Nagoya 2023 Day Twelve

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Yusho Arasoi

10 Wins

09 Maegashira #1 East Nishikigi

26 Maegashira #9 West Hokutofuji

9 Wins

04 Sekiwake #1 East Hoshoryu

42 Maegashira #17 West Hakuoho

8 Wins

05 Sekiwake #1 West Daieisho

06 Sekiwake #2 West Wakamotoharu

07 Komusubi East Kotonowaka

36 Maegashira #14 West Shonnanoumi

37 Maegashira #15 East Ryuden

39 Maegashira #16 East Endo

Notable Maneuvers

Kotenage. Newcomer Shonannoumi felt something was off-balance early in his match, wrapped up Nishikigi's arm, and got the upset with the arm-lock throw. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.

Match of the Day

42 Maegashira #17 West Hakuoho versus 08 Komusubi West Abi

This match had three false starts, somewhat attributable to both rikishi and adding to the tension of the match. What that meant was they hit straight on at the tachiai, with Abi getting his two handed push at the jump. The debuting 19 year old Hakuoho barely went backwards. Abi then did all of his other tricks, from dancing sideways to reaching over the back to grab the back of the mawashi. Hakuoho handled those, but the way to handle those is spin around and get into Abi's chest. He did just that and fell with a hard thud on his already bandaged left shoulder as he won.

Recap

Shonannoumi sent Nishikigi to the clay, also sending him to two losses. That took away his position as sole leader, but Nishikigi was still guaranteed to be in a tie with the winner of the Hoshoryu-Hokutofuji bout in the penultimate slot on the match card. Hokutofuji pulled the upset, getting his first victory over Hoshoryu in six tries. More consequentially, he is at 10 wins with three matches left and share of the yusho lead.

Hoshoryu is tied for second place with the lowest rikishi on the Banzuke, Hakuoho. He is not tied with his fellow Sekiwake Daieisho and Wakamotoharu, who both lost. Daieisho was just plain dismissed by Tamawashi, while Wakamotoharu was overpowered by Kirishima. There's no real shame in either outcome, but these two were aiming for Ozeki. Their promotion chances are effectively done now, and Hoshoryu's are hanging by a thread. If he wins out, he's on 12 wins and almost certainly has a yusho or Jun-yusho. That means he can't slip up again.

On Day Thirteen, Hoshoryu will face Kirishima. After missing the first few days, the new Ozeki seems to be back in top form. Their career record is 7-6, and they have openly declared the other a rival. Their battle in the musubi no ichiban tomorrow should be good. It will also have immediate and long-term consequences. There's Hoshoryu's hopes for a yusho and a promotion at stake, but Kirishima needs to win two of his last three to avoid immediately going kadoban as an Ozeki. That's all on top of just wanting to beat a rival.

Being nineteen, debuting in Makuuchi, and sitting at Maegashira #17 West, Hakuoho is the odd man out of the leadership group. His yusho chances are slim, but not impossible. For one thing, his final trio of matches could be Nishikigi, Hokutofuji, and Hoshoryu. That puts his fate largely in his hands. On Day Thirteen, he gets Nishikigi and a chance to make a further dent in the yusho race. He wins that, the other leaders await. He loses and he's still got a shot at debuting with 10 wins before he turns 20.

Hokutofuji sees Endo on Day Thirteen. 3 of the 4 rikishi at 2 or 3 losses could win tomorrow, which would set up the further matches accordingly. Hokutofuji and Nishikigi have still not squared off, and that seems like a must. Hoshoryu gets Kirishima out of the way. The leading quartet are in position to have it settled between them. But also 3 of the 4 could lose on Day Thirteen. That would just create more possibilities and a wilder finish.