Thread: Sumo
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Old 09-15-2019, 11:02 AM   #135
Magus978
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The second half of the 2019 Aki Basho is underway in earnest. Here we go with Day 8 action in the Makuuchi Division.

- Opening the show today is Ishiura (6-1) looking to stay close to leader Okinoumi. Today he squares off with Juryo 3 Tokushoryu (3-4), making a cameo appearance. Ishiura gives up 165 lbs to his opposition today. Ishiura might have outsmarted himself here, coming off with the stutter-step, but Tokushoryu was not fooled at all. Ishiura then tried to go low, but Tokushoryu saw that one coming too and pushed him down. Tokushoryu knocks off one of the leaders, and that's probably the end of Ishiura's push for the yusho.

- Tsurugisho (5-2) & Tochiozan (3-4) have never met before. Tochiozan tries to shove his way to victory, but he might have shoved too hard and a simple touch sends him to the ground. Tsurugisho goes to 6-2 without really having to lift a finger. Must be nice to win by doing absolutely nothing...

- Kagayaki (3-4) & Toyonoshima (1-6) up next. Not really a lot to talk about here, other than the fact that Toyonoshima is having a terrible tournament that could see him relegated. His terrible tournament continues as Kagayaki gets the better of him off the jump, and Toyonoshima has no answers for it. Kagayaki by shove-out.

- Up now in the dohyo is Shohozan (4-3) against Takagenji (2-5). Takagenji needs to reel off a winning streak, otherwise he's as good as relegated. Takagenji tries to use his size to overwhelm Shohozan...but instead he ends up using his size to dive into the front row as Shohozan just steps to the side and lets Takagenji crash out of the ring. Shohozan moves to 5-3 and is setting himself up nicely for a good record this tournament.

- For once, Azumaryu (4-3) isn't opening the show! Instead, he steps in against Daishoho (1-6). Azumaryu has lost 3 of his last 4, stopping the rot yesterday. It looked to me that Daishoho jumped the start by half a second, but the referee didn't catch it and lets them go. Daishoho getting the better off the initial charge, and carries that momentum to victory. Daishoho by yorikiri.

- Fan favorite Enho (5-2) enters the ring next, and he'll lock horns with Nishikigi (3-4). Enho won their only encounter. After a false start, we get going, with Nishikigi looking to bully Enho out. Enho might have outsmarted himself here as he ran himself into a corner, thus allowing Nishikigi to get him out of there. That should do it for Enho's hopes.

- Battle of 3-4's here as Yutakayama and Kotoyuki get ready to do battle. Yutakayama has lost 3 straight. Both fighters have the same idea off the charge and they begin with the slaps. Kotoyuki looks like he's making progress, but Yutakayama lures Kotoyuki into a false sense of security and counters with the Tsukiotoshi for the victory.

- Here's our leader up now...Okinoumi (7-0) is the last undefeated standing. He'll want to stay that way against Onosho (3-4). False start from Onosho, who now has to bow to everyone to say that he's sorry for it. After that false start, we do get going. Okinoumi gets out to a good start, moving forward, with Onosho trying to counter. We don't see much backward motion from Okinoumi here, and Onosho is eventually forced out. Okinoumi is first to 8 wins, and doesn't have to worry about making kachi-koshi, because he just did. Now he has bigger fish to fry.

- Up next is Kotoshogiku (4-3) vs Sadanoumi (3-4). It's hard to come up with things to write about for these non-contender matches. Kotoshogiku does hold a 5-1 series lead over Sadanoumi...but Sadanoumi does well here and does not let Kotoshogiku make it 6-1. Instead, it's a Sadanoumi victory by Yorikiri and they both go to 4-4.

- Meisei (6-1) looked like a Juryo last tournament. This time, he's been in far better form, and is still in the running for the yusho. He faces Kotoeko (3-4) today. Kotoeko has beaten him 6 times out of the 10 they've fought. Meisei looks like a different beast this tournament, more confident and more aggressive...and his aggression pays off with an Oshidashi victory over Kotoeko, moving him to 7-1 and keeping pace with Okinoumi.

- Battle of disappointing 2-5's now as Shimanoumi fights Terutsuyoshi. Terutsuyoshi gets out brightly pushing Shimanoumi back, but the tide is turned before Shimanoumi turns Terutsuyoshi around and out of the ring.

- We should be seeing Takarafuji (4-3) vs Myogiryu (5-2) now, but instead we're getting word that Myogiryu has dropped out. NattoSumo, whose videos I watch for this commentary, reports that it was a right calf injury suffered during yesterday's bout with Okinoumi. It's a fusensho win for Takarafuji who now goes to 5-3 without lifting a finger.

- We move on to Daieisho (3-4) vs Ryuden (2-5). Daieisho doing all the work here trying to shove Ryuden out, but this is why you have to let your opponent move too...Ryuden turns it around and just has to gently nudge Daieisho out. Yorikiri victory for Ryuden.

- Asanoyama (5-2) is still theoretically in contention if the ones ahead of him slip up in the next few days. To stay there, he has to be at Aoiyama (1-6), who finally got off the mark yesterday. Aoiyama almost had Asanoyama early on, but Asanoyama made the almost immobile Aoiyama work and he got his reward with a Yorikiri victory. Asanoyama goes to 6-2, while Aoiyama's make-koshi is all but confirmed at 1-7.

- Abi (5-2) is in the same boat as Asanoyama. Win and you're still in the hunt. He's got Hokutofuji (1-6) to deal with. Hokutofuji looks motivated here, and has Abi on the backfoot from the start. Abi seems unable to counter this, and is forced out. Abi's yusho hopes bite the dust.

- At 2-5, Chiyotairu's road back to .500 is very tough, made even tougher today by having to face Endo (5-2). Endo on the attack early, but Chiyotairyu's hanging tough and making life difficult. Chiyotairyu almost has Endo out, but Endo turns it around and uses Chiyotairyu's own momentum against him! Hatakikomi victory for Endo, who stays in contention at 6-2.

- Battle of sekiwakes here as Mitakeumi (6-1) faces off with Takakeisho (5-2). This one has big meaning on both sides, as Mitakeumi would like to keep pace with Okinoumi, and Takakeisho would like to move one step closer to regaining Ozeki rank. Takakeisho gets an excellent jump and just overwhelms Mitakeumi, shoving him out. Oshidashi victory, and both go to 6-2 on the fringes of contention.

- Tomokaze (4-3), on an emotional high after stunning Kakuryu yesterday, has to bring himself down and focus on beating Goeido (5-2). Goeido needs to win to stay on the fringes of the yusho race. Goeido gets the jump, and has Tomokaze on the brink, but Tomokaze reverses it and sends Goeido out of the ring! Some crafty, inspired sumo from Tomokaze who's doing well for Yoshikaze, going to 5-3.

- Tochinoshin (2-5) needs wins. Badly. He also needs no more bad luck. Will he find what he's looking for against Shodai (2-5)? Shodai tries to take advantage of his opponent's limited mobility, but instead plays into Tochinoshin's power, and gets thrown down for his efforts. Is this the start of the fightback that keeps Tochinoshin at Ozeki?

- Main Event time.....oh wait, there's no sign of Kakuryu. Kakuryu is MIA, and has gone "kyujo". A newspaper reports that Kakuryu goes kyujo because of a left knee injury. It's believed he suffered the injury on day 5 against Asanoyama, then aggravated it in defeats on day 6 and day 7. Fusensho victory for Tamawashi, who moves to 5-3. After a little research, I have found out that this does not count as a kinboshi bonus. Sorry Tamawashi.

Looking at the big board after day 8, it's starting to look like a two-man tournament. Okinoumi holds a 1 win lead over Meisei, with 6 fighters at 6-2 hoping against hope for a slip-up to bring them back into the race. With Kakuryu seemingly out of the tournament, we do not have a yokozuna left.

With a week's worth of competition left to go, this tournament still hangs in the balance. Join us tomorrow for day 9 action from Aki. Hakkeyoi!!!
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Last edited by Magus978; 09-15-2019 at 11:04 AM.
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