Thread: Sumo
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Old 07-15-2019, 05:45 PM   #86
Magus978
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Day 9...let's go.

- First match of the day, and it's 1-7 Kaisei who needs a miracle to retain his Makuuchi status. If he wants to have ANY chance of staying in the top division, he must start a 7 match win streak today against 5-3 Sadanoumi. Kaisei's able to stay in the middle early on, but Sadanoumi grabs the mawashi, begins to lift, and Kaisei begins to crumble. Eventually Sadanoumi gets him out of the ring. Sadanoumi's up to 6-3, and Kaisei better make plans to fight in Juryo, because he has made make-koshi and is finished in Makuuchi.

- Terutsuyoshi, one of the second group at 6-2, faces off with 2-6 Tochiozan who has lost 4 straight and his own Makuuchi status could be precarious. Terutsuyoshi goes on the attack early, and makes relative quick work of Tochiozan. Terutsuyoshi goes to 7-2 and keeps his slim hopes of claiming the Yusho alive.

- Kotoyuki still looks like a sumo who's embarrassed after yesterday's loss to Juryo-level fighter Azumaryu. He better shake off that embarrassment and get in gear to face 3-5 Nishikigi. Kotoyuki uses yesterday's loss to fuel him and as a result he's able to score the win. He's 6-3 and still looking good for kachi-koshi.

- The little man with the big heart, Enho, steps into the ring to take on a not-so little man in Takagenji. Both coming off losses, a win would help steer one of these guys back in the right direction. After a false start, Enho's quickness, cunning, and big time determination are on full display as he engages in a slap fight with Takagenji! He then gets a grip on the leg and uses it to push Takagenji out! Crowd going nuts for the little man with the big heart! Enho's 6-3, while Takagenji has lost 4 straight to drop to 4-5.

- At 3-5, Yago's Makuuchi status could be under threat with another loss. Today he gets to face 4-4 Kotoeko, who has sandwiched 4 straight losses in the middle of a two fight win streak on the first two days and the most recent two days. Yago starts off well, but Kotoeko gets the upper hand and with a little effort, he shoves Yago out of the ring and out of the fight. Kotoeko's 5-4, while Yago is potentially seeing the Juryo division coming closer and closer.

- Chiyomaru (4-4) and Daishoho (3-5) square off in a battle of the 400-pounders. Chiyomaru tipped the scales at 425, Daishoho not quite 400 but we'll be nice and round it up for him, he's at 397. Off the initial charge, they engage in grappling. Chiyomaru's got a good grip on the mawashi, and attempts to lift him out, but fails. Daishoho eventually turns Chiyomaru around, bamboozling him and giving Daishoho an easy target to push out, and the referees in the front row better be careful that Chiyomaru doesn't fall on them! Both fighters go to 4-5 on the tournament.

- Tomokaze still holds out hope of winning this tournament at 6-2..but if he is to keep that hope, he's gotta beat 5-3 Kagayaki today. Off the initial charge, Tomokaze just pushes Kagayaki down. It was all too easy, and now Tomokaze moves to 7-2.

- Another member of the 6-win pack, Myogiryu takes on Toyonoshima, who's recovered from a 1-5 start to get back to 3-5. Love the aggression from Myogiryu in this one, and Toyonoshima had absolutely no chance. Myogiryu makes it look easy to move to 7-2.

- Now a story of two fighters who are at .500 for the tournament. Only one can get over the .500 mark though, it's Shohozan vs Shimanoumi. Good bout here as Shimanoumi comes at Shohozan with smart aggression. Eventually, he lures Shohozan into a mistake and the hands hit the ground. This one's over, and Shimanoumi's over .500 at 5-4!

- Chiyotairyu has won two straight to get to 5-3, while Okinoumi has seen his 3 match win streak end yesterday at the hands of Shimanoumi. Both looking to get back to kachi-koshi after both making make-koshi last tournament. Chiyotairyu uses Okinoumi's aggression against him with the sidestep, and all it remains for him to do is push his opponent out. Easy win for Chiyotairyu who moves to 6-3.

- Another battle of 4-4 contestants as Kotoshogiku and Onosho get ready to fight. Both fighters going in opposite directions, as the former Ozeki has lost 3 straight, and Onosho's won 3 in a row. Onosho looks like he has the upper hand early, pushing Kotoshogiku precariously close to the edge, but he pushes a little too hard and leaves himself open to a takedown, and Kotoshogiku gets the job done to break out of his slump!

- Daieisho has to be happy to see a slumping Takarafuji in front of him today. Both fighters in need of a win pretty badly. Slap-heavy contest, but I thought I saw Takarafuji accidentally try to kick Daieisho. No matter, Daieisho made sure he was the one going to the pay window today and gets the win.

- Aoiyama and Endo are both 3-5. Both are in need of wins if they want to achieve their ambitions and get back to their personal best ranks. They engage in a pretty good slap fight at the beginning, but then Endo gets low and goes into bull-rush mode, and it's enough to get the Bulgarian out!

- Let's have another fight of 3-5 competitors. Ryuden needs to get it going if he wants to keep his Komusubi rank, while Asanoyama has visions of taking that rank for himself. Asanoyama goes on the attack from the off, and is relentless in pushing Ryuden back. Try as he might, Ryuden cannot overcome this aggression, and eventually has to step out of the ring. Asanoyama inches closer to .500 and potential Komusubi status if he can rally for kachi-koshi.

- Tamawashi is facing a steep drop in rank from Sekiwake if he can't reel off 7 straight wins. He's gotta start it up against 5-3 Hokutofuji, who endured a very rough start and has won off 5 straight. After a false start, Tamawashi tries an over-exhuberant charge, but Hokutofuji just steps out of the way and Tamawashi goes into the crowd. It's take home a sekitori night tonight! Also, Tamawashi confirms make-koshi and won't be a Sekiwake for much longer.

- Mitakeumi is part of the chase pack at 6-2. Abi is 3-5 and is probably still grumbling about not getting a shiny envelope for his forfeit win over Tochinoshin. Abi grabbed the mawashi and took Mitakeumi out of the ring. Nice stuff from Abi who moves to 4-5.

- The injured Takayasu remains 1 off the pace. Today it's a fight with Shodai who is 4-4. Takayasu tries to use the left arm, which has the elbow wrapped, but instead tries to just force Shodai out with his right arm, and sadly it's hard to win when you're a one-armed sumo. Shodai takes advantage and counters at the edge to send Takayasu out. Now nothing stands in the way of the Yokozuna fighting it out for the Yusho.

- Battle for Mongolia next as 5-3 Ichinojo takes on one of the two remaining unbeatens, 8-0 Hakuho. Ichinojo proving to be difficult to move...and now Ichinojo is on the attack! Ichinojo sends Hakuho out! We've got a big upset, and the pillows come flying in! Ichinojo picks up what is called a "kinboshi". That's Hakuho's first loss of the tournament, and it's now advantage Kakuryu!

- Main Event time! Speaking of Kakuyru, he has to have seen Hakuho's loss and wondered "Is this my time now?"...well, for it to be his time for sure, he has to win out. It all starts with beating 2-6 Meisei. Meisei tries to get traction with the mawashi, but Kakuryu turns it around and gradually lifts Meisei out of the fight. Kakuryu is now the sole leader of the tournament at 9-0.

- Time for a look at the leaderboard after 9 days. Kakuryu's at the top at 9-0, but he has to fight Hakuho, I presume on day 15...so this one's not over yet. There's still 4 competitors at 7-2 hoping for Kakuryu to slip up as well as Hakuho to lose again. Then there's a group of 7 at 6-3, including Hakuho-conqueror Ichinojo. All with designs on a 10+ win basho. Down at the bottom, I'm afraid it's all over for Kaisei and Tamawashi at 1-8. Kaisei will go down to Juryo, and Tamawashi surely won't retain his Sekiwake status.
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