Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Bushozan (M16) beat Tsurugisho (J5)
Hokutofuji (M13) beat Chiyoshoma (M15)
Endo (M14) beat Churanoumi (M12)
Nishikifuji (M17) beat Ichiyamamoto (M11)
Kagayaki (M16) beat NIshikigi (M11)
Wakatakakage (M14) beat Midorifuji (M10)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Ryuden (M8) beat Roga (M15)
Shodai (M10) beat Kinbocan (M7)
Oshoma (M9) beat Sadanoumi (M7)
Tobizaru (M4) beat Kotoshoho (M7)
Ura (M4) beat Oho (M6)
Takanosho (M8) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Mitakeumi (M2) beat Meisei (M1)
Daieisho (K) beat Atamifuji (M1)
Hiradoumi (K) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Abi (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Shonannoumi (M5)
Kotozakura (O) beat Onosato (S)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Kirishima (S)
Leader: Terunofuji (10-0)
Of note: It’s pretty much down to Kotozakura as the last obstacle to Terunofuji’s 10th title. The Ozeki has protected his rank with his 8th win today but is still 2 back of the Yokozuna, who continued his unbeaten dominance of Kirishima. Speaking of Kirishima, his Ozeki re-promotion hopes are all but dead, he now must win his last 5 matches. Takakeisho’s Ozeki status is more endangered now at 4-6, he must go 4-1 or 5-0 to avoid demotion. The repeat bid is now over for Onosato as he drops to 5-5. To have any semblance of a chance he must win tomorrow…and if he doesn’t the title race is over because tomorrow he gets Terunofuji.

Juryo:
Oshoumi (Ms3) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Hakuoho (J13) beat Tochitaikai (J11)
Hakuyozan (J12) beat Shishi (J10)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Fujiseiun (J14)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Nabatame (J14)
Kayo (J13) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Myogiryu (J8) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Shirokuma (J6) beat Daishoho (J4)
Shiden (J7) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Tomokaze (J7) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Tohajuryu (J5)
Daiamami (J2) beat Takerufuji (J2) by default/withdrawal
Tokihayate (J1) beat Tamashoho (J6)
Shimanoumi (J6) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Leader: Shirokuma, Shishi (8-2)
WITHDRAWAL: Takerufuji (J2). Left shoulder. Tournament probably over. Will finish the equivalent of 2-13 and demotion from Juryo will be a very big toss-up.
Of note: Hakuyozan ended Shishi’s 8-match winning streak to help Shirokuma pull even and clinch his first promotion in 3 tournaments (he missed out on a potential promotion in March due to injury). With Takerufuji pulling out again, the question now will be is 2 wins-and more significantly the Isegahama factor-enough to keep him in Juryo? It’ll depend on other factors but I think it’s enough. We also have to now watch Aoiyama, who is one loss from demotion and too many more losses could see him lose his salary for the first time in a very long time. Nabatame is now one loss from demotion back to Makushita and Tsushimanada seems likely to be demoted. With his win today, Makushita man Oshoumi clinches a promotion and, with one or ideally two more wins in his last two matches, has a chance at promotion to Juryo in September. Tomorrow could decide the championship, or at least the favorite, with Shirokuma-Shishi.

Lower tier notes: The Makushita is down to 4 at 5-0, and it looks like Daiseizan is probably going to earn promotion to Juryo from Ms2 regardless of what happens now. Former Makushita Champion Hitoshi, who earned promotion to Juryo after his first third-tier championship last September, will have a chance to return if he wins the title again although it may be too big a jump from Ms19. The Sandanme has 6 tied at 5-0 including former Juryo champion Tochimusashi, who holds the dubious distinction of first Juryo champion to be demoted without reaching the top tier following that championship. The Jonidan has 5 at 5-0 while in the Jonokuchi, two are at 5-0 although as of this post Day 11 is underway, and in the matchup of them Shimizuumi beat Daiyusho so Shimizuumi goes to 6-0 and the sole leader. Enho won today to improve to 4-1 and clinch promotion to Jonidan. Still a ways to go back to Juryo but it’s a good first step. He’ll probably next compete on Day 12.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 9 of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Nishikifuji (M17) beat Daishoho (J4)
Kagayaki (M16) beat Roga (M15)
Churanoumi (M12) beat Chiyoshoma (M15)
Nishikigi (M11) beat Bushozan (M16)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Hokutofuji (M13)
Endo (M14) beat Oshoma (M9)
Wakatakakage (M14) beat Kinbozan (M8)
Tamawashi (M9) beat Ryuden (M8)
Takarafuji (M13) beat Sadanoumi (M7)
Midorifuji (M10) beat Kotoshoho (M7)
Oho (M6) beat Shodai (M10)
Takanosho (M6) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Shonannoumi (M4)
Gonoyama (M3) beat Onosato (S)
Abi (S) beat Ura (M4)
Kirishima (S) beat Meisei (M1)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Kotozakura (O) beat Hiradoumi (K)
Takakeisho (O) beat Mitakeumi (M2)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Daieisho (K)
Leader: Terunofuji (9-0)
Of note: It’s still not over yet, but it feels like it’s over. Terunofuji is still 2 wins ahead and continues to dominate although he has been tested the last couple days and he still has most of Sanyaku and the Ozeki still to come. It still feels like the question is 15-0 or not? He’s probably got Sanyaku the rest of the way starting with Kirishima tomorrow. 2 back are Kotozakura & Churanoumi at 7-2. Elsewhere, any hopes Onosato had of making Ozeki next time out probably went away today as his 4-match winning streak ended, leaving the May champion at 5-4. Kirishima is also 5-4, meaning he needs to go 5-1 to get back to Ozeki right away, while Takakeisho showed up today and easily dispatched Mitakeumi but still needs to finish 4-2 to avoid demotion. Terunofuji goes for 10-0 tomorrow against Kirishima, a loss would put the former Ozeki against the wall in his re-promotion bid. Losing means Kirishima must win his last 5 matches or his Ozeki bid must start all over.

Juryo:
Hakuoho (J13) beat Kotokuzan (Ms3)
Tochitaikai (J11) beat Nabatame (J14)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Shishi (J10) beat Fujiseiun (J14)
Hakuyozan (J12) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Kayo (J13) beat Myogiryu (J8)
Shiden (J7) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Hidenoumi (J9) beat Tomokaze (J7)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Tsurugisho (J5)
Mitoryu (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J6)
Asakoryu (J4) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Tamashoho (J6) beat Daiamami (J2)
Tohakuryu (J5) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Leader: Shishi (8-1)
Of note: Shishi is the first to clinch promotion this time, with Shirokuma the only wrestler 1 win behind. Tsushimanada became the first demotion with loss 8, he’ll need some wins to avoid going down to Makushita. With a second win today, Takerufuji has almost certainly saved his Juryo spot after missing the first 7 days, and can still salvage a promotion if he wins out. He gets Daiamami tomorrow.

In the lower tiers, no match for Enho today in Jonokuchi. His next match is tomorrow, a win will take him to 4-1 and guarantee promotion back up to Jonidan. It also means he would still have an outside shot at the championship as while there are 2 in Jonokuchi tie at 5-0, there’s no guarantee the champion will go 7-0 so a playoff is a possibility.

UPDATE: Takerufuji has WITHDRAWN again ahead of Day 10. That clinches demotion again but apparently 2-13 will be enough to keep him in Juryo.

Here are the quick results from today’s Day 8-the Halfway Point-of the July 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, Y-Yokozuna, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita

Makuuchi (top tier):
Endo (J14) beat Asakoryu (J4)
Roga (M15) beat Hokurofuji (J13)
Bushozan (M16) beat Takarafuji (M13)
Churanoumi (M12) beat NIshikifuji (M17)
Ichiyamamoto (M11) beat Kagayaki (M16)
Chiyoshoma (M15) beat Nishikigi (M11)
Shodai (M10) beat Wakatakakage (M14)
Midorifuji (M10) beat Ryuden (M9)
Kinbozan (M8) beat Kotoshoho (M7)
Sadanoumi (M7) beat Tamawashi (M9)
Oho (M6) beat Oshoma (M9)
Takanosho (M6) beat MitakeumI (M7)
Atamifuji (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (M2)
Hiradoumi (K) beat Meisei (M1)
Abi (S) beat Gonoyama (M3)
Onosato (S) beat Tobizaru (M4)
Kotozakura (O) beat Ura (M4)
Takakeisho (O) beat Kirishima (S)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (K)
Terunofyji (Y) beat Shonannoumi (M5)
Leader: Terunofuji (8-0)
Of note: With now at least 2 more days before potential promotions are earned, Terunofuji is halfway to #10 and maintains his 2 win advantage. At this point the question may shift from will he win to will he go 15-0 and perhaps pull a Hakuho, retiring after a perfect championship finale. On the flip side, Nishikigi becomes the first demotion of the tournament as he is now 0-8. Elsewhere, a quick Ozeki re-promotion is all but gone for Kirishima as he is now 4-4, having to go 6-1 or 7-0 now to make is happen. Despite beating Kirishima, Takakeisho also has work to do in order to keep his Ozeki rank as he is now 3-5 so he must go 5-2 or better. And while he may be too far back to win another championship, Onosato has now won 4 straight after a 1-3 start and is now 5-3, keeping his slim Ozeki promotion hopes for September alive. He’s potentially setting up a shot for November promotion with 10-11 wins in September.
Terunofuji goes for 9-0 tomorrow against Daieisho.

Juryo:
Daiseizan (Ms2) beat Kayo (J13)
Shishi (J10) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Shimazuumi (J10) beat Aoiyama (J11)
Fujiseiun (J14) beat Hidenoumi (J9)
Nabatame (J14) beat Chiyosakae (J9)
Shirokuma (J8) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Myogiryu (J8) beat Hakuyozan (J12)
Shiden (J7) beat Tochitaikai (J11)
Daishoho (J4) beat Tomokaze (J7)
Tamashoho (J6) beat Kitanowaka (J3)
Tsurugisho (J5) beat Mitoryu (J3)
Daiamami (J2) beat Shimanoumi (J6)
Tokihayate (J1) beat Tohakuryu (J5)
Takerufuji (J2) beat Onokatsu (J1)
Leader: Shishi (7-1)
Of note: Takerutuji returned for the first time since winning the Emperor’s Cup in March, staving off another demotion for now and probably at least maintaining jis Juryo rank regardless of what happens now as 0-15 or Absent would mean demotion to Makushita. He can still get a promotion id he wins out but almost certainly wouldn’t get back to the top tier. Tohakuryu will be the first demotion this time at now 0-8. Shishi is now the sole leader, surely would be a popular one because he is a sentimental favorite being one of two current rikishi from Ukraine. At the bottom, Daiseizan came up for an unusual 5th match for an unbeaten Makushita man at this point-he’ll have a couple days off as a result but with this win he’s gone to 5-0 and will be in Juryo in September for the first time.

Lower tier notes:
In the Makushita, besides Daiseizan there are 7 others currently at 4-0 with Dewarnoryu at Ms9 having a chance at Juryo promotion if he can win the championship. The Sandanme has 10 currently at 4-0. The Jinodan has 11 at 4-0 while the Jonokuchi has 3 at 4-0. 2 of those 3 face each other tomorrow so there will only be 2 unbeatens remaining and potentially just one. Enho won today so he currently is 3-1. One more win will definitely see him promoted to Jonidan in September.