[Magus978]

Alright, day 12! We're entering the final stretch of the 2019 Nagoya Basho, and we've still got some intriguing storylines. Let's go.

- We start with 7-4 Kotoyuki going for kachi-koshi against 6-5 Kagayaki. Kotoyuki is fired up for this one off the initial charge, and his aggression works extremely well. It's over before you know it, and Kotoyuki's got his 8th win. That should get him off the bottom of the Maegashira ranks.

- We transition to a battle of 3-8 fighters, as Yago and Nishikigi take to the ring. Yago is doomed to a drop to Juryo, so he's looking to go out with some pride. Meanwhile, this will be Nishikigi's 4th straight make-koshi. A year's worth of failure. Very frustrating. From the initial charge, you could see there wasn't much spirit in Yago, but Nishikigi is determined to at least keep his rank drop to a minimum and shoves Yago out with ease.

- Kotoeko's won 5 straight to get to the brink of clinching a winning record. His opponent today, Sadanoumi, is also on the brink of doing so. Sadanoumi looked like he wanted to charge forward and press the attack, but Kotoeko just let him go to the ground, pushing him down. Kotoeko's won 6 in a row, and more importantly, has his kachi-koshi.

- Shohozan knows his situation...win out to get to 8-7 or face a drop in rank via make-koshi. He faces the popular Enho, who can secure his first Makuuchi division winning record. Enho looked really good in pressing the attack for a second, but then he slips and his knee hits the ground! Victory to Shohozan on a silver platter. Bad luck for Enho, who drops to 7-5...oh no! Enho limping back to the locker room! He fell very awkwardly when he slipped. Let's hope the best for the little big man.

- We move on to Onosho, who's won 5 of his last 6 to get to 6-5, facing off with a desperate Toyonoshima at 4-7. Onosho has Toyonoshima on the brink several times, but the gritty Toyonoshima managed to stay in it, and turn the tables and gets the victory via Yorikiri!

- Pair of 5-6 contestants next, as Chiyomaru takes on Okinoumi. Both fighters won their bout yesterday. Jockeying for position in the middle, not a lot of action. Okinoumi has one hand on Chiyomaru's mawashi. Good attempt from Okinoumi to get Chiyomaru out, but it doesn't work and they end up back in the center. After an eternity, Okinoumi's will wins out and Chiyomaru steps out of the ring. Okinoumi gets back to .500.

- Massive rice fling from 9-2 Terutsuyoshi, who remains 2 wins behind leader Kakuryu and just 1 off 2nd place Hakuho. He's got a toughie today as he faces 8-3 Myogiryu. Myogiryu had Terutsuyoshi on the backfoot for a brief time, but Terutsuyoshi turns it around and is able to shove Myogiryu out. Terutsuyoshi is 10-2!

- Takagenji has the look of a very desperate sumo. He's 4-7 having lost 6 straight, and must beat 6-5 Shimanoumi to keep his fading hopes of kachi-koshi alive. Takagenji never really looked like he was into this bout. He hung on for awhile, but it feels like Shimanoumi was in control the entire time, and eventually he throws Takagenji to the ground. It's make-koshi for Takagenji, now it's just a matter of how far he'll fall in rank.

- Today's bout with Tochiozan is the first time all basho that Kotoshogiku is facing a double-digit Maegashira. Tochiozan is desperate, and does a good job early on. However, Kotoshogiku forces him out for the win.

- Apparently the news was so important that they had to cut into the Daishoho/Takarafuji bout. Takarafuji has won two straight since starting 2-7, and needs to keep winning. Daishoho is 5-6. Slower pace bout like the Okinoumi/Chiyomaru "classic". After a lot of jostling in the middle, Takarafuji gets the mawashi and lifts Daishoho out of the ring. Both fighters are now 5-7.

- 9-2 Tomokaze is among those that are just 2 losses behind the leader at this stage, so he still has ambitions of winning the tournament. Today he faces 7-4 Ichinojo, who has a kinboshi to his name already. Try as he might, Tomokaze can't get Ichinojo to budge an inch! Eventually it's just a matter of lifting Tomokaze out. Ichinojo adds kachi-koshi to his kinboshi and it's been a very good tournament for him. Tomokaze drops out of contention at 9-3, but is also still having a good tournament.

- Asanoyama faces off with Daieisho in a battle of floaters in the upper Maegashira ranks. Even if he wins out, Asanoyama probably isn't making Komusubi this tournament...and after Daieisho takes Asanoyama to the ground, he's definitely not making Komusubi! Daieisho goes to 7-5 and Asanoyama falls to 5-7.

- Shodai (5-6) battles Hokutofuji (7-4) next. Hokutofuji gets on the defensive quickly, and Shodai easily shoves him out. Shodai gets back even on the tournament, while Hokutofuji will have to wait until tomorrow for another shot at kachi-koshi.

- In order for Abi to keep his Komusubi rank, he needs to start winning. Endo at 6-5 would like to win this one and then win the rest of his bouts to potentially take that rank. Abi has one method of attack, and that is slap slap slap. When that doesn't work, he looks a bit lost. Endo endured the slaps to get Abi off balance, and that was all he needed. Abi falls to the ground, and falls to 5-7 in the process. Endo moves to 7-5 and on the brink of the winning record he desires.

- Aoiyama needs wins to at least stay in the higher Maegashira ranks. Ryuden at 3-8 is already doomed to a drop. The drop is only gonna get steeper because Aoiyama gets the win via Tsukidashi.

- Up next, a battle of two wrestlers who are doomed to make-koshi. 2-9 Meisei and the very disappointing 1-10 Tamawashi. This one's for pride, and Tamawashi has regained some of it with a furious slap attack. Both fighters are 2-10.

- Unbeaten Kakuryu controls his own destiny, as he faces off with 6-5 Chiyotairyu. Chiyotairyu tries to show off his spirit with some aggression, but Kakuryu uses the mawashi to turn him around, and then Chiyotairu falls on his butt! Too easy for Kakuryu, who will continue to lead on his own.

- Hakuho must win to keep pace. He's in against Mitakeumi, who can clinch kachi-koshi with a win. After a false start (our first of the day mind you), we get going. Mitakeumi doing well early on, keeping the bout in the middle. Mitakeumi nudges Hakuho closer to the edge and the crowd gets hot! Hakuho is patient though and is trying to wear his opponent down. Very long bout and Mitakeumi looks good here no matter the result. Eventually, Hakuho gets the position he likes and lifts the spirited Mitakeumi out! Good effort from Mitakeumi, but he'll have to wait until tomorrow to try for kachi-koshi again.

- Let's look at the leaderboard. We see that Tomokaze has fallen from contention, but Terutsuyoshi is still there at 10-2. You can add Takagenji and Tochiozan to the guys in red who have clinched make-koshi, but you can give kachi-koshi to Kotoeko, Ichinojo, and Kotoyuki. With 3 days of competition to go, the battle for the championship rests with Kakuryu, who is our last unbeaten wrestler. If he slips, then it brings Hakuho and Terutsuyoshi back into the fray.

Join us tomorrow, same Sumo time (maybe), same Sumo thread, for day 13 of the 2019 Nagoya basho! Hakkeyoi!