TORCHBEARER 2025: invitation, rules, and your picks

[shimodahito 309]

good day all,
The 2024 prize has been sent to champion Hakuhonofan, who had an amazing point tally.

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 2025 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 2025 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For historical reference, here's where the torch ended up in previous years: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)
2024, J5w (highest position J3w)

Highest number of points: 73 by Hakuhonofan in 2024.

To play, please submit:
1) the rikishi you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2025 Kyushu Basho.
and
2) the rank you think will get the most points between now and the end of the 2025 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 2024 picks will carry over to TORCHBEARER 2025 (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

[Gurowake 4,024]

Hakuyozan

J11w

[Shatsume 117]

Chiyotaiho

Ms2e

[shimodahito 309]

Good day all,
   Courtesy notice:  In 2024, the following rikishi picks retired (intai) so affected players will need to update their picks for 2025.  
Azumaryu (itchyknee)
Hokuseiho (Amamaniac & Leo C)
Kairyu (Hakuryuho)
Mitozakura (Nekonishiki)
Oki (Tsuchinoninjin)
Okinofuji (Tochyatsu/nelimw)
Onosho (Hoshihitomi)
Takakeisho (Derek) -- does anyone know Derek's sumo forum shikona?
Tokisoma (ChickyStarr)
 
Good luck to all.

@itchyknee @Amamaniac @Leo C @Hakuryuho @Nekonishiki Banji @Tsuchinoninjin @nelimw @hoshihitomi12 @ChickyStarr

 

[Wamahada 52]

Goseizan

J2w

[Taikoubana 143]

Shirokuma

Ms12e

[Jejima 1,358]

Wakaikari

J10E

[Karasukurai 165]

Mita

J7W

[Kintamayama 44,667]

Seihakuhou

J5W

[Athenayama 1,007]

Gonosho (Jk13w)

J8W

[Kotogouryuu 127]

Tochimusashi

J06E

[ChickyStarr 18]

Fujinoshin

Ms9E

[RaeucherLax 287]

Gyokuozan

J10E

[dingo 1,215]

Asanoyama

J14W

[Tsuchinoninjin 1,261]

Anhibiki

ms16e

[Akōgyokuseki 227]

Rikishi: I'll pick Kaiseijo this year (because he's canny).

Rank: J8W

[Andreas21 183]

Rikishi: Gonosho

Rank: J7E

[MumboJumbo 36]

Nihonyanagi

Ms5w

[Terarno 46]

Hi !

Yonezawaryu

and W-Makushita 49 please, thanks.

[Benihana 1,916]

J7W

Shimizuumi

 

[Sakura 1,482]

I will intai from this game.

[WAKATAKE 2,647]

Enho Ms2E

[thatsumoguy 21]

Hidenoumi

J13E