TORCHBEARER 2024: invitation, rules, and your picks

[shimodahito 315]

good day all,
The 2023 prize has not been sent to champion Jesinofuji, as he has not responded to my message to him on this forum. If anyone has his contact info or knows if he's using a different shikona, please send me a PM.

It's time for the once-a-year invite to the easiest picking (guessing) sumo game ever. No need for daily picks, no need for pre-basho picks; just a pair of picks will last a whole year!

Here's how it works.
The symbolic TORCH starts with the last rikishi and last rank on the 2024 HATSU BANZUKE (rikishi/rank at the bottom of jonokuchi division). If the rikishi wins his bout (called a TORCH MATCH), he keeps the TORCH. If he loses, the TORCH is passed to the winner. Through the year, the TORCH will eventually make way up the banzuke as it is always passed to the winner. The object of the game is to pick the one rank and one rikishi you think will end up with the most points throughout the year's six bashos. Points are awarded to every rikishi and rank involved in a TORCH MATCH; AND to players who finish closest to the FINAL TORCH position at the end of the year.

FINAL TORCH POINTS AT THE END OF THE 2024 KYUSHU BASHO:
25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rikishi.
25 points if you picked the final TORCH holding rank.
PLUS...
10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rikishi.
10 points to the player(s) closest to the final TORCH holding rank.
9 points to the 2nd closest picks.
8 points to the 3rd closest picks.
7 points to the 4th closest picks.
6 points to the 5th closest picks.
5 points to the 6th closest picks.
4 points to the 7th closest picks.
3 points to the 8th closest picks.
2 points to the 9th closest picks.
1 point to the 10th closest picks.

(so if my math is correct, a minimum of 110 points (55 rank/55 rikishi) are guaranteed to be handed out at the end of the year)

TORCH MATCH POINTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR:
3 points for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rikishi wins.
3 points for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rank wins.
1 point for every TORCH MATCH your chosen rikishi loses.
1 point for every TORCH MATCH match your chosen rank loses.

The player with the most points at the end of the year will get a prize.

For historical reference, here's where the torch ended up in previous years:
2006, J2w
2007, Ms33w (highest position J7w)
2008, J7e (highest position J6w)
2009, J5e (highest position J3e)
2010, Ms58e (highest position J3e)
2011, J6e (highest position J4w)
2012, J2e (highest position J1e)
2013, Ms48e (highest position Ms4e)
2014, Ms49e (highest position Ms3e)
2015, J6w (highest position J1w)
2016, J11e (highest position J6e)
2017, Ms10w (highest position J13w)
2018, Ms8e (highest position J2e)
2019, J7e (highest position J4e)
2020, Ms15w (highest position Ms1w)
2021, J4w (highest position J1e)
2022, Ms23e (highest position Ms1w)
2023, J5e (highest position J1e)

Highest number of points: 59 by Profomisakari in 2009.

To play, please submit:
1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2024 Kyushu Basho.
and
2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2024 Kyushu Basho.

The deadline for entries is one minute before the first TORCH MATCH starts... JST. Send new entries or updated entries to shimodahito(at)yahoo.com, by message on this forum, or post on this thread. For players who miss the deadline, your 2023 picks will carry over to TORCHBEARER 2024 (as long as your rikishi pick is still active).

A "wildcard" drone pick, by default will be the lowest rikishi and rank on the HATSU BANZUKE and cannot be selected by any other player.

Good luck! The game is painless...one rank pick, one rikishi pick... no daily picks needed…. and a prize.

15+ years and still going!

-shimodahito

Edited December 24, 2023 by shimodahito

[Ganzohnesushi 514]

J6w - Tenshoho

Ganzohnesushi

[Bunbukuchagama 714]

On 17/12/2023 at 15:56, shimodahito said:

It's time for the once-a-year invite to the easiest picking (guessing) sumo game ever. No need for daily picks, no need for pre-basho picks; just a pair of picks will last a whole year!

Oh yeah, the easiest ever. Explain how I got 0 points this year. 

[rokudenashi 310]

Satorufuji, J6w

[Gurowake 4,046]

Daishoho J8w

[Kintamayama 45,081]

Kyokukaiyuu , J3W

[code_number3 698]

Onokatsu J7e

[Wamahada 57]

Shiroma,

J2w

 

Wamahada

[Taikoubana 144]

Takahashi(Shirokuma), J5e

Edited December 22, 2023 by Taikoubana

[Kintamayama 45,081]

On 17/12/2023 at 22:56, shimodahito said:

 

To play, please submit:
1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2023 Kyushu Basho.
and
2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2023 Kyushu Basho.

 

Should be Kyushu 2024, right? Otherwise I win..

[Shatsume 118]

Fukai J9e

[shimodahito 315]

19 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Should be Kyushu 2024, right? Otherwise I win..

fixed! thanks!

[Akōgyokuseki 228]

Here we go again....

Rikishi: Anosho  Rank: J10e.

Many thanks Shimodahito!

[Torideyama 32]

Kyokukaiyu

Juryo 7E

[shimodahito 315]

good day,
   The following TORCH picked rikishi retired in 2023.  The TORCH players who picked them will need to update their picks, or be marked as absent for TORCHBEARER 2024.   Good luck!

INTAI Akiseyama (picked by Nantonoyama)
INTAI Kirinofuji (picked by Kintaro)
INTAI Michihaya, not sure if official, but banzuke-gai for at least one basho (picked by Athenayama)
INTAI Nakashima, not sure if official, but banzuke-gai for at least one basho (picked by ChickyStarr)
INTAI Setonoumi (picked by Sumo Spiffy & sumojoann)
INTAI Tokushoryu (picked by Shio-kago & code_number3)

I see some have already updated!

-shimodahito

@Nantonoyama @Kintaro @Athenayama @ChickyStarr @Sumo Spiffy @sumojoann @Shio-kago @code_number3

[Ripe 71]

Kyokukaiyu, J6w

[Reonito 1,433]

Kyokukaiyu is certainly a popular pick, and not without a reason!

Aonishiki, J7w

[WAKATAKE 2,655]

Ms2W Mitoryu

[Chiyotasuke 284]

J11e Kototebakari

[Yarimotsu 572]

I don't think I was wrong last year, although it might make the game a bit gimmicky.

Kyokukaiyu, J12w

[shimodahito 315]

The wildcard pick is the bottom of the 2024 hatsu banzuke: 
Rank: Jk17E
Rikishi: Daishiyama

these are the only picks not allowed by other players.

[Ryoshishokunin 282]

Shiroma, J14e

[RaeucherLax 288]

Hokutomaru, J11w

[Nantonoyama 249]

Anosho, ms2e

[ChickyStarr 19]

Tokisoma, MS9e