Guess Ura's Aite - March 2025 edition

[Jejima 1,395]

Announcing the March 2025 edition of Guess Kisenosato's Aite.... / Guess Hokutofuji's Aite.... / Guess Kiribayama's Aite..../ Guess Kotonowaka's Aite....

Guess Ura's Aite

Deadline for days 1 and 2 entries is 11:30 am (Japan time) on Friday 7th March 2025.

All you have to do is guess M5E Ura's opponent each day, before the torikumi comes out. If you guess correctly, you get a shiroboshi. This is surprisingly more fun (or frustrating) and challenging than it should be. It also gets you to think a bit more about the 'inner-workings' of sumo.

Here is the current banzuke:-

Banzuke for March 2025

Gurowake (Y1E 10-5)          Y
Sumo Spiffy (O1E 10-5)     O   Bunbukuchagama (O1W 10-5)
Ryoshishokunin (S1W 10-5) S1   Profomisakari (S1E 9-6)
Jakusotsu (K1E 9-6)        K1   Fashiriteta (K1W 9-6)
                                            K2  Oshirokita (M1E 10-5)
shimodahito (M2W 7-8)  M1 Hakuhonofan (M1W Kosho)  
Jejima (M2E 6-9)             M2 WAKATAKE (M3E 5-6-4)   
The Kyokai (M3W 5-10)  M3 Andonishiki (mz 6-3-6)

Comments:
Sumo Spiffy will be considered for promotion to Yokozuna with a Yusho in March.
Bunbukuchagama will be considered for promotion to Yokozuna with a Yusho in March.

The rules are as follows:-

1. Guess M5E Ura's opponents on each day of the basho.
2. Entries need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the previous day, except for the days 1 and 2 entries which need to be in before 11:30 am Japan time on the Friday prior to the start of the basho. If it turns out that the daily toriukumi is printed before these times, then any entry proved to have come afterwards is not allowed for that day (so enter early to be safe).
3. Tie-breakers to decide the Yusho.... We look at the result of the day 15 prediction, then day 14, and so on back to day 1. If still a tie, then the highest ranked on the banzuke can claim the Yusho.
4. If M5E Ura goes kyujo during the basho, we switch to M5W Kinbozan (M4W Ichiyamamoto then M4E Takayasu kept further in reserve, if needed due to a mass spate of kyujos) for the days after his fusensho loss (I.e. we can still guess who gets the freebie). For the immediate day afterwards, (unless it is known very soon after the event), everyone will get a 'kyujo'.
5. Players that are leading the Yusho race (especially in the final few days of the basho), are requested / expected to get their picks in very early (before all the other players, if possible) - in order to avoid suspicions of 'tactical picking'.
6. If the kyokai changes the originally posted torikumi for any day (such as for a late kyujo), the first version released will be used for the purpose of this game. (Highlighted, so that I will remember it, unlike in a previous basho!)
7. If the sumo forum goes down for a long period of time, you may still make your picks to Jejima or Jakusotsu at the 'obvious' gmail addresses or by any other method. 

Special prizes (many thanks to Yaochoyama):

1. Outstanding performance (shukun-sho) - the one who correctly picks the aite the most consecutive days. You have to have a minimum of three to win this prize.

2. Fighting spirit (kanto-sho) - the one who limits their incorrect aite picks to the shortest number of consecutive days (literally the one whose longest losing streak is the shortest). Any losing streak of 5 or more days would disqualify you from this prize.

3. Technique (gino-sho) - the one who is best at making correct picks when no one, or hardly anyone else does. A point system is used as follows and you need at least 3 points to claim this prize:

3 points if you're the only win to make the correct pick
2 points if you're one of two to make the correct pick
1 point if you're one of three to make the correct pick

New players () are cordially invited to this game!

[Ryoshishokunin 302]

1. Takanosho
2. Takayasu

[Kachikoshi 35]

I've been following along with this game for a while but I've never been involved. Let's give it a try...

1. Ichiyamamoto

2. Takayasu

[Sumo Spiffy 568]

1. Ichiyamamoto

2. Takayasu

[Ryoshishokunin 302]

Now I'm worried that I can't count.   (Will count again after any kyujo news comes out.)

[Jakusotsu 5,981]

Day 1 - Ichiyamamoto
Day 2 - Takayasu