Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr.
Yusho Arasoi
8 Wins
09 Komusubi West Onosato
28 Maegashira #10 East Shonannoumi
41 Maegashira #16 West Takarafuji
7 Wins
03 Ozeki #1 West Kotozakura
11 Maegashira #1 West Daieisho
19 Maegashira #5 West Meisei
23 Maegashira #7 West Mitakeumi
25 Maegashira #8 West Kotoshoho
35 Maegashira #13 West Churanoumi
37 Maegashira #14 West Oshoma
Notable Maneuvers
Uwatedashinage. Hoshoryu read exactly what Onosho wanted to do, shifted ever so slightly to the right and reached his arm around to the back of Onosho's mawashi. Immediately, Hoshoryu unleashed the decisive throw.
Match of the Day
Takayasu looked like the Ozeki in this one, in particular since Kotozakura decided to put his hands down first. (Probably to avoid the kind of staredown that Takayasu had with Hoshoryu the previous day.) They exploded into each other, and then they pushed for awhile before locking up. That should have favored Kotozakura, except that Takayasu apparently has his old strength. The former Ozeki took the current Ozeki to the edge, where Kotozakura held things up. Then Takayasu put his leg under Kotozakura's to tip him over first.
Recap
By winning on Day Ten, Onosato, Shonannoumi, and Takarafuji all stayed in a tie for the yusho race. They also all secured a kachi-koshi. That's an important milestone for each man. Onosato will stay in Sanyaku, with a good chance of taking a Sekiwake slot next time. Shonannoumi will go back up the Banzuke again, looking to prove he belongs in upper Mageashira. Takarafuji will stay in Makuuchi for at least one more basho.
Of course, none of them will want to stay at 8 Wins and will be looking for more. One of them, however, is guaranteed to stay at 8 after Day Eleven, because the schedulers have put Shonannoumi and Takarafuji against each other. That narrowing of the yusho race is what the Torikumi makers are required to do, and odds are the winner of that match see Onosato on Day Twelve. Quite possibly, those two rikishi are already penciled in as Onosato's Day Twelve and Thirteen matchups.
The schedule might not need to create such matchups to have leaders fall away. Takayasu sure seems to be doing the job on his own. In matches he has actually competed in for Natsu, he is undefeated against Wakamotoharu, Onosato, Hoshoryu, and Kotozakura. He only has four wins because he had to sit out. Kotozakura went chest-to-chest with Takayasu, and all he got for it was a return to the group one win off the pace. There are six rikishi with him in that pack.
Don't discount the chances of anyone in that seven man group. They all just need small slip ups from Onosato and the winner of Shonannoumi-Takayasu to be right back in it. On an individual level, they all face quite long odds. There is an absolute pile, and limited chances to be the stand out from the other contenders. Daieisho has faced almost everyone above him on the Banzuke. Kotozakura's final day is likely going to be Hoshoryu, and everything else should be built around that. Some matches are limited.
But the 7-3 group is also large enough to allow some eliminator matches. Kotozakura sees Meisei, Churanoumi battles MItakeumi, and Oshoma faces Kotoshoho on Day Eleven. The people with realistic chances will be lessened greatly on Day Eleven. But all of that was set up by a Kotozakura loss, Mitaekumi's possible foot injury, and Kotoshoho standing on a seven match win streak. Meanwhile, Ura is not in the conversation after starting 6-0. Things can change quickly in a basho, and we are getting into the final phase.
Comments