Open The Forbidden Gate

Here are the quick results from Day 14 of the July 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament from Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira; K-Komusubi; S-Sekiwake; O-Ozeki; Y-Yokozuna; J-Juryo (2nd tier)
Makuuchi (Top tier)
Onosho (M15) beat Nishikifuji (M17)
Ryuden (J1) beat Myogiryu (M4).RYUDEN JURYO YUSHO!
Asanowaka (J4) beat Terutsuyoshi (M12)
Takarafuji (M12) beat Hidenoumi (J1)
Midorifuji (M11) beat Oho (M15)
Kagayaki (J3) beat Shimanoumi (M9)
Yutakayama (M16) beat Okinoumi (M7)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Aoiyama (M6)
Sadanoumi (M5) beat Chiyomaru (M17)
Ura (M3) beat HOkutofuji (M7)
Meisei (M10) beat Ichinojo (M2)
Kiribayama (M1) beat Wakamotoharu (M4)
Hoshoryu (K) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Abi (K) beat Chiyotairyu (M10)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Shodai (O) beat Terunofuji (Y)
Leader: Terunofuji (11-3), Ichinojo (11-3), Takakeisho (10-4). IT’S NOT OVER YET! Shodai gave us a very exciting final day! The key matches tomorrow are Ichinojo first vs. Ura. Then in the final match of the tournament it’s Terunofuji vs. Takakeisho. If Ichinojo wins, Terunofuji must win to force a playoff vs. Ichinojo for the championship-if Takakeisho wins, Ichinojo is the champion. If Ichinojo loses, Terunofuji is the champion for the 2nd straight tournament with a win, but if Takakeisho wins, we would have a 3-WAY PLAYOFF! Takakeisho cannot win the championship outright (there are no tiebreakers in sumo for championships).

Juryo:
Hokuseiho (J13) beat Gonoyama (J14)
Kanno (Makushita 2) beat Kaisei (J11)
Tochimaru (J11) beat Roga (Makushita 2)
Akua (J7) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Kotokuzan (J7) beat Kamito (Makushita 3)
Kitanowaka (J12) beat Atamifuji (J6)
Churanoumi (J9) beat Bushozan (J6)
Hiradoumi (J8) beat Chiyonokuni (J5)
Tokushoryu (J5) beat Yago (J12)
Enho (J8) beat Mitoryu (J5)
Leader: Ryuden (12-2). It’s over because second place Hokuseiho is 10-4. Ryuden is the Juryo Champion! It’s his second Juryo championship (the first came in March) and 7th overall. He now has a title in every division except the top tier. He will stay in Makuuchi tomorrow and face Takarafuji in his final match, which might make his promotion even better and add anothe rank or two to his jpmp.

Lower tier notes:
Everything is settled except Jonokuchi. There are just 2 matches there tomorrow, then we should have a playoff between Kazuto & Takahashi, both 6-1, for the championship.

Early Day 15 UPDATE: There may not be a Jonokuchi champion. No champion is listed.
The Special Prizes for the top tier are as follows:
Outstabnding Performance: Ichinojo
Fighting Spirit: Nishikifuji, CONDITIONALLY
Technique: TBA if any

Here are the quick results from Day 13 of the July 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament from Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira; K-Komosubi; S-Sekiwake; O-Ozeki; Y-Yokozuna; J-Juryo (2nd tier)
Makuuchi (Top tier)
Oho (M15) beat Terutsuyoshi (M12)
Midorifuji (M11) beat Yutakayama (M16)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Meisei (M10)
Onosho (M15) beat Chiyotairyu (M10)
Chiyomaru (M17) beat Shimanoumi (M9)
Chiyoshoma (M13) beat Tochinoshin (M8)
Ichinojo (M2) beat Nishigiki (M8) by default/withdrawal
Kiribayama (M1) beat Okinoumi (M7)
Abi (K) beat HOkutofuji (M7)
Hoshoryu (K) beat Wakamotoharu (M4)
Takakeisho (O) beat Shodai (O)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Wakatakakage (S)
Sadanoumi (M5) beat Daiamami (M16) by default/withdrawal
Takarafuji (M12) beat Endo (M5) by default/withdrawal
Ura (M3) beat Tamawashi (M3) by default/withdrawal
Aoiyama (M6) beat Daieisho (S) by default/withdrawal
Leader: Terunofuji, Ichinojo (11-2), Takakeisho (10-3). On Day 14, Terunofuji faces Shodai, Ichinojo has the easiest of the top 3 on paper in Meisei, Takakeisho gets Wakatakakage. It also appears that Wakatakakage will not earn promotion to Ozeki, even winning out leaves him with 9 wins and while that’s the minimum 30 over 3 tournaments (and he has one championship), today’s loss to Terunofuji probably ended this bid. He could still earn promotion next time with at least 12 wins.
WITHDWARALS: Daieisho (S), Tamawashi (M3), Endo (M5), Tobizaru (M6), Nishigiki (M8), Tsutugisho (M14), Daiamami (M16). All coronavirus related (outbreaks in beyas/stables). That’s the second withdrawal this tournament for Daiamami.

Juryo:
Takakento (Makushita 1) beat Yago (J12)
Kitanowaka (J12) beat Hiradoumi (J8)
Churanoumi (J9) beat Akua (J7)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Bushozan (J6)
Tochimaru (J11) beat Tokushoryu (J5)
Chiyonikuni (J5) beat Kotokuzan (J7
Asanowaka (J4) beat Gonoyama (J14)
Kaisei (J11) beat Daishoho (J3) by default/withdrawal
Atamifuji (J6) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Enho (J8) beat Hiraodumi (J1)
Ryuden (J1) beat Hokuseiho (J13)
WITHDRAWAL: Daishoho (J3). Coronavirus outbreak in beya.
Leader: Ryuden (11-2). If Ryuden wins tomorrow (will be in the top tier) or both Hokuseiho and Chiyosakae lose, Ryuden is the Juryo champion. Hokuseiho is scheduled to face Gonoyama in the first match, Chiyosakae has Akua so Ryuden will know his fate before his top tier match against Myogiryu.

Lower tier notes:
Aaanoyama Watch: The former Ozeki capped off a 7-0 return by winning the Sandanme Championship with a win against Daiseizan. Asanoyama will be promoted to Makushita after his 3rd career title. He’ll be part of the victory ceremony on the Final Day, but match-wise his tournament is complete-no matches on the final 2 days.
The Makushita Champion is Yoshii, who finishes 7-0 after beating Juryo-bound Kinbozan in their final match. However, it was close because the referee declared Kinbozan the winner, but after a Mono-Ii (Judges’ conference) the referee’s verdict was overturned. Replays showed that, unfortunately for the Kazakhstan-born Kinbozan, it was the right decision because Kinbozan clearly touched the ground first as both were going down on a throw by Yoshii. Regardless, Kinbozan will be a Juryo man as he was a Makushita 1, as for Yoshii it’s a toss-up as he was a Makushita 38. Most likely will stay in Makushita at around a 3 to a 5 in September.
In the bottom tier Jonokuchi, nobody will go 7-0 and it looks like Kazuto & Takahashi, both making their debuts this tournament, will have a playoff for the championship.

Here are the quick results from Day 12 of the July 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament from Nagoya:
Key: M-Maegashira; K-Komosubi; S-Sekiwake; O-Ozeki; Y-Yokozuna; J-Juryo (2nd tier)
Makuuchi (Top tier)
Yutakayama (M16) beat Kagayaki (J3)
Onosho (M15) beat Chiyoshoma (M13)
Takarafuji (M12) beat Daiamami (M16)
Chiyomaru (M17) beat Midorifuji (M11)
Myogiryu (M14) beat Chiyotairyu (M10)
Meisei (M10) beat Oho (M15)
Tochinoshin (M8) beat Nishikifuji (M17)
Endo (M5) beat Shimanoumi (M9)
Sadanoumi (M6) beat Terutsuyoshi (M12)
Tamawashi (m3) beat Tsuturisho (M14)
Ichinojo (M2) beat Tobizaru (M6)
Kiribayama (M1) beat Ura (M3)
Hoshoryu (K) beat Hokutofuji (M7)
Abi (K) beat Wakamotoharu (M4)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Okinoumi (M7)
Takakeisho (O) beat Nishigiki (M6)
Shodai (O) beat Aoiyama (M6)
Terunofuji (Y) beat Daieisho (S)
WITHDRAWALS: Tamawashi (M3), Nishigiki (M8) are both out ahead of Day 13. Unknown (no indication of other members of their respective beya withdrawing so hard to say if it’s coronavirus or injury). That means Ichinojo gets a freebie and will stay a co-leader or potentially the leader as he was to have faced Nishigiki, who at least earned promotion already. Tamawashi being out means Ura avoids potential demotion tomorrow and Tamawashi will be demoted.
Leader: Terunofuji, Ichinojo (10-2)
Notes: No more Kadoban for Shodai! His 7th straight win was #8 meaning he will be a full-fledged Ozeki again in September. Both Shodai & Takakeisho will remain in that status. If Wakatakakage can win his last 3, he has a decent chance at promotion to Ozeki. We’re still trending towards a Mongolian final day for the title, but Takakeisho is in position to sneak in and steal it should both Terunofuji & Ichinojo lose before then.
Tomorrow on Day 13, it’s the Ozeki Showdown-Takakeisho vs. Shodai. Terunofuji has Wakatakakage while Ichinojo gets a free win because Nishigiki is out.

Juryo:
Gonoyama (J14) beat Kaisho (J9) by default/withdrawal
Churanoumi (J9) beat Yago (J12)
Tochimaru (J11) beat Enho (J8)
Chiyosakae (J14) beat Kotokuzan (J7)
Hokuseiho (J13) beat Atamifuji (J6)
Chiyonokuni (J5) beat Kitanowaka (J12)
Asanowaka (J4) beat Kaisei (J11)
Akua (J6) beat Mitoryu (J4)
Daishoho (J3) beat Tokushoryu (J5)
Ryusen (J1) beat Hiradoumi (J4)
Bushozan (J4) beat Hidenoumi (J1)
WITHDRAWAL: Kaisho (J9). Unknown.
Leader: Ryuden (10-2). If Ryuden beats Hokuseiho tomorrow, it’s all but over. Ryuden can’t win the title outright but at worst it would be a rematch in a playoff because Ryuden would be 2 wins ahead with 2 days to go.

Lower tier notes:
Asanoyama Watch: No match today. He goes for a perfect 7-0 shortly on Day 13 against Daiseizan, a Sandanme 67 who is also 6-0. The other Sandanme who was 6-0 as of this post has lost his final match, so if Asanoyama wins he is the Sandanme Champion. It would be his first Sandanme title and 3rd career (1 top tier/Emperor’s Cup and 1 Makushita).
And we have our first Champion as of this post-Hitoshi is the Jonidan Champion, finishing a perfect 7-0. He was a Jonidan 62 coming in, meaning he likely will be promoted to the Sandanme in September. It’s his 2nd career championship, both in Jonidan-he won in his second tournament as a Jonidan 63 and reached the Sandanme, but went down to Jonokuchi due to missing the next 3 tournaments. He’ll get a second chance in Septmmber if all goes well.
The Makushita main event on Day 13 will determine the champion as Kinbozan faces Yoshii, both are 6-0.
BREAKING UPDATE: ASANOYAMA YUSHO! Asanoyama beat Daiseizan to finish 7-0 and become the July Sandanme Champion! The former Ozeki claims his 3rd career overall title and is headed up to Makushita in September. He probably is still, at best, 4 tournaments away from returning to the top tier which would mean maybe next May.
BREAKING DAY 13 UPDATE: Daieisho has WITHDRAWN. Unknown why yet. This means the Sekiwake will be demoted as he will finish with fewer than 8 wins.