Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr.
Yusho Arasoi
10 Wins
05 Sekiwake #1 West Onosato
8 Wins
06 Sekiwake #2 East Kirishima
22 Maegashira #7 East Wakatakakage
35 Maegashira #13 West Nishikigi
38 Maegashira #15 East Takayasu
7 Wins
02 Ozeki East Kotozakura
24 Maegashira #8 East Endo
27 Maegashira #9 West Oshoma
Notable Maneuvers
Henka. Kirishima's sidestep manifestly did not work, which is what is most notable. Onosato read it instantly. More impressively, he kept his feet, moved sideways, and reached his long arms out to gather his closest competition. That went to an easy backing down.
Match of the Day
As happens more than he'd like, Atamifuji gathered up his opponent and took him to the edge without actuially sending him over. Wakamotoharu, using his never say die approach, began working from the tawara. That sent them back to the middle of the dohyo, and then the match was really on. They never really disengaged, but Wakamotoharu seemed fine with it. Atamifuji began moving around, and he started going towards the other end of the dohyo. With a heavy, fully-body shove, Wakamotoharu won as the Young Star from Isegahama went out.
Recap
Onosato now has 10 wins, a perfect record, and a place alone atop the leaderboard. More consequentially, his win over Kirishima gives him a 2 win cushion with 5 days left. If he goes 3-2 in the final third of a basho he has begun with 10 wins, he still gets a chance at a playoff. The way he won, swallowing up the man with the best chance at overtaking his lead, makes it uncertain if two rikishi can touch him in this mode. Somehow, Onosato might be getting better through this basho, or at least more contained and less likely to put a foot wrong.
Kirishima's henka was certainly an interesting approach, and he might have made the basho much more lively if it had worked. Instead, he is back with Wakatakakage, Nishikigi, and Takayasu at 8-2, needing to be near-perfect and for Onosato to collapse over the next five days. And those are the guys with the actual, albeit slim, shot at winning this yusho. Wakatakakage moved Endo out of this group, while Nishikigi and Takayasu continue to perform well against lower Maegashira. On Day Eleven, Wakatakakage and Nishikigi square off to further winnow the leaderboard, while Takayasu sees the aforementioned Endo.
Kotozakura performed well again in working out Gonoyama, so he does sit at 7-3 with likely matches against both Kirishima and Onosato. He will also need to see Hoshoryu before things are done, with Abi being the other Sanyaku man he needs to see once he sees Daieisho on Day Eleven. That is not an easy match card for the top-ranked Ozeki. On top of that, he must thread the needle perfectly to have any chance at even making it to a playoff. Kotozakura may be facing another 10 or 11 win basho that still feels like a disappointment.
The bottom of the Banzuke might feature more drama than the yusho race, except that the bottom three rikishi, Shirokuma, Kitanowaka, and Nishikifuji, are all under water. If they can't boost their performance to get 8 Wins, they are all likely to get the drop to Juryo. If they struggle a lot more, then there is basically no questions about their demotions for November.
So perhaps the rest of this basho is simply an Onosato coronation. Two more wins means he definitely gets the big fish, new robe, and elevation to sumo's second rank. He will be the fastest rikishi to make Ozeki, and the Yokozuna watch will officially begin. Regarding this basho, it would also mean he gets a playoff at a minimum. Three more wins and he guarantees an outright win. Let's enjoy dominance again, if that's what we're getting.
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