Sumo Game: News

Makuuchi Yusho:	M18 Mmikasazuma (11-4; 107 points)
Juryo Yusho:	J2 Ketsukai (12-3; 117 points)
Makushita Yusho:	m49 Fatakiyama (12-3; 113 points)
Gino-sho:	M2 Heruwejima (9-6; 115 points) M6 Golynohana (10-5; 115 points)
Kanto-sho:	M18 Mmikasazuma (11-4; 107 points)
Shukun-sho:	not awarded

by Takanotaki, 2007/5/29

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 15

What a tournament! Hakuho goes zensho-yusho and manhandles Asashoryu on senshuraku! Very exciting stuff. Finally, what sumo has been begging for in a few years now...a rivalry between Yokozunas.

In Sumo Game, the winners in all three divisions have been determined. In Makunouchi, EM18 Mmikasazuma, with an 11-4 mark, walks away from the Natsu Basho with his first ever title. In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai was able to hold off EJ4 Misisko to pick up the yusho. Ketsukai will most likely get a nice boost up the ranks for the Nagoya Basho. In Makushita, the points total that Em49 Fatakiyama was able to accumulate over tournament proved to be to great for Em27 Kaiomitsuki in the end. Both wrestlers had identical records of 12-3 after 15 days but Fatakiyama wins the tie-break with 113 points to Kaiomitsuki's 107.

Please stay tuned for the announcement of special prizes for the Natsu Basho.

Thanks for playing and see everyone back in July!

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/29

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 14

On Day 14 of the Natsu Basho 2007 Hakuho picked up his third yusho of his career but most importantly, his second tournament title in a row. All that awaits now is an official announcement promoting him to the 69th Yokozuna and a new era of sumo will be upon us! It has been several years since sumo has had a two yokozuna rivalry so hopefully we will have some great basho's in the future.

In Sumo Game after 14 days, WM16 Zenjimoto and EM18 Mmikasazuma continue to fight for the Makunouchi yusho. A victory for one and a loss by the other will ensure the title outright. However, if they both win, then it would come down to a tie break based on total points. Zenjimoto has a sizable lead in points over Mmikasazuma, 107-102. If both should lose, then any of the 9 win wrestlers that pick up their 10th on senshuraku will automatically be considered in the tie break rounds. EM6 Golynohana who has been on the fringe all tournament long has 111 points and is in the best position for a come from behind yusho. EM5 Sashimaru has 108 points and is also a threat if the tie break becomes complicated.

In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai failed to pick up the yusho on day 14 after losing to EJ4 Misisko, the only other contender mathematically alive for the crown. As it stands now Ketsukai is 12-2 while Misisko is 11-3. A win by Ketsukai on senshuraku gives him the yusho while a loss and a score of only three points on the day would give him insurmountable lead in any tie-break with Misisko (assuming Misisko can improve his record to 12-3). On a final note, if Ketsukai can pick up 6 or more points on the final day, then he looks to break a record for Maximum Points in a Basho currently set at 119 by three competitors.

In Makushita, Em27 Kaiomitsuki is in control of his own destiny and can pick up the yusho with a win on day 15. With a loss by Kaiomitsuki followed by a win by either (or both) Em49 Fatakiyama or Wm54 Gusoyama then a tie break would be necessary in this division. Fatakiyama with 108 points has a big advantage over Gusoyama (103) and Kaiomitsuki (101).

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/27

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 13

After 13 days of the Natsu Basho 2007 Hakuho moved one step closer to Yokozuna promotion as he defeated Kotomitsuki in a very spirited bout while Asashoryu was handed his third loss in four days to Kaio. Only Dejima and Asasekiryu are mathematically alive for the yusho and, while they probably won't face Hakuho in any regular bouts, they could still force a playoff if Hakuho should lose his remaining matches.

In Sumo Game, EM18 Mmikasazuma emerged as sole leader going into the final weekend and now has a 10-3 record. He is followed by WM16 Zenjimoto at 9-4. Both wrestlers will get a big boost in the torikumi as both will face sanyaku regulars on day 14. In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai, who is now 12-1, continues his two match domination over the field as he won again on day 13. EJ4 Misisko (10-3) is continuing to put pressure on Ketsukai should he stumble down the stretch. In Makushita, Em27 is still the sole leader at 12-1 and is followed by Em49 Fatakiyama (11-2) who has put together a nice seven match winning streak to find himself in yusho contention.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/26

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 12

Is it just me, or has Hakuho developed a Yokozuna-like stride in recent days? With Asashoryu's second defeat in three days the Ozeki now has a two match lead over five other rikishi with three days remaining in the Natsu Basho. With Hakuho's potential promotion to Yokozuna now lying squarely on his shoulders and his confidence level, this is shaping up to be one the wildest conclusions to a tournament in many years. Don't go away...

In Sumo Game on day 12 of the Natsu Basho, leader of the Makunouchi division EM18 Mmikasazuma was handed his third loss of the tournament by former Sekiwake Igiski in a lop-sided bout. As a result, Mmikasazuma is now sharing the lead with WM16 Zenjimoto who is also 9-3. EM5 Sashimaru, EM6 Golynohana and WM13 Osutoriajin are still very much in the yusho hunt at 8-4. In Juryo, long time sole leader WJ2 Ketsukai (11-1) continues to set the pace and could wrap things up on day 13 with a win followed by a loss by his nearest competitor EJ4 Misisko who is 9-3. In Makushita, Em27 Kaiomitsuki improved his record to 11-1 and is trying to break away from Em44 Bunijiman, Em49 Fatakiyama and Wm68 Abudisake who are one match down at 10-2.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/25

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 11

Day 11 of the Natsu Basho 2007 saw scoring plummet to a tournament low of 5.10 while the overall average points fell to 7.39. In Makunouchi action, EM18 Mmikasazuma emerged as sole leader with a 9-2 record after both EM8 Golynohana and WM16 Zenjimoto were defeated by their opponents and are now one loss down at 8-3. In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai has begun to stretch his lead over his nearest competitors and now has a two match cushion to work with down the stretch. Ketsukai is now 10-1 while EJ1 Inakayama, EJ4 Misisko and EJ8 Kitakachiyama are all 8-3. Inakayama and Misisko will face each other on day 12 in a match that most like be a yusho elimination match. In Makushita, Em27 Kaiomitsuki is now the sole leader at 10-1 with a group of four others one match off the pace at 9-2.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/25

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 10

After 10 days of the Natsu Basho, the four way tie at the top of the Makunouchi leaderboard was trimmed to three. EM6 Golynohana, WM16 Zenjimoto and EM18 Mmikasazuma are now co-leaders at 8-2 with WM4 Andoreasu and WM13 Osutoriajin lurking in the shadows at 7-3. In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai continues to dominate at 9-1 with only EJ4 Misisko one match down at 8-2. In Makushita, Em27 Kaimitsuki and Wm68 Abudisake are co-leaders at 9-1 with a group of five others at 8-2.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/23

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 9

On day nine of the Natsu Basho 2007 a cooling in scoring average occured as picks are getting harder in a tournament that has nearly a dozen rikishi with fantastic records. As this pont yusho hopefuls are beginning to get power matched so it would be reasonable to expect a continued dip in the numbers. Today's points average was 6.61 to lower the overall tournament average to a still incredible 7.81.

In Makunochi action at the start of the second week, the five way tie at the top of the leaderboard was trimmed to four as WM9 Charliki upended by WM14 Fujisan seven points to six. In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai continues to set the pace at 8-1 with EJ1 Inakayama, WJ1 Randomitsuki and EJ4 Misisko at 7-2. Ketsukai and Inakayama will square off on day 10 in bout with yusho implications. In Makushita, Wm68 Abudisake was handed his first loss of his young career and is now tied with Em27 Kaiomitsuki and Wm54 Gusoyama at 8-1.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/22

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 8

At Nakabi of the Natsu Basho 2007 scoring remains very high at 7.96. In fact the average for day 8 was the same mark of 7.96 and was good enough to land at number 17 on the all time list for highest scoring days. In Makunouchi, both leaders EM6 Golynohana and WM9 Charliki were handed their second loss of the tournament and are now in a five way tie along with WM4 Andoreasu, WM16 Zenjimoto and EM18 Mmikasazuma at 6-2.

In Juryo, WJ2 Ketsukai emerged as the sole leader at the mid-way point of the Natsu Basho after the other one-loss wrestlers were defeated. Ketsukai is now 7-1 and is followed by a pack of four others at 6-2. In Makushita, newcomer Wm68 Abudisake is all alone at the top of the leader board and is the remaining undefeated wrestler for the tournament and thus the first to pick up his kachikoshi at Nakabi. He is followed by a group of five others at 7-1.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/21

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 7

After one full week of the Natsu basho 2007 we are on pace to break several records on individual points for a tournament, as well as, the highest overall total points for a tournament. Although the scoring for day 7 was the lowest so far at 7.09 we are still looking at a very impressive overall of 7.95 the with eight days remaining. That is nearly one full point above the Nagoya 2006 tournament which sets the standard for Sumo Game excellence at 6.96.

In Makunouchi division after 7 days we now have a two way battle for the best record with Em6 Golynohana and WM9 Charliki co-leaders at 6-1. There was no change in the Juryo division as all the leaders were victorious to improve their records to 6-1. In Makushita, Wm54 Gusoyama and Wm68 Abudisake are tied at 7-0 and are the two remaining undefeated wrestlers of the Natsu Basho.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/20

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 6

Wow!

Day 6 of the Natsu Basho was one that will most certainly be remembered for tournaments to come. Scoring for the day was a whopping 9.20 shattered the all time record from the Aki Basho 2005 (8.79). 102 of the 168 participating players scored a perfect with nearly 30 matches ending in a 10-10 tie. Every sanyaku member scored a 10 on the day and the lowest score in Makuuchi by anybody was a 9.

After six days of the Natsu Basho we now have a three way tie for top position as both WM4 Andoreasu and WM9 Charliki were victims of a 10-10 tie break loss while EM6 Golynohana was victorious in his 10-10 tie break against the Yokozuna Doitsuyama. All three now have a 5-1 going into the weekend.

In Juryo, EJ1 Inakayama, WJ1 Randomitsuki, WJ2 Ketsukai and EJ4 Misisko are co-leaders at 5-1. In Makushita, Em42 Matayashi, Wm48 Krokonowaka, Em54 Gusoyama and Wm68 Abudisake are still perfect at 6-0.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/19

Natsu Basho 2007 - Days 4 and 5

On days four and five of the Natsu Basho, scoring continues to blaze red hot. Scoring average for day 4 was 7.38, the lowest of the tournament so far, while day 5 nearly broke into the record books at 7.78. Overall for the Natsu Basho now sits at 7.88 almost one full point above the Nagoya 2006 tournament, Sumo Game's all time record.

The leader board in all three divisions have finally taken shape. In Makunouchi, WM4 Andoreasu and WM9 Charliki are setting the pace at 5-0 and are followed by EM6 Golynohana and WM8 Heikotoriki at 4-1. In Juryo, EJ1 Inakayama emerged as the sole leader at 5-0 with a group of five one match down at 4-1. In Makushita, Em42 Matayashi, Wm48 Krokonowaka, Wm54 Gusoyama and newcomer Wm68 Abudisake are co-leaders after five days and still undefeated.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/18

Natsu Basho 2007 - Days 2 and 3

After the first three days of the Natsu Basho, scoring has been through the roof. The points average for day 2 was 7.83 and high enough to register at number 25 all-time scoring day only to be knocked off the charts by day three's score of 8.70 which is now second only to day 5 of the Aki basho 2005. A total of 49 (roughly 25%) participants picked up a perfect 10 for the day.

Congratulations go out to our Yokozuna Doitsuyama who managed to become the first Sumo Game player to breach the 4000 points mark for a career.

In Makunouchi WM4 Andoreasu, WM8 Heikotoriki, WM9 Charliki, WM15 Asafan and EM16 Kotononami are setting the pace at 3-0 at the early stages of the summer tournament. In Juryo, EJ1 Inakayama, WJ1 Randomitsuki and EJ8 Kitakachiyama are co-leaders thus far, while Makushita is still to early have a clear picture of the leaderboard.

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/16

Natsu Basho 2007 - Day 1

Welcome to the Natsu Basho 2007! We hope everybody is fit and ready to battle for the next two weeks. First off, we have a sad note to start the tournament: the sudden retirement of Ozeki Tochiazuma due to serious health issues. Tochiazuma was a classic example of a small man doing 'big man' sumo and the toll on his body was just too much to bear over the years. He finished with an overall record of 560-317-169. Not only did he pick up three yushos in the Makunouchi division, but also has the distinction of winning a yusho in every division while rocketing through the banzuke in his early career.

He will be missed!

As for Sumo Game, we have a total of 168 players for the Natsu Basho with eight newcomers to the sport. For the fourth basho in a row, the banzuke is absent an Ozeki. Sekiwake Tosahayate needs a 12-3 record to qualify for promotion, while Lesoshoryu needs a perfect tournament to pick up 31 wins in three tournaments. Scoring for the first day was very high at 7.71 with 11 wrestlers registering a perfect day including EM18 Mmikasazuma and WM16 Zenjimoto. Their bout ended in a 10-10 tie with Mmikasazuma winning the tie break.

Good luck to everyone and have fun this tournament!

by Nushuzan, 2007/5/14