With day 9 in the history books, the yusho race is taking a bit of a turn, though both leaders are still out in front. Rather the group that was 1 win behind suffered a catastrophic spate of losses, leaving on Tsurugisho, who won his match against Mitakeumi, in the chase position. What this means as far as I can tell is that both Takayasu and Atamifuji would need to suffer 2 losses to make this competitive. This is me assuming that Tsurugisho is going to take at least 1 more dive to the dirt before senshuraku. More on this in the day 10 preview.

Hoshoryu dropped another match today, and it’s getting rather serious. He would not be the first or last Ozeki to start with a kadoban tournament, but you would just rather not see it at all. I am sure he will get his sumo, his body and his mind back together before Kyushu. He needs to win 5 of the last 6 matches it hit 8.

Highlight Matches

Kotoshoho defeats Myogiryu – Glad to see that Kotoshoho is still able to win a match. Myogiryu let him get a right hand inside belt grip when he made what looked like a half hearted attempt at a neck pull on Kotoshoho. Myogiryu’s grip change cost him the match, as he opened himself up to the uwatenage. Kotoshoho improves to 3-6.

Sadanoumi defeats Daishoho – Daishoho opened strong, had good hand placement, and was moving Sadanoumi back. Sadanoumi knew he was overpowered, but tried for a hatakikomi at the bales, and it worked. Daishoho goes down, and Sadanoumi improves to 5-4 after a monoii to review the call.

Aoiyama defeats Takarafuji – I will add Aoiyama to the “not quite ready for his make-koshi” group. He manages a hatakikomi against Takarafuji’s forward push, and brings him down. Aoiyama now 3-6.

Hokuseiho defeats Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma is not a small fellow, but it’s comical to see how high up he has to reach to try for a nodowa. The normal rules of sumo just don’t seem to apply at times fighting his guy. Chiyoshoma figures this out, and abandons attacks against Hokuseiho’s neck or chest, and simply goes for a leg trip. I am actually impressed none of that work, and Hokuseiho seems quite adept at hopping around on one foot and continuing to fight. As Chiyoshoma tries to rotate faster, they both tumble with Chiyoshoma landing first. They score it as an abisetaoshi, and Hokuseiho is now 5-4.

Tsurugisho defeats Mitakeumi – Mitakeumi had control of the opening moments of the match, enough so that Tsurugisho gave into the desire to pull Mitakeumi down. It did not work, but it allowed Tsurugisho to move behind the former Ozeki and push him out from behind. Tsurugisho now 7-2.

Endo defeats Kagayaki – Kagayaki did a solid job of defending his belt during the tachiai and the subsequent set of volleys from Endo. Endo settled for a body hold, and dialed up the forward power, settling for a direct yorikiri. Endo improves to 6-3.

Atamifuji defeats Kinbozan – A fine example of denshamichi-sumo, Atamifuji switches on the express track and delivers the goods. Not sure what Kinbozan had in mind, but I am sure it was not that. Atamifuji kachi-koshi at 8-1.

Oho defeats Nishikifuji – Nishikifuji gets a good hit in at the tachiai, but misses his tries to get a grip. Oho responds and shuts him down, then runs him out of the east side. Oho improves to 3-6 by oshidashi.

Takayasu defeats Kotoeko – Kotoeko just does not have the bulk to stand up to a rampaging Takayasu, and is quickly shown the west side salt basket. Takayasu kachi-koshi at 8-1.

Onosho defeats Hiradoumi – My compliments to Hiradoumi, for really bringing the fight to Onosho today. In response Onosho was forced to amplify his sumo, eventually catching Hiradoumi too far forward and swatting him to the clay. Onosho improves to 6-3 by hatakikomi.

Midorifuji defeats Shonannoumi – Midorifuji gets his hands inside and immediately sets up a pull throw combo. The results is the seldom seen makiotoshi, dropping Shonannoumi to the clay. Midorifuji is now 4-5.

Takanosho defeats Ryuden – Ryuden had the stronger attacks today, but kept finding himself too far forward. Takanosho would move aside, and Ryuden would stumble forward. I appreciate that he did not lose fall, but it was still a bit too much chaos. Takanosho breaks contact, re-engages and drives forward for a yorikiri, he is now 5-4 after winning the last 3 in a row.

Asanoyama defeats Tamawashi – Sigh… Tamawashi’s got nothing this basho. Though he almost had Asanoyama out first by an edge of the ring uwatenage. The former Ozeki improves to 5-4 by yorikiri.

Meisei defeats Shodai – I think Shodai was going to try for his “wall of Daikon” move again today, and Meisei shut that down with a well timed sotogake. Did Shodai even know Meisei’s leg was around his knee? Meisei now 4-5.

Abi defeats Tobizaru – Abi connected on target at the tachiai, and his opening combo took away whatever response Tobizaru had in mind. From there it was 3 steps to the tawara, and Tobizaru never got a chance to make a forward move. Abi improves to 5-4.

Hokutofuji defeats Nishikigi – Brilliant work by Hokutofuji to keep Nishikigi close enough to clobber, but far enough away he can’t set up his battle hug. This left Nishikigi without most of his offensive weaponry, and allowed Hokutofuji to dictate the form and pace of the match.

Daieisho defeats Wakamotoharu – It’s great to see Daieisho get the kind of match where he excels. It was all power forward, and in the brief time that Wakamotoharu was able to counter attack, Daieisho evaded quite well. Wakamotoharu’s rally was short lived, and Daieisho drove him from the ring by oshidashi. Daieisho now 5-4.

Takakeisho defeats Gonoyama – Anyone else thankful we got to see Takakeisho’s classic form today? Nice wave-action tsuppari, obliterating young Gonoyama, dumping him back to the east side to visit Kotonowaka. Both end the day 6-3.

Kirishima defeats Ura – Beautiful attack plan from Ura to start the match. He had Kirishima on defense, and made him work for the win. But it was Ura who succumbed to the mind bending manifold of Thurston geometry as he seems to have thrown himself so hard he got airborne. Kirishima now 6-3, needing 2 more wins to clear kadoban.

Kotonowaka defeats Hoshoryu – Hoshoryu opened with a lighting fast move to the side, allowing him to capture a right hand outside belt grip. This should have set him up for a fair number of winning moves, but Kotonowaka broke Hoshoryu’s grip, grabbed an arm, and twisted into Hoshoryu’s forward rush. The resulting kotenage was tangled enough that it required a monoii to figure out. The shimpan award the match to Kotonowaka, and he receives a kensho pile diorama of Sakurajima, improving to 5-4.