The basho is coming down to it, and, theoretically, the yusho race could have ended on Day Thirteen. It didn't, but that means it also could end very easily on Day Fourteen. In fact, just to have a playoff, Shodai or Asanoyama must win both of their final matches, while Hakuho loses both of his. The first scenario is likely for at least one (although there's also a chance they see each other on Day Fifteen), but the second scenario is hard to fathom.
J1e Azumaryu (9-4) wins by sokubiotoshi over M15e Daishomaru (4-9)
Daishomaru came into this match with a chance of saving his Maegashira rank for January. Instead, he got so out of sorts Azumaryu got the win by "head chop down," or in other words the one thing Azumaryu could hit while Daishomaru went down was the back of his head.
M10e Shimanoumi (5-8) wins by tsukiotoshi over M14w Nishikigi (3-10)
Nishikigi once again gets rolled over, even by Shimanoumi, who has looked less than indomitable this basho. Nishikigi will get a hard fall into Juryo.
M9w Yutakayama (8-5) wins by oshidashi over M15w Daishoho (3-10)
Yutakayama achieves his kachi-koshi, guaranteeing a better rank for January. Daishoho is the third of the bottom tier Makuuchi rikishi whose Juryo status for January is set.
M9e Kotoshogiku (5-8) wins by kimedashi over M11e Ishiura (7-6)
Kotoshogiku pulled out the best strategy against Ishiura: just grab him as soon as possible in any way you can. From there, it was fairly academic.
M8w Sadanoumi (7-6) wins by yorikiri over M13w Kagayaki (8-5)
Kagayaki had the advantage early, but Sadanoumi was able to redouble his efforts and get one win away from kachi-koshi.
M8e Shohozan (8-5) wins by oshidashi over M13e Chiyomaru (8-5)
Shohozan got a big roar from the hometown crowd when he got his kachi-koshi with a forceful win over Chiyomaru.
M14e Terutsuyoshi (8-5) wins by tsukiotoshi over M7w Kotoeko (4-9)
Terutsuyoshi buried his head and took the fight to Kotoeko, who has had two losing streaks wrapped around a much shorter winning streak in Kyushu. Terutsuyoshi gets his kachi-koshi.
M11w Chiyotairyu (7-6) wins by yorikiri over M7e Tsurugisho (5-8)
As is his wont, Chiyotairyu was all power against Tsurugisho. This gave Tsurugisho a make-koshi, while putting Chiyotairyu one win away from securing a winning record.
M10w Shodai (10-3) wins by yoritaoshi over M6w Enho (6-7) Shodai, who is excellent at reacting to his opponent and has surprising strength, is a bad matchup for Enho. Shodai let Enho go underneath, but caught him in a sort of bizarre reverse half nelson. After that, Shodai seemed to realize he could lift 100 kg and carried Enho to the end, where he still needed an extra shove.
M6e Onosho (7-6) wins by tsukiotoshi over M12w Takanosho (8-5)
Remarkably, Onosho wasn't the one who lost his feet in this match.
M5w Ryuden (6-7) wins by yorikiri over M5e Aoiyama (6-7)
Ryuden bottled up Aoiyama to make this a grappling contest, which was always going to favor him.
M1w Okinoumi (6-7) wins by uwatenage over M2w Meisei (5-8)
These two locked grips on each other nearly instantly, then both attempted a series of throws. They were rather comically mirrored for awhile, but then both went over the tawara in spectacular fashion in an almost synchronized way. The gyoji initially gave it to Meisei, but a mono-ii was called and it was determined Meisei's arm was down a fraction of a second before Okinoumi's to give Meisei a make-kosho.
M1e Daieisho (7-6) wins by oshidashi over M2e Myogiryu (6-7)
Daieisho got his inside position on Myogiryu and thrusted for the victory from there.
K2w Asanoyama (10-3) wins by oshidashi over M4w Kotoyuki (6-7)
Asanoyama wins again by moving forward more consistently. The match was more interesting than that because Kotoyuki did his mad scramble to avoid going out, but it didn't work.
M4e Tamawashi (7-6) wins by oshidashi over K2e Hokutofuji (5-8)
Hokutofuji has been moving all kinds of directions for this whole basho. Here, Tamawashi fought back from an initial pushing battle, which caused Hokutofuji to get completely off balance and nearly running sideways off the dohyo. Hokutofuji make-koshi, meaning he's a Maegashira again come January.
K1w Endo (6-7) wins by yorikiri over M3e Takarafuji (5-8)
This was a surprisingly weirdness-free win from Endo, who rather easily took Takarafuji out.
O2e Takakeisho (9-4) wins by tsukidashi over S1e Mitakeumi (6-7)
Not that anymore evidence was needed that Mitakeumi is out of sorts, but Takakeisho didn't even need his full tsuppari attack for this win.
Y1w Hakuho (12-1) wins by oshidashi over K1e Abi (7-6)
Hakuho maintains a two win margin over his closest competitors. Abi never really got the kind of attack in he was looking for and Hakuho redirected him. At the end, Abi fell off the dohyo, with Hakuho jumping down to get face to face in a very strange ending.
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