Thread: Sumo
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Old 09-21-2019, 12:50 PM   #150
Magus978
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Let's crank it up for a huge Day 14...we could have as many as 9 leaders at the end, but also as few as one. There are also some storylines to follow lower down the standings...let's see if we can get some clarity.

- Ishiura (7-6) had to unleash a henka on Terutsuyoshi to beat him yesterday...he goes for kachi-koshi against Juryo competitor Wakatakakage (7-6), making his second cameo of the tournament. Winner will indeed make kachi-koshi. Off the charge, Wakatakakage is aggressive and quickly gets the upper hand. He's able to easily shove Ishiura out. Wakatakakage gets his kachi-koshi and may be a Juryo 2 or Juryo 1 in the winter.

- Shohozan (8-5) has the kachi-koshi in his back pocket, and steps in against a desperate Azumaryu (6-7), who is 3-7 in his last 10 bouts. Shohozan gets off well and overwhelms an unprepared Azumaryu out of the ring. After a good start to the tournament, Azumaryu crashed and burned, and at 6-8, will have to do damage control for his make-koshi.

- Yutakayama (9-4) won 6 straight to put himself in a position to potentially score 11 wins this tournament as a Maegashira 16. He's in now against Onosho (7-6), who needs to continue his own winning streak to confirm kachi-koshi. Onosho goes for the slaps off the charge, and while Yutakayama tries to counter, Onosho just seems to want it a little more, and he's able to take him out. Onosho wins via Oshidashi and gets his 8th win. A well-earned kachi-koshi after being 3-6.

- Tochiozan (6-7) has gotta have the next two to potentially stay in Makuuchi. To get one of those two he'll have to beat fan favorite Enho (7-6), who has slumped hard, going 2-5 in his last 7 bouts. Enho tries a little henka (sidestep) at the start, but Tochiozan won't be overly aggressive. The bout then goes into a grip-fest, with the two working hard for position. This goes on for a few seconds, and then Enho makes his move! He gets Tochiozan on the backfoot and with all the strength he can muster, he pushes Tochiozan out of the ring! Enho gets his second straight kachi-koshi! As for Tochiozan, he may be saying goodbye to the top division.

- Terutsuyoshi (3-10) greets us with a huge salt throw. If he put more effort into his sumo than his salt throws, he wouldn't be 3-10. He's in against Takagenji (3-10). who is surely going down to Juryo. Terutsuyoshi starts well and has Takagenji on the brink several times, but Takagenji survives. Terutsuyoshi keeps up the pressure, and keeps Takagenji on the backfoot...but Takagenji showing some of those survival instincts that will serve him well in Juryo in the winter. Takagenji gets his hand on the mawashi and begins to turn this bout around, eventually getting a good lift on his opponent and carrying him out. Good bout between two make-koshi wrestlers who have struggled all basho.

- Tsurugisho (10-3) still has a chance of winning this tournament...but he's gotta win today against Kotoyuki (7-6) to keep that hope alive of back to back championships. Kotoyuki gets off well and Tsurugisho is hard-pressed to give a reply. Kotoyuki's slaps get him a ring-out victory and the 8th win he needs for kachi-koshi. As for Tsurugisho, he can expect a jump of multiple ranks, but he can no longer win the championship now.

- Kagayaki (5-8) & Kotoeko (6-7) step in now, and there's not much to write about here. Kotoeko needs to win out for kachi-koshi, while Kagayaki is in damage control mode. Kagayaki gets way too aggressive off the charge, and he runs himself right out of the ring. Kotoeko needed only to sidestep. Kotoeko goes to 7-7 and will have a chance at kachi-koshi tomorrow.

- Shimanoumi (4-9) has had a pretty bad tournament. He'll be glad it's over tomorrow, but he's gotta do battle with Sadanoumi (7-6) today. They battle for position off the charge, with Shimanoumi getting a bit over-aggressive and Sadanoumi just pushing him out. Sadanoumi gets his 8th win and his kachi-koshi.

- I'd love to be able to fast forward over this bout. Chiyotairyu (2-11) has been a disaster this tournament, and his opponent today Daishoho (4-9) hasn't been much better. Things look okay off the charge, but then Chiyotairyu falls over! Daishoho wins by doing absolutely nothing of note.

- Nishikigi (6-7) is still in the hunt for kachi-koshi, but he's gotta get by Shodai (2-11) today to have a shot. He has not had an 8+ win basho in a year, and he won't have one here. Shodai shoves Nishikigi out easily.

- Daieisho (6-7) still has kachi-koshi aspirations. Meisei (9-4) had championship hopes, but those have been dashed after a rotten run of 1-3 in his last 4 matches. Meisei gets off well, but Daieisho is able to turn the tide with his slaps. He is then able to slap Meisei out of the ring.

- Tomokaze (6-7) needs to win out. Asanoyama (9-4) still harbors slim hopes of winning the yusho. A good battle here as off the charge, they battle for position and Tomokaze doesn't give it up that easily. However, Asanoyama looks the fresher and is able to toss Tomokaze out. After the emotional success in mid-tournament, Tomokaze will be very disappointed to suffer make-koshi.

- Hokutofuji (7-6) steps in against Tamawashi (7-6). Winner makes kachi-koshi. Hokutofuji has won 6 straight. Hokutofuji with some inspired sumo here, showing a renewed aggression and flaming desire to win, shoving Tamawashi out. After starting 1-6, Hokutofuji has now reeled off 7 in a row and has his kachi-koshi. Now that's fighting spirit.

- Can we fast forward past this one too? It's Kotoshogiku (5-8) versus Aoiyama (4-9). HENKA ALERT!!! Luckily I don't have to pay attention for long as Aoiyama slams Kotoshogiku down off the charge.

- Abi (8-5) is ready to go against Takarafuji (9-4). Both have been impressive at times this tournament. Takarafuji's passiveness bites him in this one, as Abi goes on the attack with slaps early and is able to finish Takarafuji off pretty quickly. Both go to 9-5.

- Okinoumi (10-3) entered today's action tied for the lead. He steps in against Endo (8-5) who has had a pretty good tournament and has settled in as a strong Komusubi. Okinoumi and Endo have a good struggle here, and at some point, it looks like Endo may have gone out of bounds and the referee calls it immediately. The two continue to wrestle, not knowing that the match is already over! Controversy here as Okinoumi gets the win, but did Endo's back heel touch? I don't think it did. If it did, it was very slightly, and as we all know, "very slightly" is enough to trigger an end to the bout. No mono-ii called, but I think they could have done with at least reviewing it.

- Ryuden (6-7) could do a big favor to Okinoumi by beating Takakeisho (10-3), who was also one of the co-leaders. Takakeisho gets the better jump and attacks feverishly. Ryuden had no chance, and now he has no hope. Make-koshi for Ryuden. A continued share of the lead for Takakeisho.

- Mitakeumi (10-3) needs to win now to keep pace with Okinoumi & Takakeisho. He'll step in against Goeido (9-4). What's that I hear? Oh...HENKA ALERT!!! Mitakeumi sidesteps Goeido off the charge and Goeido crashes to the clay! We're seeing a lot of henkas this tournament. It's not the most socially accepted tactic, but it works. Mitakeumi keeps pace and sets up a dramatic day 15 for the yusho.

- Main Event time! Tochinoshin (6-7) gets ready for part 1 of a potential 2-part judgement weekend. To have a chance of maintaining Ozeki status, he MUST beat Myogiryu (6-5-2). Tochinoshin is forced on the backfoot off the charge, and his back heel touches the boudary. He's out, and he's got his 8th loss. Tochinoshin has been relegated from Ozeki rank. Myogiryu gets the win to go to 7-5-2, and to get an official kachi-koshi, he'll have to win on day 15. Tochinoshin has the look of a guy who is probably finished as a sumo wrestler, and it was sad to watch. He'll probably try to heal up for November, but he really shouldn't. His knee will not let him get the 10 wins he'll need to regain Ozeki rank. However, if this is indeed the end for Tochinoshin, he's been a serviceable Ozeki and will get paid handsomely upon retirement.

A look at the leaderboard after today's fights shows that there are only three rikishi with a chance at the title now. They're all 11-3. Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, and Okinoumi will enter day 15 knowing that one of them will raise the Emperor's Cup. The group at 10-4 are out because of the scheduling of bouts for tomorrow, which pits Takakeisho and Okinoumi against each other. One of them will get to 12, thus the 10-win pack cannot win the championship now. Down at the bottom, we add Tochinoshin, Ryuden, Azumaryu, Tomokaze, Nishikigi, and Tochiozan to the make-koshi list.

Down in Juryo, I can confirm that Ikioi (12-2) has clinched the Juryo championship. Another strong tournament in the winter and Ikioi should be back in Makuuchi.

One more day to go, and it'll be one of the most dramatic final days we've seen in some time. Which one of Mitakeumi, Takakeisho, or Okinoumi will lift the Emperor's Cup? We'll find out together tomorrow. Hakkeyoi!!!
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