Given that it’s Thanksgiving in the U.S., this is just a short preview. Tomorrow, I’ll recap where things stand going into the final weekend.
Before he faces the two Ozeki, 11-1 Hakuho gets M5 Takarafuji. They have faced off 14 times, with Hakuho winning 12.
One of the two 10-2 chasers, Hokutofuji, goes up against Yoshikaze. Both have a lot at stake, as Yoshikaze desperately needs a win to have a shot at attaining his kachi-koshi and maintaining his Sekiwake rank, while Hokutofuji now leads the race for promotion to San’yaku. Let’s hope Yoshikaze didn’t injure himself too badly. The other chaser, Okinoumi, faces an increased level of competition in M6 Tochinoshin, who showed his old strength in defeating Asanoyama.
In other notable upper-rank bouts, the two Ozeki face off when Goeido takes on Takayasu. After losing his last 3 matches, and 5 of the last 7, Goeido still needs a win to achieve his kachi-koshi and avoid becoming kadoban. I’m sure he doesn’t want to have to try to do it on senshuraku against Hakuho! Mitakeumi, who still needs a win to maintain his rank, takes on Ichinojo. Onosho, who needs to win all of his remaining matches, faces Shohozan, and Takakeisho is matched up against Tochiozan.
One of my candidates for bout of the day pits M1 Tamawashi against M9 Endo, who’s won 6 in a row. Both men already have their kachi-koshi, so this battle of contrasting styles is over how big their promotions will be. Endo is really being tested here by being matched with an opponent much higher up the banzuke. Will Tamawashi’s furious attack prevail, or will Endo find a way to turn this into a test of mawashi skills?
M1 vs M9? Wow, someone on the torikumi committee wants Endo to prove himself.
Another bout that stands out to me as high-stakes: Chiyotairyu – Arawashi. With a 7-8 record, the best he could hope for, Chiyotairyu might still be in the joi next year. With a 6-9, he likely won’t be. Arawashi, meanwhile, will be practically assured a joi placement if he improves on his current eight wins.
Personally, I like Chiyotairyu, but he’s been making so many mistakes this basho that I think I’d prefer to see him drop down a bit. And Arawashi in the joi would be so very entertaining. Let’s see him try to throw Hakuho.
You know that Arawashi already has a kinboshi off Hakuho, right?
I didn’t know that, but now I’m hoping that he’ll try for another one.
I didn’t mean that in the sense of “he’ll never manage it”; I meant “that would be an interesting bout”.
Their last bout was certainly a fun one even though Arawashi didn’t attempt a throw. It’s not often someone outmaneuvers Hakuho.
Jason’s reaction was almost as entertaining as the bout.
Poor Takarafuji… Getting thrown to the lion when he still doesn’t have a kachi-koshi. What happens if Hakuho tries a nodowa? Hakuho loses, and protests against Takarafuji being allowed to wrestle without a neck?
😂 As someone on sumo forum noted, these torikumi makers are traditionalists, so rank trumps other considerations…
I like Endo but he’s going to get wrecked. Tamawashi is bigger, faster, stronger, and still highly motivated. He wants his sekiwake back. If Endo wins, I’ll be thrilled…but I’m not holding my breath.
(Prove me wrong, Endo!)
And after that warmup, Endo gets Hakuho 😧
Today’s the day for deciding many of the yusho races in the lower divisions, so be on the lookout for some hard fights on highlights.