I am starting these posts a couple of days later than usual. As a result, four rounds of bouts have been completed, and the picture is a little clearer.

In the promotion zone, the best-placed rikishi at the moment are Ms1w Kayo (3-1), who should finally earn a sekitori debut with one more win, Ms3e Kiryuko (4-1), who may have already done enough, though one more win would make a Juryo debut a lot more likely, Ms1e Akua (2-2), who can make an immediate comeback by winning two of his final three bouts, and Ms2w Nabatame (2-2), who needs at least two more wins and a favorable promotion scenario. Several others still have chances, but they’re more remote.

Among the seven undefeated rikishi who will battle it out for the yusho, two are in the extended promotion zone, where a 7-0 record means a near-automatic promotion. They are Ms7e Otsuji and Ms11e Fujiseiun, and they go head-to-head tomorrow. The other quarterfinal bouts pit Ms26e Kotoyusho against Ms32 Kazenoumi, Ms40e Aonishiki against Ms51e Shunrai, and Ms60TD Kusano against the highest-ranked undefeated man in Sandanme, Sd2e Amakaze, who actually reached Makuuchi for one basho way all the way back in 2016. For me, the most exciting names here are young Ukrainian Aonishiki, whose professional record so far stands at 24-1 with two yusho, and newcomer Kusano, who joined Ozumo after making quite a name for himself as a university and international amateur. Should both win, they would be on track to meet in a highlight bout on Day 11. Come back tomorrow to see who makes the semifinals!