As expected, Chiyonokuni has gone kyujo following the knee injury he sustained during his Day 10 match with Ikioi. He has been prescribed two weeks rest and treatment for left knee ligament damage. This is a very disappointing turn of events, as Chiyonokuni was having his best tournament since his fantastic 12-3 performance last May. However, with 8 wins Chiyonokuni has secured his position for the Haru Basho and won’t have to worry about how far he’ll drop down the rankings. Chiyonokuni’s Day 11 opponent Abi will pick up a fusen win.
[Update] Down in Juryo, Takanosho has bowed out of the Hatsu Basho for a second time due to a nagging knee injury he sustained on Day 2. He has submitted a medical form to the NSK for one month of treatment due to a right anterior cruciate ligament injury.
[Update] Completing the trio of Day 10 victims is Kotoyuki, who has also gone kyujo. According to his medical form, Kotoyuki is suffering from a right femor contusion and right leg joint lateral ligament damage. His Day 11 opponent Daieisho will get a much-needed walkover win.
We at Tachiai hope Chiyonokuni, Takanosho, and Kotoyuki make full recoveries.
At the start of act 3, there has been little material change in the leaderboard, with the exception of Chiyonokuni picking up his second loss, and sustaining a knee injury at the end of his match with Ikioi. As Chiyonokuni is already kachi-koshi, we expect him to be kyujo for the remainder of Hatsu. That would leave Tamawashi 2 wins behind, and relegate the yusho question to if Hakuho will go 15-0 again.
On the topic of Hakuho, he reached his “Yokozuna kachi-koshi” on day 10, racking up his 10th win of the tournament, and his 28th consecutive win counting all tournaments. For a rikishi of 33 years, that is bordering on the unbelievable. Fans are still waiting for what could be this tournament’s ultimate test-match: Hakuho vs Takakeisho. We expect that to happen before Saturday, and may represent the best outlier chance of putting dirt on “The Boss”
Yokozuna Hakuho (10-0) leads by 2 over Sekiwake Tamawashi and M15 Chiyonokuni. The latter was injured today and seems likely to withdraw, ending his dark-horse campaign. Hakuho will face returning Komusubi Mitakeumi tomorrow, most likely followed by a pivotal bout against Tamawashi on Day 12. The Yokozuna has prevailed in all 13 of their prior meetings.
Kadoban Watch
Takayasu (5-5) needs to pick up three victories in five days, starting with his bout against Okinoumi tomorrow. His remaining opponents include Mitakeumi, Hakuho, and Goeido, plus one rank-and-filer (Aoiyama?). Goeido (4-6) needs four more victories against a lineup of Aoiyama, Takakeisho, Hakuho, Takayasu, and a maegashira opponent (Chiyotairyu?). Who makes it and who doesn’t could come down to the Ozeki clash on Day 13.
Takakeisho’s Ozeki Run
The Sekiwake’s promotion hopes took a hit today with his third loss (to Takayasu). He can probably only afford one more. The good news is that he’s fought most of his upper-rank opponents already, with only Goeido and Hakuho still to face. But his bout against Hokutofuji tomorrow is must-win, as are his remaining maegashira matchups (Kotoshogiku and Okinoumi?).
The Sanyaku
Tamawashi has successfully defended his Sekiwake rank with today’s victory, and Takakeisho needs one more win to do so. Struggling Myogiryu needs four victories to stay Komusubi, but has only Tamawashi plus maegashira opponents still to face. Mitakeumi needs three, but has much the tougher fight card as a result of his absence: probably Hakuho, Takayasu, Tochiozan, Ichinojo, and Nishikigi. Ichinojo is currently first in line for any open slots, followed closely by Hokutofuji.
Makuuchi Turnover
If the tournament ended today, Daishomaru and Daiamami would be going down (and both are near-certain to do so in the end), while Terutsuyoshi, Ishiura, Chiyomaru, and Toyonoshima would be coming up. More slots could be opened by Kotoyuki, Kagayaki, and Chiyoshoma, who need strong finishes to avoid putting their top-division fates in the hands of the banzuke committee.
Day 11 brings a full spread of our lower division “Ones to Watch” with 7 matches across Sandanme and Makushita, with many of today’s matches deciding make / kachi koshi. We are likely not going to see Ura again at Hatsu, following re-injury to his right knee. Wakamotoharu is looking likely to join his brother in Juryo for March, and Ichiyamamoto is on track to climb closer to the top of the Makushita “wall”.
Wakamotoharu vs Tochihiryu – Wakamotoharu is in the thick of the yusho race with a 5-0 record, and a likely promotion to Juryo in the balance. His opponent, Tochihiryu, is a former Juryo man himself, and is looking for a path back to the salaried ranks.
Akua vs Daiseido – The loser of this 2-3 bracket match will walk away with a make-koshi today. Akua’s hope to return to Juryo are likely on hold for now, but he still needs to overcome Daiseido to remain in the hunt for promotion after Osaka.
Ichiyamamoto vs Kairyu – A 4-1 bracket match, both rikishi already kachi-koshi, so this is all about fighting for rank in March. Kairyu is a former Makushita yusho winner, and a veteran of 52 basho at this rank. This will be a fierce match.
Hoshoryu vs Kizenryu – There are plenty of indications that Hoshoryu was rattled by the outcome of his match with Ura, that saw the fan favorite hauled away in a wheel chair after re-injuring his right knee. The winner of today’s match will lock in their kachi-koshi, so we hope that Hoshoryu can set aside his worries and gamberize.
Wakatakamoto vs Obamaumi – Another 3-2 bracket match with kachi-koshi on the line. The lowest ranked Onami brother faces off against Sakaigawa’s Obamaumi, who had to re-start his career after an injury.
Musashikuni vs Masutoo – A 2-3 bracket match, where the loser will be make-koshi for Hatsu. Musashikuni had a tough start, but has rallied and won his last 2 matches. If he can win out the rest of the tournament, he can still end Hatsu with a winning record.
Naya vs Amanoshima – Naya looked less than awesome day 10, and now he finds himself in the 2-3 bracket working to avoid make-koshi and a return to Sandanme. As the last man on the Makushita banzuke, he is most certainly on the bubble.
Shoji vs Tagonofuji – The second Musashigawa rikishi on our list today (Wakaichiro has the day off), Shoji is already kachi-koshi, and going for more promotion points today. His opponent is Tagonoura heya’s Tagonofuji, who has settled in to being a Sandanme mainstay.
