We're at the strategic point of the basho. New styles have been scouted, which means counters have been devised. Also, small nicks are showing themselves.
M16e Daishoho (3-3) wins by uwatedashinage over M15w Kotoeko (4-2)
Daishoho kept himself right on Kotoeko, doing his best to not let Kotoeko's superior speed come to bear. It took a while, but Daishoho eventually won with a very nice pulling overarm throw.
M17e Chiyoshoma (3-3) wins by sukuinage over M14e Tokushoryu (2-4)
Chiyoshoma's wild, desperate sumo is always more effective than it should be, and it probably helps Tokushoryu hasn't seen much of him recently.
M16w Ishiura (2-4) wins by yorikiri over M13e Chiyomaru (3-3)
In today's proof of size not being everything, the much smaller (but stronger pound for pound) Ishiura got below Chiyomaru's mass. That made the physics work much more in Ishiura's favor.
M13w Sadanoumi (3-3) wins by yorikiri over M15e Terutsuyoshi (2-4)
Sadanoumi has figured out Terutsuyoshi's desire to do something clever, as many others might have. Sadanoumi just went with straightforward sumo and won by yorikiri.
M14w Enho (5-1) wins by uwatehineri over M12w Yago (3-3)
Yago tried to counter tricky sumo with straight ahead sumo, but Enho knows how to stall that kind of match. With his head in Yago's gut forever, Enho began attempting trips and throws. Finally, despite it being called a "twisting overarm throw," Enho got the win by grabbing Yago's mawashi and launching himself into the middle of Yago's torso to force him down.
M11w Tochiozan (4-2) wins by hatakikomi over M12e Shimanoumi (2-4)
Shimanoumi was perhaps too intense trying to win this, as Tochiozan eventually found it way too simple to step back and pull him down.
M9e Nishikigi (2-4) wins by oshidashi over M11e Shohozan (3-3)
These two had two matches for the price of one. After a matta, the match was called for Shohozan after a solid battle and a throw right at the edge. There wasn't much between the two, so the judges got together and called for a torinaoshi. In the rematch, Nishikigi rather easily bundled Shohozan's arms and sent him out.
M9w Tomokaze (4-2) wins by hatakikomi over M10e Kagayaki (1-5)
This match continued Kagayaki's unfortunate basho, as he got off balance from the start and Tomokaze quite easily slapped him down.
M10w Onosho (3-3) wins by oshidashi over M8w Asanoyama (5-1)
Onosho drew first blood on Asanoyama. Despite it being a short match, there was plenty of strategy here. Onosho launched himself right at Asanoyama's left arm, preventing the left hand grip that had worked so effectively the first five days.
M8e Kaisei (3-3) wins by oshidashi over M6w Yoshikaze (2-4)
Kaisei still looks somewhat wobbly, but his massive bulk was enough to withstand a less than effective Yoshikaze.
M5e Myogiryu (2-4) wins by oshidashi over M7e Shodai (4-2)
Myogiryu took on Shodai's unpredictable, reactionary sumo by just getting straight into him, which steadily pushed him out.
M5w Ryuden (4-2) wins by uwatenage over M7w Meisei (2-4)
Under the general rule that the longer a match goes on, the more it favors Ryuden, this one saw a series of small adjustments that led Ryuden to be able to toss Meisei aside.
M6e Takarafuji (4-2) wins by oshidashi over M4w Abi (4-2)
Abi's vicious two-hand thrust at the start initially worked, but Takarafuji decided just to deflect until he found an opening. Then he turned Abi slightly to the side, which allowed Takarafuji to push Abi out at the edge.
M2e Endo (2-4) wins by uwatedashinage over M4e Okinoumi (1-5)
Endo launched himself into Okinoumi with the kind of force, if not skill, that threw Okinoumi out of sorts. Probably not a good overall strategy, but effective on the day.
M1e Hokutofuji (2-4) wins by oshidashi over K1e Aoiyama (1-5)
Hokutofuji won the way he usually wants to, by getting up and under Aoiyama with his hands and landing a nodowa. It helped that Aoiyama had no ability to push back with whatever is happening with his mobility.
K1w Mitakeumi (4-2) wins by yorikiri over M1w Kotoshogiku (2-4)
Mitakeumi is so quietly effective at his best that his skill can be underappreciated. He quickly got inside and low, then put his arms under Kotoshogiku's, making the force out extremely simple.
S1w Tochinoshin (6-0) wins by yorikiri over S1e Ichinojo (2-4)
The match of the day, and an easy match of the basho candidate. Tochinoshin and Ichinojo had the same game plan, and ended up in mirrored left-hand outside, right-hand inside grips. For a long while, they were leaning on each other looking for openings. Ichinojo had the first one, and attempted a throw, but Tochinoshin held firm and used it to get the advantage to force the big Mongolian out.
M3w Tamawashi (3-3) wins by okuridashi over O1w Takayasu (3-3)
Takayasu is out of sorts, and has been easily stood up with a hard shove. Unfortunately for him, he faced a rikishi with a powerful hard shove and was too easily defeated.
M3e Chiyotairyu (2-4) wins by hikiotoshi over O1e Goeido (3-3)
Chiyotairyu barely had to work, as Goeido came out too hard charging and easily set up a pull down.
Y1w Kakuryu (6-0) wins by hatakikomi over M2w Daieisho (3-3)
A Kakuryu slap down is not unusual, but it is worth pointing out that Daieisho got him to the very edge before Kakuryu stepped aside and sent him to the clay and outside the ring.
Comments