Sumo Game: News

Makuuchi Yusho:	M4 Kogaratsu (12-3; 118 points)
Juryo Yusho:	J14 Yobennie (11-4; 115 points)
Makushita Yusho:	m32 Markuraku (13-2; 104 points)
Gino-sho:	M4 Kogaratsu (12-3; 118 points)
Kanto-sho:	M12 Kotononami (11-4; 116 points)
Shukun-sho:	not awarded

by Takanotaki, 2012/7/28

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 15

The final day of the Nagoya Basho proved interesting since it was the first time in 29 years that two rikishi went into the Senshuraku with an identical 14-0 record. In the end Harumafuji won the Emperor's cup in Nagoya, for the second time in two years running and delaying Hakuho's movement up the 'all time greatest' list for yet another basho. In Sumo Game, EM4 Kogaratsu won his first Makunouchi yusho with a 12-3 record and was awarded the Ginosho special prize as well. EM12 Kotononami was handed the Kantosho for his 116 point performance.

Senshuraku was not without it's drama in the sanyaku ranks. In a battle between kadoban Ozeki Randomitsuki and Doitsuyama (who was just handed an all but certain demotion down to Sekiwake in September) saw Randomitsuki falling just one win shy of eight for a similar demotion. Both Randomitsuki and Doitsuyama will have one chance for return to Ozeki should either score ten wins in the next tournament.

In Juryo, EJ14 Yobennie came from behind for a yusho win after defeating EJ4 Derakuho in a head-to-head bout. Going into the day both were tied in total points so Yobennie's one point win over Derakuho proved to be the difference in the tie breaker. In Makushita, Wm32 Markuraku's five match winning streak at the end of the tournament was the differential between the title and a nice performance by new-comer Wm48 Verkolanpen.

Congratulations to all the winners!

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/28

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 14

Going into the final day of action, none of the divisions have been decided yet but the number of those with a mathematical chance of a yushu has dwindled to just a few names. In Makunouchi, the front runner for the Nagoya Basho is EM4 Kogaratsu with an 11-3 record. A win on senshuraku will lock up the title for him. However, a loss on the final day will give WM10 Meyeryu and EM12 Kotononami, should either pick up their eleventh win, a chance to join into a playoff. Kogaratsu has a slim points advantage over Kotononami 109-108 but both participants have a sizable lead over Meyeryu with 103.

In Juryo, EJ4 Derakuho is the top dog with an 11-3 record followed by EJ14 Yobennie and WJ14 Kibooyama at 10-4. The one who can make the most impact on the final day is Yobennie since he will be paired up against the leader Derakuho on the final day. A victory by Yobennie would force a playoff but a loss would hand the title over to Derakuho outright. Should there be a playoff, Kibooyama could join into the festivities should he improve to 11-4 but would also have to overcome a two point deficit to have an impact. Both Derakuho and Yobennie are deadlocked with 107 points.

In Makushita, Wm32 Markuraku is now the leader at 12-2 with Wm48 Verkolanpen down a notch at 11-3. A win by Markuraku would give him the yusho, but a loss by Makuraku and a win by Verkolanpen would force a playoff. However, Markuraku has a dominant lead in points 98-94 and would most likely survive any attempt by Verkolanpen to come from behind for the title.

As a final bit of news, Doitsuyama could not overcome a rough start and will be demoted to Sekiwake but will have a chance to return to Ozeki should he go 10-5 in September. On the otherhand, Ozeki Randomitsuki is now 7-7 and needs a single win on senshuraku to keep his rank.

Good luck to all the contenders!

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/21

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 13

At day thirteen of the Nagoya Basho, EM4 Kogaratsu continues to be the man to beat in the Makunouchi division though falling to 10-3 on the tournament. One loss down are EM5 Bunijiman, WM10 Meyeryu, EM12 Kotononami and WM17 Kyokuhagyo. Bunijiman can climb into the thick of the yusho chase with a win over the leader, his opponent, on day 14. In Juryo, EJ4 Derakuho is still on cruise control for the yusho at 11-2 but still has EJ4 Yobennie nipping at his heels. In Makushita, Wm32 Markuraku and Wm48 Verkolanpen remain co-leaders at 11-2 with Em16 Batoni at 10-3 hoping for a miscue or two from the leaders for a chance for a come from behind yusho.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/21

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 12

With three days remaining in the Nagoya Basho the number of participants that have a legitimate shot at a yusho is dwindling rapidly. In Makunouchi, EM4 Kogaratsu continues to set the pace in the division with a 10-2 record. One loss down is WM17 Kyokuhago with EM5 Bunijiman, WM10 Meyeryu and EM12 Kotononami all within striking distance of the leader at 8-4. In Juryo, EM4 Derakuho is at the top of the leader board at 10-2 while EJ14 Yobennie at 9-3 is still very much in the yusho hunt. EJ2 Otokomae, WJ8 Kinkaizan and WJ14 Kibooyama are also mathematically alive for the title. In Makushita, Wm32 Markuraku and Wm48 Verkolanpen are still fighting it out at 10-2 after a third loss in a row sent Em2 Oskanohana to the second tier of yusho contenders.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/20

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 11

At day eleven of the Nagoya Basho there was some minor rumblings on the leader boards in all of the divisions. In Makunouchi, the head-to-head match up between EM12 Kotononami and WM17 Kyokuhagyo saw Kyokuhagyo victorious in a close bout that was determined by a tie breaker. Both participants ended the day at 8-3. However, EM4 Kogaratsu who was also a winner on the day improved to 9-2 to reestablish himself as the sole leader with four days remaining in the tournament.

In Juryo, EJ4 Derakuho saw himself in control of things once again as he improved to 9-2. One match off the pace are EJ2 Otokomae, WJ8 Kinkaizan and EJ14 Yobennie. Otokomae will get a chance to shake the tree on day twelve as his opponent will be Derakuho in a bout with yusho implications. In Makushita, long time leader Em2 Oskanohana fell into a three way tie along with Wm32 Markuraku and Wm48 Verkolanpen after picking up his second kuroboshi in a mini losing streak.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/19

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 10

There was no change in the leader boards in any of the divisions after the tenth day of the Nagoya Basho. Co-leaders EM4 Kogaratsu and EM12 Kotononami both improved to 8-2 to get their kachikoshi. One match off the pace is WM17 Kyokuhagyo at 7-3. Day eleven will pit Kotononami against Kyokuhagyo in a highlight bout with possible yusho implications. In Juryo, EJ4 Derakuho and EJ14 Yobennie are both 8-2 for a share of the top spot. In Makushita, Em2 Oskanohana remains the leader of the division despite having been handed his first loss of the tournament on day 10. One loss down are Em16 Batoni, Wm27 Kamiumi, Wm32 Markuraku and Wm48 Verkolanpen.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/18

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 9

On day nine of the Nagoya Basho, leader of the Makunouchi division EM4 Kogaratsu picked up his second loss of the tournament to kadoban Ozeki Doitsuyama and thus allowed EM12 Kotononami to catch him with the identical 7-2 mark. At the other end of the important match-up, Doitsuyama improved to 4-5 and still needs four more wins to return as Ozeki in September. The other kadoban Ozeki, Randomitsuki, is in a bit better shape at this point at 5-4 but will still need to stay focused in the remaining days.

In Juryo, leader EJ4 Derakuho saw a five match winning streak come to end to fall to 7-2 while EJ14 Yobennie improved to the same tournament record to share the lead. In Makushita, Em2 Oskanohana continues to lead the division and remains unbeaten at 9-0. One loss away from the leader is Wm32 Markuraku at 8-1.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/17

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 8

At Nakabi of the Nagoya Basho, EM4 Kogaratsu continues to set the pace for the Makunouchi division after he improved to 7-1. One loss away are WM10 Meyeryu and EM12 Kotononami at 6-2. In Juryo, EJ4 Derakuho became the sole leader at 7-1 when WJ13 Mukuho picked up his second kuroboshi of the tournament. Mukuho joins WJ8 Kinkaizan and EJ14 Yobennie at 6-2. In Mukushita, Em2 Oskanohana became the first member to pick up a kachikoshi and is still the front runner at 8-0. One match down are Em16 Batoni, Wm27 Kamiumi and Wm32 Markuraku.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/16

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Days 6 and 7

At the end of the first week of the Nagoya Basho 2012,there were some minor shifts in the leader boards in all three divisions since the last posting. In Makunochi, EM4 Kogaratsu is the sole leader despite losing on day 7 and falling to 6-1. EM2 Sumio who was co-leader after day five with Kogaratsu hit a rough patch and is now 5-2 and joins a group of six others with the same record including kadoban Ozeki Randomitsuki who is hoping to return to 'full fledged' status by early next week. The other kadoban Ozeki, Doitsuyama is hoping to turn things around soon as he is now 3-5 and has his work cut out for him in the second week.

In Juryo division, EJ4 Derakuho and WJ13 Mukuho are co-leaders at 6-1. In Makushita Em2 Oskanohana is the last remaining participant in the Nagoya Basho with an perfect record at 7-0. One match off the pace are Em16 Batoni, Wm27 Kamiumi and Wm32 Markuraku.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/15

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Day 5

On the fifth day of the Nagoya Basho 2011, the scoring average was a scorching 9.24. With a total of 77 participants registering a perfect 10, in the end. the day finished a fraction of a point away from the all time record for highest scoring days which was set on day seven of the Haru Basho 2010 at 9.25. In the Makunochi division alone, only five players of the forty that signed up for the basho failed to notch a perfect day. Sadly, however, when there are days with these kinds of numbers, many participants picked up a kuroboshi despite the unblemished scoring.

In Makunouchi, EM2 Sumio and EM4 Kogaratsu both improved to 5-0 for a share of the lead. In Juryo, WJ3 Fujiyama, EJ4 Derakuho, WJ8 Kinkaizan, WJ13 Mukuho and EJ14 Yobennie are co-leaders at 4-1. In Makushita, Em2 Oskanohana, Wm23 Nikomaru and Wm32 Markuraku are still perfect at 5-0.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/13

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Days 3 and 4

Scoring for the Nagoya Basho cooled somewhat on days 3 and 4 as several of the Ozekis were upset by their opponents. As it stands now average for the tournament is still above average at 6.98. In the Makunouchi division, EM2 Sumio, EM4 Kogaratsu and EM17 Kaiowaka are off to a good start at 4-0. In Juryo, a contingent of wrestlers are 3-1 while in Makushita, Em2 Oskanohana, Wm23 Nikoyama, Em24 Pastanoyama, Em26 Tenshoryu and Wm32 Markuraku are still perfect at 4-0.

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/12

Nagoya Basho 2012 - Days 1 and 2

Welcome to the Nagoya Basho 2012! The rainy season seems to be mostly over and the summer heat and humidity is starting to take hold across the islands. If you enjoy sweltering weather than this might be your perfect season, but otherwise, Japan can be a bit rough this time of year!

This tournament we have 136 participating players with just a couple of kyujos in both the Makunouchi and Juryo divisions. Also, we would like to send a warm welcome to five newcomers to the game. In the Sanyaku ranks we have three Ozekis thanks to Hokuro's recent promotion to the second highest rank of Sumo Game. However, pressure is on for both Ozeki Randomitsuki and Ozeki Doitsuyama who are kadoban this tournament and must pull at least an 8-7 to maintain their rank. Sekiwake Susanoo has an outside shot of promotion to Ozeki this time around, but needs to rally past a slow 0-2 start and pick up a few wins. Scoring has been high the first two days, at 7.53, with several members already scoring a perfect day.

Good luck to all and enjoy the basho!

by Nushuzan, 2012/7/10