Torikumi
Banzuke
Public League Leaderboard
Yusho Arasoi
8 Wins
Yokozuna East Terunofuji
Maegashira #2 West Ichinojo
Maegashira #6 West Tobizaru
Maegashira #8 West Nishikigi
7 Wins
Ozeki #1 East Takakeisho
Maegashira #2 East Kotonowaka
Maegashira #17 East Nishikifuji
Notable Maneuvers
Hikkake. Hokutofuji was being pushed right out by Aoiyama, so he pulled the desperation move of grabbing Aoiyama's arm to move him past. It's not a throw, but an "arm-grabbing force out," and as Hokutofuji shows, it can sometimes work.
Match of the Day
Komusubi East Hoshoryu versus Maegashira #2 East Kotonowaka
Hoshoryu latched on with a firm right hand grip on Kotonowaka's mawashi from the start and did the difficult "grab-and-shift." Kotonowaka wanted to get a head on grappling match, but Hoshoryu didn't get straight on. Despite Kotonowaka beginning to wrap up Hoshoryu, the Komusubi kept his grip. That meant he was able to use a kakenage when Kotonowaka began to move him.
Recap
The losses by Nishikifuji and Kotonowaka thinned out the yusho arasoi a tiny bit, but there are still four wrestlers at 8-2. Terunofuji is where he is supposed to be as the lone Yokozuna. Ichinojo has picked himself back up and was able to manhandle Tamawashi after the veteran gave him all he had. Those two both look fairly strong. For Tobizaru and Nishikigi, they are likely happy to have secured a kachi-koshi and are now seeing how far up the Banzuke they can rise for September.
Lurking at 7-3 is Takakeisho. The Ozeki has not shown the power to blow someone off the dohyo at the tachiai this basho, and he is still extremely vulnerable for any kind of extended match. Yet he has also been able to use his tsuppari and rhythm to upset plans his opponents have. On Day Ten, he popped Daieisho upright and then repeatedly hit him as he went back. It might not be as beautiful as a throw, but it works as well to disrupt what the other guy wants to do.
Tobizaru will jump up to face Takakeisho on Day Eleven, and that could be the end of Tobizaru's yusho threat. Takakeisho also controls his future somewhat, since he still needs to face Terunofuji. Nishikigi, meanwhile, will see the 6-4 veteran Myogiryu. Presumably, he too will face a Sanyaku opponent or someone else tougher if he wins on Day Eleven. The winnowing of the yusho race will happen thanks to the schedule over the next few days.
7-3 is also not out of the running on Day Ten, especially when all rikishi have a few blemishes. Kotonowaka couldn't handle Hoshoryu, who was in his best form on Day Ten. Kotonowaka could still win out. Terunofuji is the best rikishi in sumo right now. He is also not fully fit, and he has labored through his wins. Terunofuji could certainly drop at least one more match. They will possibly land on an even record after 15 matches.
That is the fun scenario, of course, and a playoff is more likely when no one is running away with things. There is no guarantee of a playoff, however. The schedulers' main task is settling everything within fifteen matches, which often happens by putting contenders against each other. That makes a fun last five days, even if we don't get bonus sumo on Day Fifteen.
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