With eleven days gone in the Kyushu basho, the yusho race is thinning out. Largely, that is because everyone who is not at the top of the leaderboard keeps beating each other. Most rikishi are on the edge of getting kachi-koshi depending on their last four matches.
J3e Ikioi (8-3) wins by hatakikomi over M14e Terutsuyoshi (6-5)
Ikioi makes a return trip up to Makuuchi for a day and simultaneously almost guarantees he'll be here for good again in January. Ikioi looks fully healthy again, and his firm slap down over Terutsuyoshi shows he could succeed once again in the top division.
M15e Daishomaru (4-7) wins by oshidashi over M10e Shimanoumi (4-7)
Daishomaru avoids make-koshi for one more day, while also putting Shimanoumi one step closer. Daishomaru probably needs to win out to absolutely insure he doesn't go down to Juryo.
M9w Yutakayama (7-4) wins by oshidashi over M13e Chiyomaru (7-4)
Yutakayama prevents Chiyomaru's kachi-koshi on Day Eleven, while also getting closer to a kachi-koshi himself, by just keeping up a steady pushing attack.
M9e Kotoshogiku (3-8) wins by shitatenage over M11w Chiyotairyu (6-5)
Due to injuries and poor performance below him, Kotoshogiku is likely safe from demotion, but getting a solid throw on Chiyotairyu certainly helps the case.
M10w Shodai (8-3) wins by utchari wins by M8w Sadanoumi (6-5)
Shodai secures his kachi-koshi by spinning Sadanoumi over his shoulder with the desperation utchari, or "backward pivot throw." This is literally a kimarite that can only be given if the winner is at the edge.
M12w Takanosho (7-4) wins by oshidashi over M8e Shohozan (6-5)
Takanosho puts himself in solid position for kachi-koshi with a simple oshidashi win against Shohozan.
M11e Ishiura (6-5) wins by shitatenage over M7w Kotoeko (4-7)
Unusually for a sumo wrestler, Ishiura is at his best when moving sideways. He got Kotoeko spinning, which meant a throw was academic as soon as he got his hand on the back of Kotoeko's mawashi.
M13w Kagayaki (8-3) wins by oshidashi over M7e Tsurugisho (5-6)
Kagayaki gets a much needed kachi-koshi, his first in four basho, by continuing a no-nonsense pushing approach against Tsurugisho.
M6w Enho (6-5) wins by yorikiri over M15w Daishoho (2-9)
"Yorikiri" is a bit boring for this match, where Daishoho prevented Enho getting his submarine attack started, but Enho went side to side, creating a pushing heavy stalemate, which was only broken when Enho got sideways on Daishoho and grabbed his leg for the forceout. M4w Kotoyuki (5-6) wins by oshidashi over M14w Nishikigi (3-8)
Kotoyuki gives Nishikigi a quick loss, a make-koshi, and a likely ticket down to Juryo.
M4e Tamawashi (6-5) wins by tsukidashi over M6e Onosho (5-6)
Tamawashi simply ran over Onosho and might be setting up for a nice closing kick.
M1e Daieisho (6-5) wins by oshitaoshi over M2w Meisei (5-6)
Daieisho has had a quietly impressive basho, including a kinboshi against Hakuho, and he could make it even better with a few more wins.
M1w Okinoumi (5-6) wins by hatakikomi over K1e Abi (6-5)
This was an odd one. There was a false start, but then the one that counted sure looked like neither man had his hands down and Abi might have even been getting up. Whatever was going on, Abi never had his balance and went down in comical fashion.
K2w Asanoyama (9-2) wins by yorikiri over M3e Takarafuji (4-7)
Asanoyama keeps pace in the yusho race, while also perhaps putting him in line to complete an Ozeki run in January. He is just always looking to move forward, even when he doesn't perfectly get his grip.
M2e Myogiryu (5-6) wins by tsukiotoshi over K2e Hokutofuji (4-7)
Hokutofuji got out of position and Myogiryu made him pay, simple as that.
K1w Endo (5-6) wins by yorikiri over S1e Mitakeumi (5-6)
This might be weird to say, but Endo officially killed any hope of Mitakeumi getting an Ozeki promotion, which would have required Mitakeumi to win out. It was probably dead already. Either way, Endo way too easily disrupted Mitakeumi from the start and got him moving backwards.
O2e Takakeisho (8-3) wins by oshidashi over M5e Aoiyama (5-6)
Takakeisho did his straight ahead style of pushing hard at an opponent's chest, and Aoiyama has an ample chest to aim for.
Y1w Hakuho (10-1) wins by yorikiri over M5w Ryuden (4-7)
Credit to Ryuden for having a decent gameplan against Hakuho, trying to get in a back and forth mawashi battle. The problem is that Hakuho is just much stronger and more powerful than Ryuden.
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