18 posts tagged “goeido”
A quick update because there was big news today in Tokyo.
Asashoryu didn't just look bad today, but actually went all the way and lost his match with Aminishiki to drop to 2-1.
Hakuho kept steamrolling, although today his opponent, Homasho, actually got him moving backwards. Still, he's 3-0 with a 23-match win streak.
New Sekiwake Goeido kept going on his tear through the Ozeki team. He beat Kaio to go to 3-0 with wins over 3 Ozekis.
Tomorrow he faces Harumafuji and the streak probably ends there. Harumafuji is looking good again at 3-0.
Also at 3-0, miraculously, is Takamisakari, and Kisenosato, who looks like he'll be back in the top ranks very soon.
Baruto won his first today, and Yamamotoyama and Aran both went to 2-1.
Match of the day tomorrow: Goeido vs. Harumafuji
Should we just give the guy the trophy now? OK, it's only been 2 matches, but Hakuho looks unstoppable as usual. He won his first 2 matches without any trouble, over Tochiozan and Aminishiki. His ongoing win streak is up to 22 matches, going back to the January tournament.
Can anyone beat Hakuho? Well, Asashoryu is also 2-0, but certainly hasn't looked unbeatable. He got lucky to survive on Day 1 against Kakuryu and then didn't exactly dominate Homasho today.
The biggest news of the tournament so far has been the play of newly-promoted Sekiwake Goeido. He's defeated Ozekis Koto'oshu and Kotomitsuki on consecutive days. At only 23 years old, Goeido has the Japanese drooling over the possibility of an actual Japanese Yokozuna.
On the opposite side is Baruto, who's 0-2. He's injured and I'll be surprised if he makes it through the whole tournament, but either way, he won't get 8 wins and he'll end his string of tournaments at Sekiwake next time.
Other 2-0 wrestlers include the three Ozekis that Goeido hasn't beaten yet: Harumafuji, Kaio, and Chiyotaikai. Harumafuji is showing signs of regaining his old form, which would be nice. Kaio just moved into 4th place all alone for most tournaments ever. He's 22 tournaments out of 3rd, which at over 3 years of wrestling, is out of reach for him, so maybe now he'll feel OK with retiring.
Kisenosato was all the way up to Sekiwake last tournament but did horribly, so this time he's down to Maegashira #4, and it's helping him out. He's 2-0 after two wins over weak competition. At the same rank, up-and-coming Russian wrestler Aran is also 2-0. And everybody's favorite, Takamisakari, is also out to a great 2-0 start, way down the rankings.
In the Sumo pool, Kunitachi (me) got off to a horrible 4-6 start on day 1, but recovered by picking 8 out of 10 right today, to even my record at 1-1.
Match of the day tomorrow: Can Goeido stay on a roll and beat another Ozeki, Kaio? (I think yes.)
The Summer tournament starts in Tokyo this Sunday. Here's everything you need to know to be ready for it:
Hakuho won his 10th tournament in March, at 15-0. I think he's won 19 matches in a row going back to January's tournament. He is obviously the favorite to win again this time.
Asashoryu won in January and he won't just step aside and let Hakuho have the tournament. Although he faded in the last third of the March tournament, he should be strong again this time, and he's always liked the Tokyo tournaments, so look for him to compete with Hakuho until the final day.
Expect the Ozeki team to be non-factors again. Unless Koto'oshu can gain strength from his just-announced engagement, or Kotomitsuki from his marriage (see pics). Or unless Harumafuji can finally put it together and return to his pre-Ozeki form. Or unless Chiyotaikai is inspired by the fact that he is in danger of demotion if he doesn't win 8 this time (for the 13th time in his career of mediocrity).
Baruto has been fighting like an Ozeki (i.e. average) lately, without quite making it to the Ozeki level. He'll be in his 4th straight tournament at the Sekiwake rank just below Ozeki, but hasn't even sniffed a promotion. There is hope, though. The last guy to stay at Sekiwake for 4 tournaments in a row was Asashoryu.
There is a new Sekiwake joining Baruto. It's Great Japanese Hope Goeido, who made it up to Sekiwake in the 9th-fastest time in history, just behind Hakuho but just ahead of Baruto. But if Baruto can't take the next step to move up to Ozeki, I certainly don't expect Goeido to do it any time soon.
At the next rank down, Komusubi, there are two newcomers: Kakuryu and Tochiozan. Both are small, scrappy wrestlers with good skills. Kakuryu is the 8th Mongolian to reach the sanyaku (top 3 ranks). Not sure if either has what it takes to stay at that high a ranking.
There are no rookies, first-timers up to the majors, this tournament. (Not even any rookies in the Juryo, 2nd division.)
So we will have to watch old favorites like Futeno and Takamisakari, dropped way down after multiple bad tournaments, to #10 and #12, respectively. And we'll have to watch up-and-coming youngsters, like Aran, the 25-year old Russian in his 4th tournament in the majors, fighting at #4. And the man-mountain himself, Yamamotoyama, the 546-pound Japanese (who shares a birthday with Herbert Peduddy), wrestling at #9 in his 3rd tournament in the majors.
Meanwhile, my alter-ego Kunitachi moved up just 7 spots to #57 in the low minors in the Sumo pool. Though this should be a tough tournament to predict, I'll be looking for another double-digit-win tournament to move up into the top 50 of the low minors in July.
The tournament was won on Saturday, but today Hakuho completed the perfect 15-0 tournament. Here's how everyone did:
Hakuho -- He wasn't in danger of losing even once the entire tournament, including today's bout with Asashoryu, and won his 10th championship (and 3rd at 15-0). Having just turned 24 years old, he's the 3rd youngest wrestler to 10 wins. (Takanohana beat him by almost a year, but he beat Asashoryu by 3 months.) Will he hang on long enough to match those guys in total wins? He seems very healthy, so it probably only depends on Asashoryu's ability to take some tournaments from him in the next couple years (because there doesn't seem to be a lot of other competition out there.)
Asashoryu -- That first loss seems to have completely brought him down, or else he just got tired and worn out, because he ended up losing 4 of his last 6 to finish at 11-4, in second place but way behind Hakuho. At least his latest injury seems to be behind him now and maybe he can put in some good practice and be strong for Tokyo in May.
Koto'oshu and Harumafuji -- Both finished 10-5, had a couple good wins a couple bad losses. Nothing special. Need to turn it up a notch to compete with the Yokozunas.
Kotomitsuki -- He eked out an 8-7 tournament, just enough to stave off demotion. Very mediocre. Makes you wonder how long he can hang around as a below-average Ozeki. (Based on Kaio and Chiyotaikai, probably a long, long time.)
Kaio -- Speaking of below-average Ozekis, Kaio started strong but faded fast, losing 6 of his last 8 to finish 8-7. Not a surprise, considering he's 36 years old. I've given up on calling for his retirement -- it looks like he's trying to hang on long enough to get the record for most tournaments ever (which I think he's scheduled to get if he survives all six tournaments this year.)
Chiyotaikai -- He just plain embarrassed himself this tournament. He finished 2-13, breaking the all-time record for worst tournament by an Ozeki. He's got no records to go for, except maybe most pathetic Ozeki ever, so maybe it's time for him to call it quits? Please?
Baruto -- He had a very poor tournament, but he did finish strong, taking 5 of his last 6, to eke out a winning 8-7 tournament. He'll stay at Sekiwake for another tournament, but will need to do a lot better if he wants a promotion to Ozeki some day.
Kisenosato -- Started poorly at 5-6 then finished that off with 4 losses in a row to go 5-10. That means a demotion all the way out of the 'sanyaku' top ranks.
Goeido -- Goeido will be taking Kisenosato's spot at Sekiwake, because he went 9-6 from the Komusubi spot just below Kisenosato.
Kakuryu -- The young Mongolian, another small wrestler (304 pounds) with speed and skill, went 10-5 at the top of the Maegashira ranks, winning his final 8 matches. He won his second Technique Prize. He'll be taking Goeido's spot at Komusubi next tournament.
Tochiozan -- Another young (just turned 22), small Mongolian with skill, Tochiozan faded at the end but won today to go 8-7 and held his own all tournament against the top-ranking wrestlers, so he'll move up near the sanyaku ranks in May.
Homasho -- He continued his march back up to toward the top of the rankings with his second straight 11-win tournament. He also won his second straight Fighting Spirit Prize (3rd of his career), and will move up a lot next tournament. He should be near the top of the Maegashira ranks in May, and will have to face the Ozekis and Yokozunas.
Takamisakari -- The super-popular wrestler found his level of competition, going 6-9 at Maegashira #7. In May, he'll drop down and face poorer competition he'll have a better chance against.
Futeno -- My favorite had two chances to win an eighth, but lost them both and ended up 7-8, so he'll be dropping lower himself.
Aran -- The young Russian suffered the first losing tournament of his career in January, but he followed it up this time with a 10-5 record in his third tournament in the majors. He's strong, but he needs a lot more skill to compete with the top wrestlers.
Shotenro -- The rookie won six in a row to get to 7 wins, but then lost his last three in an attempt to get a winning record. His 7-8 record will drop him down, but should be good enough to keep him in the majors for another tournament.
Yamamotoyama -- In his second tournament in the majors, the man-mountain just barely got a second winning record, at 8-7. He's making a very slow march up the rankings in the majors, which is fitting, because at 550 pounds, the guy is not fast.
Toyohibiki -- The former-major leaguer won the championship in the minors (his second) with a 12-3 record and will be back in the majors in May.
Kunitachi -- I went 10-5 in my first tournament in the Sumo pool, correctly picking 98 winners in 15 days (65.3%). Hopefully, I'll move up a bunch from my opening ranking at Makushita (2nd minors) #64. My goal is to make the majors in the Sumo pool by 2011.
The Summer Sumo Tournament starts May 10 in Tokyo...
Is Day 3 too early to call the tournament over for anyone other than Asashoryu and Hakuho? Maybe not.
After 3 days, the two Yokozunas are both 3-0 and looking unstoppable. Asashoryu has maybe looked a little bit stronger, after Hakuho had a tiny amount of trouble in today's match with Kakuryu, but both are looking very good. Asashoryu chalked up his 600th win on Monday, becoming the 4th fastest wrestler to that many wins. Today, he tied his hopes to those of the Japanese World Baseball Classic team. Three years ago, Japan won the WBC and Asashoryu won the Sumo tournament in a playoff over Hakuho, and he's hoping for the "double championship" again this year. (Japan plays Korea tonight for a berth in the WBC semifinals.)
Meanwhile, there isn't another 3-0 wrestler among the rest of the top ranks (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi). After I went so easy on them in the preview, the Ozekis have been typically mediocre again. All 5 Ozeki's had at least 1 loss by Day 2. Harumafuji, their best hope, lost on Day 1, though he has come back with 2 losses. Kaio and Koto'oshu are also 2-1, but Kotomitsuki and Chiyotaikai are both 1-2.
Baruto should be a contender, but he's been very sloppy so far. On day 2, he just barely won by hanging on at the edge just long enough for his opponent to go down first. The referee gave it to Kotoshogiku, but the judges reversed the call. Then, in today's match, he lost by Utchari when Goeido twisted him down at the last second when he was almost dead himself. An Utchari win is always worth watching, so here is the match with the always awful English commentary (match starts at 2:30):
There are 3 other wrestlers at 3-0, all low-rankers. They are Kokkai, the Georgian wrestler with the permanent 5-o'clock shadow, Yamamotoyama the Man-Mountain, and Kimurayama, who just got back to the majors after 1 tournament demoted to the minor leagues. I do think Kokkai has some skill and Yamamotoyama is gigantic enough to win some matches, but none of these guys is going to compete for 15 days.
Other wrestlers of interest: Tochiozan, promoted way up to #2, is actually thriving. He's 2-1 with wins over Koto'oshu and Chiyotaikai. Up-and-down Toyonoshima is looking up again at 2-1. Homasho keeps working his way back to the top, at 2-1. Takamisakari has looked good, also at 2-1. And rookie Shotenro has looked outclassed and is still looking for his first win in the big leagues.
Meanwhile, after a 2-0 start in both Sumo pools I entered, I faltered today and dropped to 2-1 in both. Still better than last tournament.
Asashoryu yelled out "The Yokozuna is back!" in his interview after winning a playoff match over Hakuho.
It was Asashoryu's 23rd championship, which I think is 4th or 5th all time. He also became only the 4th wrestler to win a tournament after missing part or all of 3 straight tournaments due to injury.
In the end, he couldn't quite make the total comeback and go 15-0. On the final day, with Hakuho at 13-1 and Asashoryu at 14-0, they met in the last match of the day. Hakuho got a great faceoff, getting both his hands on the belt inside Asashoryu's hands and easily taking him down. Asashoryu went back to the dressing room, got in a little more practice, and came back ready for the playoff.
In the playoff, it was Asashoryu who got the best faceoff, got one hand on the back of Hakuho's belt and one on the front and dug his head in and pushed. Hakuho got a hand around Asashoryu to the back of his belt, but couldn't fight him off with Asashoryu pushing from the better, lower angle. Asashoryu pushed him out and raised his arms in victory (typical Asashoryu non-traditional Sumo reaction).
In other news of this tournament...
Harumafuji had a mediocre first tournament as an Ozeki, but after a horrible 1-5 start, he did manage a winning record at 8-7 despite a final-day loss to Baruto.
Baruto had a very good 9-6 tournament at Sekiwake, even though he faded with a late 4-match losing streak. Seems pretty safe that he'll be pushing for Ozeki promotion by the end of the year.
Koto'oshu actually had a good tournament, finishing 10-5, though he couldn't beat the Yokozunas. But the rest of the Ozeki team were their typical awful selves. Kaio and Chiyotaikai both finished barely over .500 at 8-7 (Kaio barely escaping demotion/retirement) and Kotomitsuki had a horrible 2-win tournament due to injury and had to drop out on day 12. He'll be facing demotion if he doesn't win 8 in March.
Kisenosato barely got a winning record, 8-7, at Komusubi, but it should be just enough to join Baruto as a Sekiwake in the next tournament. That would be Kisenosato's highest rank yet.
Great Japanese Hope Goeido has been up and down, but this tournament was another up. He finished 10-5, despite losing his last 2, and won the Technique Prize.
Former Other-Great-Japanese-Hope Homasho had fallen to the very bottom of the major league rankings, but he survived to stay in the majors with a big 11-4 tournament and claimed the Fighting Spirit Prize.
It was a bad day for my favorites as Futeno went 5-10 and Takamisakari went 6-9, but at least Tochiozan had a great start and held on for a 10-5 finish.
As I expected, Bushuyama and Aran were both promoted too high in their 2nd tournaments in the majors and they fell to 2-13 and 5-10 records, respectively. However, rookie Yamamotoyama, the extremely popular 500-pounder, eked out an 8-7 record and will move up a little bit in the rankings.
He'll be joined in the majors by Shotenro, the 26-year old Mongolian who won the championship in the minors at 11-4. He's certainly looking promising. He'll be promoted to the majors after only 2 tournaments in the Juryo division. And oh yeah, he only won the championship in both those tournaments.
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.
11-1: Hakuho
10-2: Kotomitsuki, Ama
9-3: Goeido
8-4: Kaio, Wakanosato, Futeno
7-5: Chiyotaikai
6-6: Koto'oshu, Aminishiki
5-5-3: Asashoryu
5-7: Baruto, Takamisakari
Hakuho beat Goeido yesterday to take the sole lead with one loss. He followed that up today with a win over Chiyotaikai to maintain his 1-match lead over Kotomitsuki and Ama.
Goeido fell out of the race when he lost today to Kaio to drop to 9-3 and 2 back with only 3 days to go. Still, he should move up to the top of the rankings next time and compete against all the top wrestlers.
Ama is proving he deserves that promotion to Ozeki. Today he beat Koto'oshu, completing a complete sweep of the Ozekis in the tournament. He has beaten Kaio, Kotomitsuki, Chiyotaikai and now Koto'oshu, in addition to his win over Asashoryu. He stands at 10-2, his second straight double-figure win total, and I imagine if he finishes 13-2, he will get promoted (especially if he ties for the tournament lead).
Kotomitsuki won again today to stay 1 back and still has a day 15 date with Hakuho, that gives Ama and him both hope for winning the tournament.
In the minors, the big guy, Yamamotoyama, has started to falter, dropping down to 8-4 and out of the tournament lead by 1.
Match of the day tomorrow: Hakuho (11-1) vs. Kaio (8-4)
9-1: Hakuho, Goeido
8-2: Kotomitsuki, Ama
7-3: Kaio, Toyohibiki, Hokutoriki, Futeno, Kokkai
6-4: Chiyotaikai, Tochinoshin
5-5: Asashoryu, Koto'oshu
4-6: Toyonoshima, Takamisakari, Kitataiki, Tamawashi
3-7: Baruto
It was an exciting day 10. First, Asashoryu dropped out of the tournament with his elbow injury. After losing 3 out of 4 matches, I guess he decided it was a good time to rest the elbow. In fact, his people are saying he may not even compete in the year-ending tournament in November.
Asashoryu's dropping out was a bit of luck for leader Goeido, because he was supposed to fight Asashoryu today. Instead he got a default victory and went to 9-1 and stayed tied for first.
In the big match to end the day, Hakuho fought Ama for a share of the lead. It was a good battle. Ama got a good hit on Hakuho at the faceoff, then quickly got a grip on Hakuho's belt. Unfortunately, a quick move from Hakuho got under Ama's grip and separated him from the belt, and Hakuho quickly ushered Ama out of the ring.
Looks like it's Hakuho's tournament to win now, and he can do it tomorrow when he goes up against Goeido in the last match of the day.
Kotomitsuki beat fellow Ozeki Chiyotaikai to hang on 1 match behind the leaders and still has a chance to win the tournament, with an upcoming match against Hakuho on the last day of the tournament.
In the minor leagues, the giant Yamamotoyama lost his lead today with an awesome backwards throw from Kaiho and he's now tied with 2 other wrestlers at 8-2.
Goeido got his first big test today and he failed, losing to Kotomitsuki to drop back into a tie for first at 6-1. It's the first time in over 2 years that not a single wrestler made it to 7-0, so I guess that means it's shaping up as one of the most exciting tournaments in a couple years.
Goeido is tied for the lead with Kotomitsuki, Hakuho and Ama.
Hakuho had a monster battle with Baruto today, as both got grips on the belts and struggled for advantage. Hakuho finally wore Baruto down and shoved him out. Baruto dropped to 2-4.
Ama beat Asasekiryu, by grabbing his arm and yanking him out.
Meanwhile, not tied for first is Asashoryu, who lost his 2nd match yesterday to Aminishiki, when Aminishiki jumped out of the way at the faceoff and Asashoryu went flying to the edge of the ring before finally stopping himself. From there, it was easy for Aminishiki to push him out.
The other Ozekis remain non-factors: Kaio is 4-3, Koto'oshu and Chiyotaikai are 3-4.
5-2 wrestlers include little (under 300 lbs) Mongolian Kakuryu, my man Futeno, and Georgian Kokkai, who lost his 2nd today.
The Juryo division also lost all its undefeated wrestlers today, when Yamamotoyama lost his first. In an impressive display, 340-pound Koryu pushed 550-pound Yamamotoyama out and down (nearly killing a referee who he landed on). Yamamotoyama is tied with one other wrestler at 6-1, with several wrestlers at 5-2.
Match of the day tomorrow: Kotomitsuki (6-1) vs. Ama (6-1)
