Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13-Championship Day 1-of the November 2023 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita, Sd-Sandanme, Jd-Jonidan, Jk-Jonokuchi
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Kitanowaka (M17) beat Oshoma (J3)
Tohakuryu (M15) beat Oho (M12)
Tomokaze (M14) beat Hiradoumi (M11)
Churanoumi (M15) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Mitakeumi (M9) beat Tamawashi (M12)
Roga (M16) beat Myogiryu (M9)
Endo (M8) beat Nishikifuji (M16)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Tsurugisho (M13) beat NIshikigi (M4)
Tobizaru (M3) beat Hokuseiho (M7)
Atamifuji (M8) beat Takayasu (M3)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Meisei (M2)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Shodai (M2)
Ura (M1) beat Onosho (M5)
Gonoyama (M4) beat Hokutofuji (K)
Abi (K) beat Shonannoumi (M6)
Ryuden (M10) beat Kotonowaka (S)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Kirishima (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Takakeisho (O) beat Hoshoryu (O)
Leader: Kirishima, Atamifuji (11-2)
Of note: The championship can’t be officially decided until the final day, but Kirishima-Atamifuji is the last match tomorrow. That means the winner only needs to win on the final day or have the loser lose again for the championship, but there could also very well be a playoff rematch. It will be the first ever meeting between the two. It’s also down to those two as it means anyone at 9-4 now can’t force a playoff. That includes Takakeisho so Yokozuna hopes are officially dead, and Ichiyamamoto who fell to a HENKA! by Midorifuji. But if Kirishima wins the championship, he goes on the radar in January and will have a chance at promotion if he goes back-to-back. Atamifuji will be looking for a second straight championship chance after losing to Takakeisho in a playoff in September. If he stays healthy, he could be in Ozeki contention by this time next year.
Ozeki Watch: Since he can’t win the championship now, Kotonowaka probably can’t be promoted. 30 wins will now be the best he can do. If he gets there, that starts him at 22 in January, meaning 11 again can do it. One more win should clinch a Special Prize though, likely Outstanding Performance as he did go 2-1 against Ozeki.
Juryo:
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Hitoshi (J11)
Tenshoho (J10) beat Hakuyozan (Ms1)
Takahashi (J9) beat Yuma (J13)
Tokihayate (J8) beat Hidenoumi (J11)
Takakenoto (J9) beat Chiyomaru (J8)
Shiden (J12) beat Chiyoshoma (J6)
Asakoryu (J13) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Onosato (J5) beat Daiamami (J4)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Shishi (J5)
Shimazuumi (J2) beat Akua (J10)
Bushozan (J2) beat Tamashoho (J7)
Kotoshoho (J1) beat Daishoho (J7)
Aoiyama (J1) beat Shimanoumi (J12)
Leader: Kotoshoho, Onosato (10-3)
Of note: While 4 at 8-5 still have playoff hopes, reasonably it’s down to 4. And the top 4 all face off tomorrow as both Kotoshoho and Onosato face the two who are one win back. But if Asakoryu and Shiden both win, the 8-5s are back in it with wins and could force up to a 7-WAY PLAYOFF! It can’t be 8-way because two of the 8-5s, Bushozan & Takahashi, face each other tomorrow. Elsewhere, with his win today, Aoiyama now just needs to win 1 of his last 2 matches for promotion back to the top tier. With 8 wins and promotion clinched at J2, Shimazuumi also will have a chance at a top tier debut in January (I think he needs one more win to make it definite). Fellow J2 Bushozan is a toss-up now to return to the top tier as well with promotion secured, again he also probably needs one more win. And despite his loss today, 4 wins at Ms1 means Hakuyozan will be back in Juryo in January. At this point, Onosato is going to have a chance at the top tier regardless of what happens. One more win makes it likely, 2 wins and/or the championship makes it definite.
Makushita:
Satorufuji (Ms42) beat Kitaharima (Ms11). SATORUFUJI MAKUSHITA YUSHO! 2nd career championship (1st Makushita) in 5 career tournaments for the Isegahama prospect who is an impressive 30-5 to date. He’ll probably go up to Ms12 in January. Kitaharima probably gets denied a January Juryo return as a result.
Sandanme:
Daishoryu (Sd62) beat Nishida (Sd37). DAISHORYU SANDANME YUSHO! First career championship. Will almost certainly return to Makushita after being demoted after July (Absent in September).
Jonidan:
Dairinzan (Jd61) beat Kototaiga (Jd40). PLAYOFF!
Shiroma (Jd15) beat Higonoumi (Jd45)
That means Dairinzan vs. Shiroma on Day 15 Sunday for the championship.
Jonokuchi:
Aonishiki (Jk14) beat Hatachijo (Jd96). AONISHIKI JONOKUCHI YUSHO! First championship in his debut tournament for the rikishi from Ukraine (interestingly he is not a stablemate of Shishi, not right now anyway), and it avoids what would have been a 3-way playoff if he lost as both other Jonokuchi wrestlers who were 5-1 won today, both also in Jonidan.
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top tier coverage, including the important Kirishima-Atamifuji match, tomorrow beginning at 12:10 AM PT/3:10 AM ET. The network is available on participating cable/satellite providers and FREE WORLDWIDE on their website and mobile/tablet/smart TV apps with no account/signup needed and no restrictions.
