Leaders (10-2): M1e Aonishiki, M15e Kotoshoho.
Chasers (9-3): Y1w Onosato, M8w Ichiyamamoto, M10e Atamifuji, M14e Kusano.
Lurking behind at 8-4 are yesterday’s chasers S1w Kirishima, K1w Takayasu, M4w Tamawashi, and M16w Mitakeumi, who all lost today, along with S2w Wakatakakage, M9e Ura, M11e Takanosho, and M12e Midorifuji, who all won. If you’re kachi-koshi, congratulations—you’re at least on the outskirts of the yusho race.
Key yusho race bouts tomorrow are as follows:
- Leaders vs chasers: Aonishiki vs. Ichiyamamoto and Kotoshoho vs. Onosato.
- Other chasers: Kusano vs. Kirishima and Atamifuji vs. Ozeki Kotozakura (7-5), who is one win from kachi-koshi and avoiding kadoban.
Among the others in the 8-4 group, Tamawashi and Takayasu go head to head; they’ve met a remarkable 39 times, with Takayasu holding a narrow 21-18 lead (not counting one fusen). This has to be way up there for the number of career meetings between two currently active rikishi. Wakatakakage gets Ura, while the others have been paired with 7-5 opponents.
Depending on what happens tomorrow, we could have anything from two leaders who are two wins clear of everyone else to a six-way tie at 10-3. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of the Nagoya yusho race!
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Thanks, Leonid – hoping for Aonishiki to be clear at the top!!
As strange as it may sound, it’s hard to see Aonishiki losing this. He is in the leader group, he has faced everyone above him and he has beaten every sanyaku rank. There is nobody hard that they can throw at him any more. No one seems to know how to beat him, other than experienced Takayasu. I thought Onosato was lucky because Aonishiki looked overwhelmed facing him. If he was Sekiwake he’d be certain of Ozeki promotion, he will be Sekiwake at next basho and if he continues this amazing record, Ozeki in Kyushu. It is really there for him to lose now.
I am a big Aonishiki fan, but he’ll have to wait for that ozeki promotion. The two basho at M15 and M9 don’t count at all, so this basho is at best the first in a run. And with Kirishima and WTK both KK, it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be sekiwake at Aki. Best-case scenario is Ozeki for Hatsu after strong performances at Aki and Kyushu.
I am excited to see what transpires. Aonishiki yusho would be amazing, but I also think more chaos would be also very fun. What a crazy basho!
Among the leaders and the chasers there are two rikishi who have met more than two joi.
These are of course Aonishiki and Onosato, the two current high-flyers of sumo (maybe Kusano will join them soon?). The other four have been fighting another tournament on a much lower level. Normally the „impostors“ should fall back now. Unfortunately (IMO) now and then they don’t and then we have an Abi yusho or something similar.
Let’s see if Aonishiki (or even struggling Onosato) will prevent such a glitch this time.
Aonishiki approach reminds me somehow of Aleksandr Karelin, the legend of Greco-roman wrestling. It will be interesting ti see if the top rikishi will adapt to such a relatively different style and learn how to fight him. Aside from the obvious athleticism, the key of Aonishiki success is in the footwork. It is almost impossible to push him down. My guess is that the big guys will just learn to keep him at a distance and push as strong and as fast as possible. Onosato’s victory is the blueprint. I am more interested to see how wakatakakage, hoshoryu, kitishima and the others relatively lightweight will solve the riddle.
Alright, why is Wakatakakage facing Ura tomorrow? Ura isn’t in the Yusho race, is he?!
Among the Leaders and Chasers, only Onosato has won Yusho.
So there is a good chance that we have a new first time champion this basho.
I am rooting for Kotoshoho to be the surprise winner.