We have two solid days of quality sumo ahead of us before we can find out who will take home the cup. I love that Shodai is going to face Hakuho and Terunofuji before day 15, and I am going to guess that both he and Takayasu will enter day 15 at 7-7. That would be a most impressive Darwin match indeed. But there is also a good chance they will give them both a bit softer opponents on the final day to give them an opportunity to hit 8 without having to eliminate each other.

Of course all eyes will be on the final two matches as the leaders rotate through the highest ranked opponents that still remain. The lack of Takakeisho and Asanoyama are now keenly felt, as they both held a special threat to our two leaders. But as we always say – You can only fight who shows up.

We may get to see a few kachi-koshi scores achieved today, and some rikishi heading home happy. But there are still a fair number of rikishi that are in the Darwin funnel, and run the risk of facing an elimination match on the final day. I am looking forward to day 15, it should be a stomping good time!

What We Are Watching Day 13

Kyokutaisei vs Tokushoryu – Kyokutaisei (7-5) is visiting today from Juryo, and a win today over Tokushoryu (4-8) would give him 8 wins, and render him promotable back to the top division in September. Kyokutaisei has a 6-3 career advantage, so a win today is not a long shot at all.

Tochinoshin vs Tsurugisho – Tochinoshin (4-8) has already hit 8 losses, and the question is how low he might fall in the September banzuke. He certainly might take a dip, but given the lack of promotable scores from Juryo, he’s probably safe in the top division for now. Tsurugisho (7-5) has one more win to reach his 8, and he will be fighting hard today.

Kaisei vs Ura – Ura (8-4) has been improving into week 2, and he is currently on a 4 match winning streak. With a 2-0 career lead over Kaisei, it may be 5 in a row before the day is done. Should Kaisei (5-7) lose today, it would be make-koshi for him.

Ichiyamamoto vs Terutsuyoshi – The winner today gets kachi-koshi, and its the first time that Ichiyamamoto (7-5) and Terutsuyoshi (7-5) have ever fought. Terutsuyoshi is on a 5 match winning streak, and Ichiyamamoto on a 3 match losing streak, so the advantage may be to Terutsuyoshi today. Both of them are mobile, aggressive and fit to fight.

Ishiura vs Shimanoumi – Another promotion match, where the winner gets kachi-koshi and the loser remains in the funnel for now. Shimanoumi (7-5) has a 5-2 career lead, I would give him an advantage over Ishiura (7-5) today, as he seems to have shaken off the week 1 ring rust.

Hidenoumi vs Chiyonoo – Both are square in the middle of the funnel with 6-6 scores, and the winner of today’s match has a chance to reach kachi-koshi. I think that Hidenoumi has been hitting harder this week, and I like his chances over Chiyonoo. They have a 14 match career record going back to 2015, with Hidenoumi having a narrow 8-6 lead. This is their first ever match in the top division.

Chiyonokuni vs Aoiyama – A win today would give Chiyonokuni (7-5) his kachi-koshi. Chiyonokuni has a healthy career lead (9-5), and would have the advantage in today’s match, even before we take into account that Aoiyama (4-8) is fighting like he is hurt. Big Dan has not really been able to fire up the V-Twin this July, and I hope he can bounce back strong and ready in September.

Takarafuji vs Tamawashi – Two long serving top division vets face off, with 26 career matches going back to 2011. Both are already kachi-koshi, healthy and fighting well. Will it be Tamawashi (9-3) dominating on attack, or Takarafuji’s (8-4) masterful defense blunting every move?

Kotonowaka vs Chiyoshoma – Chiyoshoma needs one more win to get to 8, but he’s never won in 5 tries against Kotonowaka (7-5). While I do enjoy a Chiyoshoma henka, I don’t think today is the day to let one fly. I would much rather see him use his agility and guile to put Kotonowaka (9-3) on the clay, in spite of his 30 kg disadvantage.

Myogiryu vs Chiyomaru – A battle of the damned, both are make-koshi and going to face demotion for September. I would guess Chiyomaru (4-8) is safe in the top division for now, as is Myogiryu (3-9). So this fight is all about rank at Aki.

Daiamami vs Chiyotairyu – Another pair the probably wish they could just get on the Shinkansen today and head home. Instead we get 3-9 Daiamami trying to overcome Chiyotairyu 2-10. I would guess both are hurt, and are hoping to muster a few wins before the end of day 15. For Daiamami, there is a real risk that he would get a score that would send him back to Juryo, unless he can rack up a few more wins.

Kagayaki vs Tobizaru – I don’t know what happened to Tobizaru (3-9). He was long on attitude and short on sumo, to be sure. But he should not be nursing a 3-9 record going into the final weekend. Likewise Kagayaki (5-7) has been make-koshi for 4 straight tournaments, and needs to get his sumo back from the cleaners. I think he left it stuffed in that bronze mawashi, which had better make a comeback in September.

Hoshoryu vs Ichinojo – Both are kachi-koshi, both are looking forward to promotion higher into the joi-jin on the next banzuke, both have 8-4 records to start the day, and both are from Mongolia. Thus the stage is set an interesting head to head match. Will Ichinojo matta at the start? Will Hoshoryu use a fancy leg trip? We can find out in just a few hours.

Takanosho vs Hokutofuji – Takanosho (6-6) is, sadly, part of the funnel group right now. He needs to win 2 of his last 3 to reach kachi-koshi, and one of his opponents is a fairly genki Hokutofuji (7-5) who wants his 8th win today. With a 4-2 career advantage, I fear Takanosho will remain in the funnel, and might be part of the Darwin group on Sunday.

Onosho vs Daieisho – Onosho needs to win all 3 of his remaining matches to reach kachi-koshi, a tall order to be certain. His day 13 opponent is Hatsu yusho winner Daieisho, who is suffering from a severe case of make-koshi. Onosho has a 10-6 career advantage, and I am fairly certain he will be heavily favored today, as Daieisho is clearly only at about 70% of his normal strength.

Kiribayama vs Meisei – Meisei (6-6) is also part of the funnel group, and needs to win 2 of the last 3 to reach the safety of 8 wins. Kiribayama (8-4) is already kachi-koshi, and I am curious if he is going to ease up at all, or keep blasting ahead and hoping for a steep promotion in September.

Wakatakakage vs Kotoeko – One last contest of the damned, both of these rikishi are likely to finish with deep, double digit make-koshi. Both of Wakatakakage (3-9) and Kotoeko (2-10) have had a string of unanswered losses this July. Kotoeko losing 9 in a row.

Okinoumi vs Mitakeumi – I would call this a funnel fight, as both of them are in the range for a day 15 Darwin match. A Mitakeumi (6-6) win today would make Okinoumi (5-7) make-koshi for July, sending the veteran to the middle of Maegashira for September.

Terunofuji vs Shodai – Surprisingly, Shodai (7-5) has a workable formula for beating Terunofuji (12-0). While the Kaiju holds a 7-4 career advantage on the clay, it’s still possible we may see Shodai’s cartoon sumo come into play. Shodai just needs a single win in the last 3 days to avoid kadoban for the 3rd time in his 5 tournament career as an Ozeki. Of course Terunofuji is looking for win 13 in his march to day 15, and a bid to assume sumo’s highest rank.

Hakuho vs Takayasu – Takayasu (7-5) fights bravely against Hakuho (12-0), but out of 22 fights, Takayasu has only won 2. I would guess the Boss is going to send Takayasu to his 6th loss, and set the stage for day 15.

With day 12 in the record books, there is no yusho contest remaining, save the one between undefeated leaders Hakuho and Terunofuji. There is no mathematical way that anyone can challenge them now, and its down to the working through their last 2 matches that lead to the final contest on day 15, the “Brawl to end it all”.

Highlight Matches

Chiyonokuni defeats Akua – Akua visits the top division from Juryo, and rapidly eats a pull down from Chiyonokuni. I would rather see Chiyonokuni win by beating his opponents into submission, but he is now 1 win from kachi-koshi, and who can argue with that? Chiyonokuni ends the day at 7-5, Akua at 6-6.

Tokushoryu defeats Chiyomaru – Chiyomaru gets a sturdy right hand inside grip against Tokushoryu, but can’t convert that to any kind of offense at all. Tokushoryu stands him up and what can only be described as “Dancing with the stars” leads Chiyomaru on a waltz to his make-koshi. Both end the day at 4-8.

Ura defeats Tochinoshin – The two clash a bit tentatively at the tachiai, and then Ura reverts to grab-and-tug sumo. His second attack finds something to latch with his iron grip, Tochinoshin’s left shoulder. With Ura now affixed his body, Tochinoshin put all of his focus on detatching the pink attacker, landing a strong shove with his free right hand. The shove topples Tochinoshin, and sends Ura in a twisting fall off the dohyo, but Tochinoshin was down first. Tochinoshin with 8 losses and make-koshi, while Ura is kachi-koshi for Nagoya. Welcome back to the top division, Ura. May you remain for a long string of tournaments.

Kagayaki defeats Daiamami – Daiamami opened strong, getting the better of the tachiai and landing a right hand inside grip. The hold shut down any hopes Kagayaki had of using his motion based thrusting attacks, and he was forced out of “his brand of sumo”. Eventually he was able to land his own grip, left hand outside, but it was not nearly enough to do much against the heavier Daiamami, but Kagayaki attacked anyhow. As Daiamami went to load a throw, Kagayaki collapsed his pivot and Daiamami hit the clay. Kagayaki improves to 5-7 and staves off make-koshi.

Kotonowaka defeats Kaisei – Kotonowaka lands a left hand outside grip at the tachiai, and at that point has control of the match. Kaisei works and works to get any kind of grip to even the advantage, but Kotonowaka blocks all attempts. Kotonowaka works his right hand inside, and the moment his right hand gets the smallest piece of Kaisei’s mawashi, he drops him with an uwatenage. Kotonowaka improves to 9-3.

Tamawashi defeats Ishiura – Ishiura looked to be in command of the match, he was inside at the tachiai, getting a double arm thrust against Tamawashi, and then rapidly landing a deep left hand grip. At the moment he seems in control, Ishiura takes a step back to pivot a throw, but loses that left hand grip. With perfect timing Tamawashi uses a single well placed shove to launch Ishiura over the bales. Tamawashi improves to 9-3.

Shimanoumi defeats Tsurugisho – Tsurugisho attempts a hit and shift at the tachiai. But its neither rapid nor energetic, and simply provides Shimanoumi a clear inside advantage. The remainder of the match is Shimanoumi attacking while Tsurugisho tries almost everything to set up a reasonable defense or pull to Shimanoumi off balance in an attempt to recover from his tachiai. Shimanoumi stays focused and moves Tsurugisho over the bales for the win. Both are 7-5 to end the day.

Takarafuji defeats Ichiyamamoto – Ichiyamamoto opened strong with a solid thrusting combo, and keeps up the pressure on Takarafuji who absorbs the attacks, slowly giving ground to Ichiyamamoto’s advance. It seems Ichiyamamoto decided that Takarafuji was vulnerable, and attempted a pull, which was just the signal Takarafuji needed to switch to offense, bringing Ichiyamamoto down for his 8th win. Takarafuji picks up a well deserved kachi-koshi, his first since January.

Chiyonoo defeats Aoiyama – Aoiyama opens strong, gets his hands inside and moves Chiyonoo back to the bales. Chiyonoo manages to rally, and I can only guess that Aoiyama decides to try to pull against Chiyonoo’s charge, and ends up out of the ring in a hurry. I can only guess that Aoiyama is nursing some injury, and it has caused his sumo to suffer this July. Chiyonoo improves to 6-6.

Terutsuyoshi defeats Chiyoshoma – Both men’s tachiai has an element of hit and shift to the right, but it fell short of the coveted double-henka that is the stuff of legends. Both are a bit surprised, with Terutsuyoshi re-focusing himself first and getting a right hand inside grip. Suddenly they both focus on leg picks and trips, trading them back and forth a few times before Terutsuyoshi gets a hold of Chiyoshoma’s left thigh and propels him out. Both are 7-5 to end the day. Kimarite is the seldom seen komatasukui, an “over thigh scooping body drop”.

Hidenoumi defeats Hoshoryu – Hidenoumi had the stronger tachiai with a right hand inside position as the two go chest to chest. At first Hoshoryu attempts to shift his hands, and loses precious territory to Hidenoumi, and attempts to pivot into a throw. But Hidenoumi steps inside Hoshoryu’s pivot, pinching him against the bales and throwing him down. Hidenoumi improves to 6-6.

Myogiryu defeats Chiyotairyu – This was an odd match for both of these guys, a hybrid thrusting, leaning contest that featured a few moments of probing attacks at the start, followed by a long stalemate. Chiyotairyu lost patience with the situation first, and attacked into a Myogiryu hatakikomi. It was a gamble which paid off for Myogiryu, netting him just his 3rd win for July, sending him to 3-9.

Takanosho defeats Tobizaru – Tobizaru catches a Takanosho stiff-arm at the tachiai in the throat, and never has a moment to do anything other than try to escape. Not really effective sumo from Tobizaru, but that is why he is 3-9 at the end of day 12. Takanosho improves to 6-6.

Hokutofuji defeats Ichinojo – Hokutofuji handshake tachiai gives him a momentary nodowa that he trades for a right hand inside grip. This grip seems to shut down most of any offensive options Ichinojo may have had, and was the fulcrum Hokutofuji used to move the Boulder around and eventually out. That’s win number 7 for Hokutofuji, who picks up a welcome kachi-koshi.

Daieisho defeats Kotoeko – Daieisho had the advantage for most of the match, and finally seems to have some poewr to his thrusting attacks. Sadly it comes when he is already deeply make-koshi at 3-9. He gets a good hit on Kotoeko as he was charging forward to drop him in a heap to improve to 3-9. Kotoeko now 2-10.

Onosho defeats Wakatakakage – Wakatakakage got good position in the tachiai, but Onosho was able to counter well with a right hand high, left hand low thrusting attack. In response Wakatakakage attempted a pull, but it cost him his balance. Two steps later, Onosho had him on the clay to pick up his 5th win and keep just above the make-koshi line.

Kiribayama defeats Takayasu – I was happy to see Takayasu lock Kiribayama up, and then engage his stamina to wear his opponent down. Kiribayama tried to rally a several times, just to find himself being cuddled to death by a hairy giant. As this wears on, is Takayasu getting tired? Inconceivable! Kiribayama rallies again and gets a right hand outside grip and throws everything he can into a final attack. It does seem that Takayasu is out of gas, and is sent out for a loss by an impressively persistent Kiribayama. A hard earned win number 8 for Kiribayama, and kachi-koshi for July.

Shodai defeats Okinoumi – Shodai employs textbook sumo to grapple and dispatch Okinoumi with minimal risk. Shodai improves to 7-5, and is blessedly unlikely to be kadoban in September.

Terunofuji defeats Meisei – Meisei does an excellent job of keeping Terunofuji from setting up any kind of grip, but has to endure Terunofuji repeatedly slapping him in the head instead. But it’s only delaying what we all know is coming, the Kaiju arm-bars Meisei, and tosses him from the ring. A perfect 12-0 for Terunofuji.

Hakuho defeats Mitakeumi – I loved watching Hakuho’s mechanics in this match. Every time Mitakeumi advances, Hakuho deflects his forward motion to teh side, rotating him and moving him closer to the tawara. It seems Mitakeumi had no real solution to this move, and in his two forward surges, he lost a lot of ground, simplifying Hakuho’s task of lifting and shifting him over the bales. Hakuho is also undefeated at 12-0.