Haru 2023 Day Thirteen

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Yusho Arasoi

11 wins 08 Komusubi #2 East Daieisho

10 wins 05 Sekiwake #2 East Kiribayama 06 Komusubi #1 East Wakamotoharu 19 Maegashira #5 West Midorifuji

Notable Maneuvers

Okuridashi. Kiribayama took it to Endo so strong after a matta that he turned Endo around and manhandled him out like a bouncer taking care of a guy he saw act up after a final warning.

Match of the Day

19 Maegashira #5 West Midorifuji versus 04 Sekiwake #1 West Hoshoryu

Hoshoryu's job on Day Thirteen was to play spoiler, and he appeared to be in a spoiling mood. The match was almost over from the jump, as the Sekiwake whipped out a wrenching throw that twisted Midorifuji around. Midorifuji kept himself upright, though, which meant these two got in a fierce mawashi battle. Both men seemed to have their arms in odd, interlocked positions, while Hoshoryu spent much of the match with his right leg between Midorifuji's legs. To Midorifuji's credit, he withstood a few tripping attempts. In the end, Hoshoryu won with the kind of shitatenage he tried at the beginning of the match.

Recap

It is now Daieisho's chance to be the sole leader. With just two days left, he is the only one who controls his own destiny. He overwhelmed Meisei with no fuss to gurantee some possession of the lead. Midorifuji's loss made him the only two loss rikishi. On Day Fourteen, he will finally see Midorifuji with the chance to fully end Midorifuji's yusho hopes. That essentially guarantees his final match will be with Kiribayama.

That could be a yusho decider, as Kiribayama is one off the pace. He will see fellow Sekiwake Wakatakakage, who has no yusho shot but is fighting very well. He knocked Kotonowaka out of the running after a mono-ii and torinaoshi. The first match he seemed to lose, although the timing of when body parts hit clay proved difficult to determine. The second one he dominated, and that version of Wakatakakage could be trouble for Kiribayama. Kiribayama does have an 8-5 career advantage in their matchups and looked very strong on Day Thirteen.

The final rikishi in real contention is Wakamotoharu. He will face Hoshoryu on Day Fourteen, which is no easy feat. Hoshoryu holds the career advantage and seems to be putting the ankle issue he picked up in January behind him as the basho rolls on. If Wakamotoharu does win that clash, he has an interesting Day FIfteen. He's already faced Kiribayama, Daieisho, and Midorifuji and cannot face his brother and stablemate Wakatakakage in a regulation match. Presumably, his opponent is lined up to be Kotonowaka, but that could change if the Sadogatake-beya Scion falls to Endo on Day FIfteen.

The leaders aren't the only ones with something still to fight for over the final weekend. 10 wrestlers have yet to secure kachi-koshi or make-koshi, and they all will want to earn that important winning record. The leadership group are likely the ones in contention for a Special Prize, but two good wins could steal it for someone like the resurgent Shodai or newcomer Kinbozan. In sadder news, Mitoryu, Tsurugisho, Oho, Hokuseiho, and Azumaryu have yet to guarantee they will not be demoted to Juryo.

Daieisho's win and Midorifuji's loss seem to have clarified the yusho race, but this basho could have a lot more in store. Midorifuji's three straight losses have not left him for dead, and Daieisho will have two difficult matchups to get his second yusho. Kiribayama and Wakamotoharu also still have a shot. The final weekend could produce plenty of surprises still.