3 posts tagged “bushuyama”
9-1: Hakuho, Miyabiyama
8-2: Ama, Baruto
7-3: Kotomitsuki, Toyonoshima, Kisenosato, Kokkai, Takamisakari
6-4: Chiyotaikai, Aminishiki, Kotoshogiku
5-5: Bushuyama, Aran
4-6: Koto'oshu
2-8: Futeno
1-9: Goeido
Things have settled in at the Sumo tournament. Hakuho has won another 2 (now up to 9 in a row) and Miyabiyama has kept pace with 2 wins of his own (because he hasn't had to face anyone good).
Meanwhile, the other contenders have fallen away, all except for the two Sekiwakes, Ama and Baruto. Ama is up to 8-2 including a win over Ozeki Koto'oshu, and with 4 wins in his last 5, he'll get promoted to Ozeki himself. Baruto has the 2nd longest win streak now with 8 in a row, including wins over 2 Ozeki's (Koto'oshu and Chiyotaikai today) and he probably has the best chance outside of Hakuho of winning this tournament. All depends on tomorrow's matchup against the Yokozuna.
Takamisakari has kept rolling and is just 1 win away from a winning record and assurance that he'll stay in the major league next tournament.
The 2 rookies, Bushuyama and Aran, are stumbling along with even records and it looks like both of them will be staying in the majors for at least 1 more tournament. Unfortunately, I have to sadly take away Miyabiyama's honor of Worst Chest in Sumo and give it to Bushuyama. Not pretty.
I'm assuming my personal favorite Futeno is injured in some way, because he has been awful this tournament. He is also fighting tougher competition than he's used to, as well, and it's added up to a 2-8 record so far, and a guaranteed demotion for next tournament. Sigh.
Meanwhile in the Juryo division, Shotenro tied a rookie record by winning his first 9 matches, but sadly couldn't beat the record. He lost today to former major-leaguer Iwakiyama and now they are tied at the top of the minor league.
And the HUGE match of the day tomorrow is the last match of the day: Hakuho (9-1) vs. Baruto (8-2). Baruto hasn't ever won in 5 previous match-ups with the Yokozuna, but I have a feeling this might be the first. Baruto's been looking very strong.
That's right. Time to quickly switch from presidential election mode, to Sumo tournament mode. The year-end Kyushu tournament starts tomorrow.
There aren't a whole lot of interesting storylines to this tournament. Asashoryu is skipping the tournament with an injury, that they're saying now may even keep him out of January's tournament, so I expect Hakuho will win his 3rd straight. He's already wrapped up the most match wins for the year, so there's no excitement there.
Really, the only excitement of the tournament should be Ama's run at an Ozeki promotion. 10 wins or more this tournament should be enough for him to get promoted, and I expect him to be able to do that pretty easily. He's already approaching Kotomitsuki's records for longest time at Sekiwake and in the top 3 ranks without being promoted, so it's his time, I think. He's gone 12-3 and 10-5 in the last 2 tournaments.
All the Ozeki's should be back, and (shockingly) for the 2nd straight tournament, none of them is facing demotion due to a bad tournament last time out. Kaio hurt himself in practice before the tournament, but seems well enough to compete.
Baruto got promoted to Sekiwake (Ama's rank, 3rd highest in Sumo) -- his highest ever. He just barely eked out an 8-7 last tournament. Should be interesting to see if he can put together something a little stronger and maybe get double digit wins this time.
Goeido got promoted to Komusubi, the rank just below Sekiwake, (his highest ever), which gives him the official title of Great Japanese Hope. Another Japanese wrestler of interest is Futeno, who was promoted to Maegashira #1 (just below Goeido) after an 11-4 tournament in September.
There are 2 rookies this tournament from opposite sides of the age scale. First is Bushuyama, who, at 32 years 5 months, is the 4th oldest rookie Sumo wrestler ever. Nice story, but I don't give him much chance to move up the ranks.
On the other end is Aran, a 24-year old Russian wrestler, who has made one of the fastest rises up the ranks in Sumo history. He tied Koto'oshu for fewest tournaments to reach the top level, 1 tournament faster than Asashoryu, Baruto, and Konishiki, among others. He spent only 2 tournaments in the Juryo minor leagues, and he hasn't had a single losing record in his career. If he stays away from marijuana, he may have a bright future in Sumo.
I don't think Hakuho even had a single tough match this whole tournament and in the end, he got his 7th championship and 2nd undefeated tournament. Of course, it didn't hurt that Asashoryu dropped out after 5 days.
Koto'oshu could have gotten a promotion to Yokozuna with another championship, but instead he had a mediocre 9-6 record after losing to Hakuho on the final day.
Chiyotaikai was probably very happy with his mediocre 9-6 record, because at least he gets to stay at Ozeki for another tournament.
Kaio also had a mediocre 9-6 tournament, while Kotomitsuki didn't put up much of a fight with Hakuho, but at least he did finish as the runner-up at 11-4.
Sekiwake Ama finished 10-5 after losing to Baruto on day 15, but he still got his 4th Technique Prize.
The other Sekiwake, Kotoshogiku, had a losing tournament at 6-9, so Komusubi Toyonoshima will be taking his place at the Sekiwake rank. Toyonoshima went 10-5, including wins over Asashoryu and 3 of the 4 Ozekis, and won the Outstanding Performance Prize.
Asasekiryu scratched out an 8-7 record and will probably move up from Maegashira #2 back to Komusubi for the next tournament.
It was a rough tournament for my man Futeno, who lost his first 6 and ended up 3-12.
However, my other favorite, Baruto, came up big after losing his first 2 matches, including wins in 6 of the last 7 days, and finished 10-5. Back up to the top of the Maegashira rankings for Baruto and a crack at the top wrestlers...
Everyone's favorite, Takamisakari, hung in for a while, but lost 5 of his last 6 to end up 6-9 and head down the ranks.
One-time up-and-comer Tochiozan had an OK tournament, finishing 9-6.
Toyohibiki was the big winner at the bottom of the rankings, winning 10 matches and the Fighting Spirit Prize.
Among the newbie wrestlers, Tochinoshin eked out a winning 8-7 record in his 2nd tournament, while 2 of the 4 rookies also got winning records and will stay in the major leagues. Masatsukasa had the best tournament at 10-5. Chiyohakuho survived at 8-7. But Koryu finished a lowly 3-12 and will head back to the minors. Kimurayama just missed at a Maegashira #12 rank, at 7-8, but might survive for another tournament in the majors.
In the minors, veteran Bushuyama won the tournament at 12-3, with Kitataiki right behind at 11-4, and minor league rookie Aran finishing 10-5.
Next tournament starts September 14.
