Aki 2023 Day Thirteen

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Yusho Arasoi

10 Wins

03 Ozeki #1 West Takakeisho

38 Maegashira #15 East Atamifuji

9 Wins

05 Sekiwake #1 East Daieisho

22 Maegashira #7 East Takayasu

28 Maegashira #10 East Kinbozan

31 Maegashira #11 West Hokuseiho

Notable Maneuvers

Uwatenage. They classified Kirishima's powerful finish against Hoshoryu as an overarm throw, but the power he used to win meant it was also close to both a yorikiri and oshidashi.

Match of the Day

17 Maegashira #4 West Ura versus 11 Maegashira #1 West Meisei

Meisei did a good job of keeping Ura in front of him and pushing on center mass. Then Ura shifted his position and they kept doing it. The match went around the dohyo, but they were barely apart the whole time. Meisei would hit, then Ura would counter uncomfortably, including one time pushing into Meisei's throat with his left. Neither got an opening or really got shoved too close to the edge. Ura finally won by hikiotoshi when he finally combined a shift with a sideways hit.

Recap

Takakeisho showed Atamifuji that facing Ozeki is a different challenge than he's used to, no matter how well he's been performing. Takakeisho got his match going fairly easily, shoving up and hard on the taller Atamifuji. That actually led to a yorikiri win, although that was a yorikiri because Takakeisho was on Atamifuji as he shoved him out. These two are now your co-leaders at 10-2, with the best possible chance at a yusho.

They also both need to win their remaining two matches, then survive a playoff with each other. There is a quartet of rikishi at 9 wins who could be in an even wilder playoff scenario. They would need to not only win their last two bouts, but also hope both Takakeisho and Atamifuji drop at least one match. Still, that's not unreasonable for Daieisho, Takayasu, Kinbozan, and Hokuseiho. The real problem is that at 9-4, each of those rikishi have had streaky basho. Takayasu needs to arrest his slide, while Daieisho, Kinbozan, and Hokuseiho will be looking to extend win streaks.

None of that will matter if Takakeisho, Atamifuji, or both win out. The 9-win crew won't get a chance to put dirt on either leader on Day Fourteen. Takakeisho will see fellow Ozeki Hoshoryu, who is at 6-7 in his first basho at sumo's second highest rank. The Mongolian shin-Ozeki will be looking for eight wins and could pull out a whole range of tricks. The battle between Takakeisho and Hoshoryu after Atamifuji's clash with Takakeisho also means Takakeisho probably faces Kirishima on Day FIfteen. They are the two highest-ranked men on the Banzuke, and they were penciled in for that match from Day One.

The Ozeki round robin to end the basho places the strength of schedule advantage to Atamifuji. He is probably avoiding Kirishima and Hoshoryu, and his two match losing streak is to Daieisho and Takakeisho. Atamifuji will be seeing Abi on Day Fourteen, which could indicate he is done with Sanyaku opponents. Atamifuji has already beaten both Takayasu and Kinbozan this basho, so his final day opponent could be Hokuseiho in what would be a hugely impactful match between two huge, talented, and young rikishi.

Those are the only real scenarios for the yusho, and the most likely Emperor's Cup possibilities involve Takakeisho or Atamifuji. If Takakeisho wins it all, he is once again standing on the precipice of a Yokozuna promotion. If Atamifuji gets crowned, he'll be making history. And if it's anyone on nine wins right now, we're getting a wild final weekend.