoyama just one behind Hakuho, so at least tomorrow there’s suspense until Hakuho wins.

Hakuho didn't get that memo!

[Eikokurai 3,437]

43 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I’m holding onto a very slim hope that Abi will win today and we’ll go into the weekend with Shodai and Asanoyama just one behind Hakuho, so at least tomorrow there’s suspense until Hakuho wins.

Well, that Hope was short lived. Hakuho will need to collapse for anyone else to take the trophy. Two losses for him and two wins for Asanoyama or Shodai just to force a playoff. We’re looking at the most predictable and anti-climactic end to what has been a pretty chaotic year. I suppose you could say a return to Hakuho cruising to the yusho unchallenged is something of a surprise in itself though.

[Kaninoyama 1,797]

5 minutes ago, Eikokurai said:

I suppose you could say a return to Hakuho cruising to the yusho unchallenged is something of a surprise in itself though.

Normally yes, but not so much considering how depleted the top of the banzuke is right now with injuries. 

[Amamaniac 2,079]

Losing today against Takakeisho, Mitakeumi finds himself on the cusp of an MK.  Dare I say that he won't get by Hakuho tomorrow, and demotion is inevitable.

Here I thought Mitakeumi would win this tournament, but the wheels fell off his Ozeki promotion run after getting clocked by Meisei on Day 3.

[Eikokurai 3,437]

2 minutes ago, Amamaniac said:

Losing today against Takakeisho, Mitakeumi finds himself on the cusp of an MK.  Dare I say that he won't get by Hakuho tomorrow, and demotion is inevitable.

Here I thought Mitakeumi would win this tournament, but the wheels fell off his Ozeki promotion run after getting clocked by Meisei on Day 3.

If he scrapes a 7-8, he may yet again drop only to Komusubi, though Daieisho is on the cusp of earning a sanyaku promotion and Abi could retain his rank as well. Not sure if they’d keep three Komusubi in this situation (and I’m too preoccupied on the subway right now to search for a precedent on the database).

[Koorifuu 1,003]

1 hour ago, Eikokurai said:

It's been speculated, but he's relying on the generosity of the kyokai since his rank-record combination isn't what would usually be required. Last basho he managed 10-5 at M2, which ordinarily would only really get counted if it preceded a yusho or equivalent. Compare his situation to that of Takakeisho, who got turned down for Ozeki despite getting 33 wins as Komusubi/Sekiwake, which included a yusho and a jun-yusho. At that time though there was less "need" to promote anyone as the Ozeki corps was full.

If Asanoyama manages 12 wins this time and repeats the feat in January, he may get the nod, if only because the sanyaku are in ill health and/or under-performing. Sometimes you need a little external luck in promotion matters.

Would a 12-3 junyusho ordinarily count as such? Not taking external factors into consideration.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Koorifuu

[Eikokurai 3,437]

15 minutes ago, Koorifuu said:

Would a 12-3 junyusho ordinarily count as such? Not taking external factors into consideration.

Well, technically an “equivalent” is the same record as the yusho winner, losing only in a playoff, but a strong jun-yusho could also count. 12-3 is a fairly strong record, though that’s relative to the strength of the banzuke and the winner’s final record. If Hakuho ends 13-2, 12-3 is stronger then than if Hakuho gets 14-1.

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

7 hours ago, WAKATAKE said:

Ura wins, 3 way playoff for jonikuchi

 

[Akinomaki 40,594]

With today's win and Abi's loss, the most wins of the year award is now sure for Asanoyama. Abi's chance to pull even in the end is a bit better than Asanoyama's to still win the yusho, but still very small - both chances likely will evaporate tomorrow.

Edited November 22, 2019 by Akinomaki

[maorencze 144]

With how the results are looking, this could be interesting. If Daieisho finishes 9-6 he HAS to be promoted, never in history (if my query was correct) was M1e NOT promoted with this result. And if Endo gets to 8-7 and Mitakeumi wins at least one more, we might have 4 komusubi again, if not 3 sekiwake and 3 komusubi (especially with Mitakeumi finishing 8-7, which is unlikely but possible).

What an interesting time/era to be a sumo fan!