Sumo Game: News

Makuuchi Yusho:	S Hokuro (12-3; 111 points)
Juryo Yusho:	J13 Kinkaizan (12-3; 113 points)
Makushita Yusho:	m13 Yotsich (12-3; 113 points)
Gino-sho:	M12 Nushuzan (10-5; 113 points)
Kanto-sho:	M11 Natsunoyama (10-5; 110 points)
Shukun-sho:	not awarded

by Takanotaki, 2012/2/1

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 15

The first tournament of 2012 is over and the yusho winners and special prize winners have been announced. In Makunouchi, Sekiwake Hokuro holds off EM4 Kogaratsu and WM8 Sumio for his second top division title. EM11 Natsunoyama was awarded the Kantosho and EM12 Nushuzan the Ginosho for his 113 point effort. In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan at 12-3 won the yusho without a playoff. In Makushita, Wm13 Yotsich found himself in the middle of a four way playoff but won title on superior point total over the the other competitors.

Congratulations to all the winners! Come back in March for the Haru Basho and let's see if Baruto can make a legitimate run for Yokozuna.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/29

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 14

Going into the final day of the tournament, all the yusho hunt in all three divisions are wide open. In Makunouchi, Sekiwake Hokuro and EM4 Kogaratsu have been battling it out for several days now and remain deadlocked at 11-3. A win by one and a loss by the other would give the winner the title. A win by both would force a playoff with Hokuro having a slight advantage in points 104-102. However, a loss by both and a win by WM8 Sumio who is one match off the pace would make it a three way playoff giving Sumio a chance for a come from behind yusho. Sumio at this stage has 102 points.

In Juryo, the yusho scenario is a little more complicated with four participants vying for the hardware. At 11-3 we have EJ2 Mariohana and WJ3 Kinkaizan while at 10-3 it is WJ1 Kaiomitsuki and WJ3 Kiriazuma. Mariohana will be paired off with Kaiomitsuki on senshuraku and Kinkaizan will match up against Kiriazuma. Depending on the outcome of these two matches, we could have a sole leader at the end of the day or possibly a four way playoff. In terms of total points going into the final day, Kiriazuma is in the best position with 107, Kinkaizan is next with 104 while Mariohana and Kaiomitsuki are both sitting on 101.

In Makushita, Em13 Yeditoshi, Wm13 Yotsich, Em15 Hokuromitsu, Em17 Hakase and Em21 Kamakiri are the players to watch on the final day with all having an 11-3 tournament record. A first glance the title hunt looks complicated, but it hinges on the head to head match between Hakase and Yotsich. The victor would improve to 12-3 and either take the yusho as the sole survivor or automatically be involved in a playoff should any or all of the other three win their last match. In terms of points going into senshuraku, Yotsich is most dominate at 105.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/22

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 13

Going into the final weekend of the Hatsu Basho 2012 the Emperor's Cup has already been decided after a shocking meltdown by Hakuho handed the title to Baruto. So much for having a final day to determine the outcome of the tournament!

In Sumo Game, however, we still have plenty of action as all three divisions are still competitive. In Makunouchi, Sekiwake Hokuro and EM4 Kogaratsu are still duking it out for the yusho at 11-2. Hokuro with his eleven wins has now put himself in good position for bump up to Ozeki should he win his remaining two matches, giving him the required 31 victories in three consecutive tournaments.

In Juryo, leader WJ13 Kinkaizan found himself on the losing side of things on day 13 to fall to 10-3 allowing EJ12 Mariohana to catch him on the leader board. In Makushita, Wm13 Yotsich also had a kuroboshi on the day to turn the division into a free for all with six participants jamming up the 1st place position at 10-3.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/21

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 12

The Hatsu Basho got even more interesting on day twelve as Hakuho got 'bum rushed' off the clay by Harumafuji to lose his second match in three days. As a result, Baruto now has a two match lead over the Yokozuna and finds himself in the position to win his first upper division title.

In Makunouchi action, EM4 Kogaratsu lost his second match of the tournament to fall to 10-2 allowing his nearest competitor Sekiwake Hokuro to even things up for a share of the lead. Sadly, Yokozuna candidate Doitsuyama fell to 8-4 denying him a chance for promotion yet again. Ozeki Randomitsuki also had a tough loss on day 12 to fall to 4-8 and will be kadoban come March. In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan, despite losing on the day, remained in first place as the sole leader. In Makushita, Wm13 Yotsich broke up a three way tie for the top spot to improve to 10-2 and become the person to beat down the home stretch.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/20

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 11

On day eleven of the Hatsu basho there was no change in the leader board of the Makunouchi division as EM4 Kogaratsu continues to hold a one match advantage over his nearest rival, Sekiwake Hokuro. In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan upped his tournament record to 10-1 to maintain sole leadership over WJ1 Kaiomitsuki who is hanging tough at 9-2. In Makushita, Em21 Kamakiri saw his nine match winning streak come to an end as he fell to 9-2 and thus allowing Wm13 Yotsich and Em15 Hokoromitsu to grab a share of the lead going into the final four days of the basho.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/19

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 10

The first tournament of 2012 just got a little more interesting as Hakuho found himself on the losing end on day 10. As a result, Baruto now finds himself the man to beat going into the final five days while Hakuho must play catch-up if he hopes to win his 22nd Emperors Cup. Of course, one would be a fool to count out the Yokozuna and the Hatsu Basho is by no means over. Thankfully, however, it looks as if there will not be a yusho winner before senshuraku.

In the Makunouchi division, EM4 Kogaratsu continues to lead the march with his 9-1 tournament record. One match down is Sekiwake Hokuro at 8-2. In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan improved to 9-1 to maintain his lead over WJ1 Kaiomitsuki who was also victorious on the day. In Makushita, Em21 Kamakiri has put together a nine match winning streak to remain the sole leader at 9-1. One loss away are Wm7 Yassier, Wm13 Yotsich, Wm15 Hokuromitsu and Em17 Hakase.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/18

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 9

On day nine of the Hatsu Basho EM4 Kogaratsu survived a direct confrontation with Ozeki Doitsuyama to reestablish himself as the person to beat down the stretch while becoming the first in the Makunouchi to pick up a kachikoshi. One match off the pace is Sekiwake Hokuro at 7-2. In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan maintained a once match lead over WJ1 Kaiomitsuku, WJ3 Kiriazuma and WJ14 Koorifuu. In Makushita, Em21 Kamakiri picked up his kachikoshi on day nine to become the sole leader of the division.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/17

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 8

At Nakabi, Sekiwake Hokuro climbed into co-leader position in the Makunouchi division after defeating EM4 Kogaratsu in a close bout that was typical of the day. Both are now 7-1. Kogaratsu will face another difficult challenge on day 9 as he faces off against Yokozuna hopeful Doitsuyama. Doitsuyama is one match down at 6-2 and joins a pack of five others who are hoping to pull even with the leaders in the coming days.

In Juryo, WJ13 Kinkaizan became the sole leader at the midway point of the tournament while improving to 7-1. In Makushita, Em15 Hokuromitsu and Em21 Kamakiri both won on the day as the division starts to take on a more traditional bell shaped curve.

Scoring for the tournament has been fairly high at 6.92 considering the fact that the influx of newcomers to the top division has made it hard to determine which rikishi has a skills advantage over the other. Unfortunately, the second week won't be much easier as the Ozekis start to square off and the rank and filers get power matched with each other.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/16

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 7

At the end of the first week of the Hatsu Basho, EM7 Kogaratsu continues to set the pace of the Makunouchi division while improving to 7-0. One loss down are Sekiwake Hokuro, WM12 Bunijiman and WM18 Tsuyoikaze. On Nakabi, Kogaratsu will square off against Hokuro in a head-to-head match that could shake up the leader board heading into the second week. Ozeki Doitsuyama dropped to 5-2 putting a serious dent in his chances for Yokozuna promotion. In Juryo, WJ3 Kiriazuma and W13 Kinkaizan found themselves co-leaders at the end of the day with a 6-1 record while in Makushita a five way tie for the lead still makes things somewhat complicated going into the midway point of the tournament.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/15

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Days 5 and 6

After six days of the Hatsu Basho 2012 EM4 Kogaratsu became the sole leader of the Makunouchi division at 6-0 after Sekiwake Hokuro and WM12 Bunijiman were defeated by their opponents to fall to 5-1. Yokozuna hopeful Doitsuyama remained competitive after overcoming a loss on day five and joined EM1 Fujisan and WM18 Tsuyoikaze who are also in the pack of runner ups.

In Juryo, WJ1 Kaiomitsuki who was sole leader on the fifth day dropped his first match of the tournament to send the division into a scramble with seven members at 5-1. In Makushita a total of thirteen wrestlers are now vying for the top spot, at 5-1, after early leaders Wm1 Fatakiyama, Em15 Hokuromitsu and Em31 Gunjo were handed their first kuroboshi on day six.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/14

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Days 3 and 4

There was a scary moment on day four of the Hatsu Basho when gyoji Kimura Shozaburo was knocked off the dohyo while officiating the match between Baruto and Wakakoyu. He landed on his back and hit his head on the concrete and laid motionless for several minutes until attendants could bring in stretcher. They hauled him to a medical facility for treatment where it was later determined that the frail referee had sustained a concussion. We wish him a speedy recovery.

In Makunouchi division after four days, Ozeki Doitsuyama is off to a fast start at 4-0 and shares the early lead with Sekiwake Hokuro, EM4 Kogaratsu and W12 Bunijiman. In Juryo, WJ1 Kaiomituski is sole leader with a large group of wrestlers one match off the pace. In Makushita, the usual bottleneck,at this stage, at the top of the leader board consists of seven participants including Wm1 Fatakiyama.

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/12

Hatsu Basho 2012 - Day 2

Welcome to the Hatsu Basho 2012. We hope everyone is well rested from the holidays and ready for another exciting year of Sumo. It can be expected that the Sumo Association is more than anxious to flee the controversy plagued 2011 and move on to greener pastures that the New Year offers. With two new Japanese born Ozeki's since the last time the tournament was held in Tokyo, perhaps the fans will 'forgive and forget' and start filling up the seats once again.

In Sumo Game, the banzuke is a bit thin in the Sanyaku position with retirements of both Ozeki Sokkenaiyama and recently demoted Ozeki Takahike II, however, that just leaves more opportunities for everyone else near the top. Ozeki Doitsuyama is still in the hunt for a promotion to Yokozuna but will need 12 wins this time around. Sekiwake Chocshoporyu has a slim chance for promotion to Ozeki and would need to overcome a slow 0-2 start to pull things off.

For the Hatsu Basho we have 144 participating players but only one kyujo in the top two divisions making for a competitive tournament. Good luck to all and have fun!

by Nushuzan, 2012/1/10