Please see this post for an intro to my third-division coverage. In the first semifinal, Kawazoe, who eliminated Goshima in the quarterfinals, took care of his heya-mate and fellow Ms60TD debutant Fukuzaki, but not before a monoii and a torinaoshi redo. In the second semifinal, Oshoryu had an easier time defeating Akua. So the two former hot prospects, both coming back from injury, will face off for the yusho on day 13. Neither is ranked anywhere near high enough to earn promotion to Juryo even with a 7-0 record, but on the line is a coveted spot in the promotion zone (Ms1-Ms5) in May.
Speaking of the promotion zone, five rikishi still have a mathematical shot at Juryo, and we finally have our first kachi-koshi records. The promotion order is roughly as follows: Ms1e Miyagi (3-3) if he wins, Ms1w Ishizaki (3-3) if he wins, Ms3w Mudoho (4-2), Ms2e Daiamami (3-3) if he wins, Ms4w Mita (4-2). If Daiamami wins, he’d leapfrog Mudoho if the latter loses. The same goes for Mita. So anyone on this list could still end up first in the promotion queue. I expect them to take on endangered Juryo rikishi down the stretch. On that note, injury victim J12w Kiryuko is certain to go down, absent J2w Kitanowaka is likely to join him depending on the number and strength of the promotion cases, and J14e Otsuji (3-8) now has a borderline-demotable record. Several others still need one or two wins to reach safety, but two or three exchanges seem likely.
Down in Sandanme, former Ozeki Asanoyama is 6-0. The other undefeated record belongs to his stablemate Asagyokusei. Since they can’t face each other in regulation, they will be given 5-1 opponents instead. If only one of them goes 7-0, he takes the yusho. If both do, they’ll face each other in a playoff on senshuraku. If neither wins, we’ll get a playoff among all the 6-1’s.
Come back on day 13 to find out who took the Makushita yusho and for other lower-division updates.
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Oshoryu – Kawazoe as the final duel pleases me – after some less enjoyable turns in the race.
Ms27 versus Ms39! Makushita is ridiculous and I love everything about it. The promotion line to Juryo is as clogged as I expected it to be. Because he’s makekoshi, what’s “borderline” about Otsuji getting demoted? Also, am I correct that both Tsurugisho and Wakanosho have to lose every match they have left in order to be considered for demotion? I think I have my banzuke math right, but I want to be sure.
If he finishes 7-8 he could slide half a rank to the 14w position, or possibly even stay where he is at depending on what is happening around him.
Like @Oelber said, 7-8 form J14 (and recently even 6-9!) does not guarantee demotion. I think Tsurugisho and Wakanosho need two more wins for definite safety; 5-10 from J11 would definitely put them in the demotion conversation, and their fate would come down to how everything else plays out.
To split hairs Otsuji of course doesn’t have a borderline demotable record, but it’s the best he can even reach yet.
still remember then Motobayashi and now Oshoryu being such a bringht prospect starting his career with 24 straight wins,but then kinda dissapearing after his name change. Quite an interesting final.
If he finishes 6-1 this basho and puts on a 6-1 record next time, does Enho stand a chance of going back to Juryo?
No, he’ll be ranked around Ms11 next time, so he’ll need a 7-0 for promotion (might be tough with Asanoyama back in Makushita), but a good score (5-2 or better?) in May would set him up for a promotion push in July.
Ok, thanks. It makes sense, especially considering the fact there aren’t as many spots in Juryo as Makushita.