Here are the quick results from today’s Day 10 of the March 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (top tier):
Kitanowaka (M14) beat Kagayaki (J4)
Daiamami (M16) beat Ryuden (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M14) beat Noshikifuji (M14)
Shodai (M10) beat Roga (M15)
Myogiryu (M15) beat Hokutofuji (M9)
Onosho (M6) beat Sadanoumi (M11)
Takayasu (M8) beat Shonannoumi (M12)
Kinbozan (M7) beat Endo (M16)
Tamawashi (M7) beat Churanoumi (M13)
Midorifuji (M5) beat Kotoshoho (M9)
Takerufuji (M17) beat Onosato (M5)
Gonoyama (M6) beat Tobizaru (M4) by default/withdrawal
Atamifuji (M2) beat Takanosho (M3)
Asanoyama (M1) beat Meisei (M2)
Mitakeumi (M10) beat Abi (K)
Ura (M1) beat Nishikigi (K)
Hiradoumi (M4) beat Kirishima (O)
Kotonowaka (O) beat Oho (M3)
Daieisho (S) beat Takakeisho (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Wakamotoharu (S)
Leaser: Takerufuji (10-0)
WITHDRAWAL: Tobizaru (M4). Enteritis. Will return tomorrow. Gonoyama got the fusen today.
Of note: Can the rookie run the table? Nobody has even made Takerufuji break a sweat yet. Tomorrow will perhaps tell the tale as he’ll get Kotonowaka (who will go into his new shikona [(name change to Kotozakura] as a full Ozeki as he now has 8 wins and thus a winning record in his Ozeki debut) and, depending on Onosato, could all but clinch the Emperor’s Cup. Onosato draws Takakeisho, still looking for that critical 8th win to protect his Ozeki rank. Takerufuji could ultimately be 3 wins ahead with 4 days to go. On the flip side, Kirishima has slumped to 3-7 and now must win out or else he’s in danger in May. And still no Ozeki victory sweep days. We also may be seeing the end of Endo-8 losses at M16 likely will see him demoted to Juryo for the first time in 11 years.
Juryo:
Tsukahara (Ms4) beat Kotoeko (J13)
Apiyama (J11) beat Kitaharima (J14)
Shiden (J10) beat Akua (J13)
Oshoumi (J11) beat Shishi (J8)
Hidenoumi (J7) beat Tsushimanada (J12)
Daishoho (J7) beat Wakatakakage (J10)
Bushozan (J5) beat Chiyosakae (J14)
Oshoma (J4) beat Hakuoho (J13)
Tomokaze (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J9)
Tamashoho (J9) beat Tohakuryu (J2)
Motoryu (J2) beat Asakoryu (J8)
Choyoshoma (J6) beat Tokihayate (J1)
Takarafuji (J1) beat Hakuyozan (J6)
Leader: Daishoho, Asakoryu, Wakatakakage (8-2)
RE-ENTRY: Shirokuma (J5). Will return tomorrow. Missed 3 days due to back pain. He will be the equivalent of 5-5 so all it did was probably take him out of championship contention, and he can still earn a promotion.
Of note: Both co-leaders lost again which allowed Daishoho to get into a 3-way tie for the lead. We also are probably seeing the last of veteran Kotoeko as his only hope of keeping his salary and Juryo rank os to win out. The best he can do is 6-9, which at J12 MAY keep him up, but any more losses and he’s going down.
Tomorrow Asakoryu faces the slumping Hakuoho (5-5), Doashoho then faces Chiyosakae (6-4) while Waktakakage gets Mitoryu (7-3).
Lower tier notes: With 5 matches complete the Makushita is down to 3 at 5-0 with Wakatakamoto first facing a Sandanme man, then Asahakuryu faces Kazekeno. If Wakatakamoto wins, he’ll face the latter match winner on Day 13 for the championship. If Wakatakamoto loses, the latter winner only needs to win his final match to be champion. In the Sandanme, 6 are at 5-0 but one, Nagamura, goes up to Makushita tomorrow to face Wakatakamoto. In the Jonidan, 5 are toed for the lead at 5-0 and in the Jonokuchi, 2 are currently 5-0.
