Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-asekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Nishikifuji (J16)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat Kitanowaka (M17)
Takarafuji (J13) beat Tohakuryu (J15)
Ichiyamamoto (J14) beat Tamawashi (J12)
Oho (M12) beat Tomokaze (M14)
Hiradoumi (M11) beat Roga (M17)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Endo (M8)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Hokuseiho (M7) beat Kotoeko (M10)
Takanosho (M6) beat Ryuden (M10)
Shonannoumi (M6) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Midorifuji (M5)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Onosho (M5)
Takayasu (M3) beat Tobizaru (M3)
Meisei (M3) beat Gonoyama (M4)
Shodai (M2) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Ura (M1) beat Abi (K)
Wakamotoharu (S) beat Daieisho (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Asanoyama (M1)
Takakeosho (O) beat Noshikigi (M4)
Kotonowaka (S) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Ichiyamamoto (8-1)
Of note: The field chasing the leader at one win back thinned from 9 to 4 as Ichiyamamoto is the first to clinch promotion this tournament. No Sanyaku in Janury for Asanoyama as he will be the first demotion after a very close loss, which was upheld on judges’ review. He now is the equivalent of 1-8 in his first losing tournament since returning from a 1 year suspension that saw him demoted from Ozeki to Sandanme. At the bottom, Roga is also one loss now from demotion back to Juryo at 2-7.
Yokozuna Watch: Takakeisho is still in it but his chances are near zero now as he remains 2 off the pace and can only finish with 12 wins.
Ozeki Watch: Kotonowaka’s win over Hoshoryu today was big. Probably still needs to win out to get to 13-2 and the unofficial 33-win bar but he remains one win off the lead.
Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Tenshoho (J10)
Akua (J10) beat Yuma (J13)
Shiden (J12) beat Takakento (J9)
Shimanoumi (J13) beat Tokihayate (J8)
Chiyomaru (J8) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Mitoryu (J4) beat Takahashi (J9)
Daiamami (J4) beat Asakoryu (J13)
Tamashoho (J7) beat Oshoma (J3)
Daoshoho (J7) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Bushozan (J2) beat Shishi (J5)
Onosato (J5) beat Aoiyama (J1)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Onosato, Shiden (7-2)
RE-ENTRY: Hidenouni (J11). Will return tomorrow. He will be the equivalent of 4-5 after missing 3 days.
Of note: Hitoshi is demoted after winning the Makushita Championship in September but can stay in Juryo if he can get some wins. The win today in return from a shoulder injury probably means Chiyomaru is safe despite demotion, but he needs one more to be sure, maybe 2. On the other side, a win in the top tier means Kotoshoho is just one away from a return in January.
Hidenoumi’s return means a Makushita man comes up again starting tomorrow, and he’ll face Tsushimanada, who will be going for a 4th win and promotion from Ms4.
Lower tier notes:
The Makushita saw 10 unbeatens left narrowed down to 4 at 5-0, so Day 11 should narrow it down to the championship match on Day 13. Former Sekiwake Wakatakakage picked up a second consecutive win to go to 3-2 (earlier versions of this post incorrectly said he was 3-3) and is now a win from promotion in his return from injury. The Sandanme currently has 5 at 5-0. The Jonidan currently has 6 at 5-0 while on the Jonokuchi, Aonishiki won the match of the 2 remaining unbeatens to go to 5-0 and now just needs to win his last 2 matches for the championship.
UPDATE: Makuuchi-Kotoeko has WITHDRAWN after Day 9. More to come as to why tomorrow. Nishikifuji gets the free win and avoids demotion for at least another day. It’s only the second time in his 13-year career he’s had to withdraw from a tournament. The first and only other time was July 2022 when he missed the last 4 days. He is 2-7 at M10 so he will be demoted, possibly to Juryo if he doesn’t return. If that happens it will end a 3 1/2 year run in the top tier following demotion after January 2020 (he was Juryo 5 in March 2020 and went 11-4 but had to wait until July 2020 to return because the May 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the pandemic).
