Kyushu 2022 Day Ten

Yusho Arasoi

9 wins 05 Sekiwake #1 West Hoshoryu 36 Maegashira #13 West Oho

8 wins 11 Maegashira #1 East Takayasu 20 Maegashira #5 West Nishikifuji

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Notable Manuevers

Henka. Chiyoshoma did a flying sidestep, which didn't work initially. Takarafuji grabbed him easily out of the air, and then seemed to have control. Fortunately for Chiyoshoma, Takarafuji has lost his power to move anyone so Chiyoshoma won anyway.

Match of the Day

Ozeki East Takakeisho versus Komusubi #1 West Kiribayama

It wasn't a pretty match, but Takakeisho and Kiribayama had an interesting one. Kiribayama withstood the initial shove, then tried to work on some kind of grip. Takakeisho successfully blocked that, but he also had to move backwards and Kiribayama seemed to have an advantage. Instead, Takakeisho reloaded and went extremely hard after Kiribyama, sending the Komusubi out and laying himself out on the dohyo.

Recap

Hoshoryu and Oho remain the leaders. Oho pretty easily handled Aoiyama, while Hoshoryu took Shodai's difficult defensive sumo and overran it. They both absolutely deserve to maintain their spots in the yusho race. Right behind them are Takayasu and Nishikifuji, who also both won in impressive ways. Takayasu just blasted back Tobizaru, while Nishikifuji redirected the much bigger Ichinojo.

The yusho race will be further clarified on Day Eleven, because Takayasu and Nishikifuji face each other. The two have never squared off before, and they'll see each other deep in a basho where they are each trying to stay one loss back from the leaders. This should be a good one. Whatever happens, the 2-loss group will be inhabited by just one of them. A two-win gap is not impossible to overcome with four days, but it's fairly difficult.

Hoshoryu and Oho are by no means guaranteed to hang on to a one-loss record. Oho gets a test in Abi, who is on a two-match losing streak but was with these men before that. He is also just a difficult customer. Oho has been better than ever this basho, but dealing with Abi's combination of hard thrusting and tawara dancing is different. Oho may be a slight favorite based on recent performance, but it could be a good one.

Hoshoryu's slate is less difficult by opponent record, but he's beginning to churn through the top ranks. He got Shodai on Day Ten, and moved the Ozeki one step closer to losing his rank. He gets the former Ozeki Mitakeumi on Day Eleven, one day after Mitakeumi guaranteed he would not return to Ozeki, Hoshoryu should win, but it feels wrong to discount Mitakeumi. In his final four matches, Hoshoryu needs to see Takakeisho and Wakatakakage. Takakeisho is still alive in the yusho race and looks hungry. Wakatakakage may be on his second basho of an Ozeki run if he can scratch out 10 wins.

And the other two matches for Hoshoryu will likely be Oho and Nishikifuji if they keep winning as well. (He has already faced Takayasu, who gave him his one loss.) The Kyushu basho is entering the official closing kick. The schedulers can help decide the yusho race better now than they could before. Any match featuring Hoshoryu, Oho, Takayasu, Nishikifuji, and Takakeisho will impact the yusho race. Buckle in.