Here are the quick results from today’s Day 13 of the November 2022 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Juryo, Ms-Makushita
Makuuchi (Top Tier):
Okinuomi (M13) beat Onosho (M11)
Chiyoshoma (M10) beat Terutsuyoshi (M16)
Aoiyama (M10) beat Atamifuji (M15)
Abi (M9) beat Kagayaki (M15)
Tochinoshin (M8) beat Ichiyamamoto (M14)
Myogiryu (M7) beat Kotoeko (M12)
Hiradoumi (M16) beat Endo (M7)
Ryuden (M6) beat Azumaryu (M14)
Nishikigi (M6) beat Kotoshoho (M11)
Ura (M3) beat Takarafuji (M8)
Takanoso (M9) beat Ichinojo (M2)
Kotonowaka (M1) beat Midorifuji (M3)
Takayasu (M1) beat Oho (M13)
Wakamotoharu (M4) beat Daieisho (S)
Sadanoumi (M4) beat Tobizaru (K)
Meisei (M2) beat Kiribayama (K)
Mitakeumi (S) beat Hokutofuji (M5)
Wakatakakage (S) beat Nishikifuji (M5)
Tamawashi (K) beat Shodai (O). DEMOTION!
Takakeisho (O) beat Hoshoryu (S)
Leader: Takayasu (11-2)
You read above right-that’s loss #8 meaning Shodai will be demoted from Ozeki after the tournament. He will be in the same situation as Mitakeumi, meaning he gets one chance at promotion back to Ozeki if he gets at least 10 wins in January. There will be only one Ozeki-Takakeisho, who got his 10th win today-in January.
Key matches tomorrow: Takayasu-Kagayaki, Abi-Hoshoryu, Takakeisho-Oho. Because all except Kagayaki are 10-3 and one behind him, Takayasu cannot clinch the championship tomorrow, but a win means worst-case is a loss Sunday would force a tiebreaker match for the championship. There could possibly be a 3-way tie or more for the title.
Juryo:
Shonannoumi (Ms1) beat Gonoyama (J14)
Shimazuumi (J13) beat Shiden (Ms1)
Shimanoumi (J8) beat Takakento (J11)
Kinbozan (J7) beat Tsushimanada (J14)
Hokuseiho (J6) beat Daishoho (J9)
Daiamami (J9) beat Chiyonokuni (J5)
Roga (J13) beat Akua (J5)
Yutakayama (J4) beat Tokushoryu (J12)
Hidenoumi (J4) beat Kaisho (J10)
Enho (J11) beat Mitoryu (J3)
Oshoma (J12) beat Tsurugisho (J3)
Kitanowaka (J8) beat Bushozan (J2)
Chiyosakae (J10) beat Churanoumi (J2)
Chiyomaru (J1) beat Kotokuzan (J8)
Tohakuryu (J1) beat Tochimusashi (J7)
Leader: Oshoma, Hokuseiho (10-3)
Key matches tomorrow: Enho-Oshoma, Hokuseiho-Daiamami. If Oshoma & Hokuseiho both win. they are potentially setting up a rematch playoff for the championship (they met on Day 9, Hokuseiho won). If just one wins, the victor only needs to win their final match. If both lose, there is potential for a 6-YES, SIX!-way tie and quite the potential playoff scenario on the final day as as many as 6 could be 10-4.
Asanoyama Watch: Coming back from his first loss, the former Ozeki easily beat Kamito in his final Makushita match to finish 6-1 for the second straight tournament. Asanoyama is now 19-2 with one championship since his return from a one-year suspension. Based on everything at higher ranks going on, the odds of going from Makushita 4 to a return to Juryo in January look good as only Shonannoumi and maybe Tamashoho will move up from Makushita to Juryo and there will be some demotions from Juryo (so of the 7 at or above his rank in Makushita only one or two will move up). His tournament is now complete. Tamashoho beat Mineyaiba today to win the Makushita Championship.
In the lower ranks, Asashiyu, who was demoted from Makushita after missing the last 4 tournaments following two appearance after demotion from Juryo, won the Jonidan championship and will move back to to the Sandanme as he tries to climb back up the ranks. As noted yesterday, Takerufuji won the Jonokuchi championship in his debut tournament, so that’s at least one title for Istgahama Beya, the home of Yokozuna Terunofuji. The Sandanme championship, however, will go to a playoff as Hitoshi & Kazuto are both 7-0. Hitoshi will go for his 3rd career championship (2 Jonidan Championships) while Kazuto goes for his first in just his 3rd career tournament (he went 6-1 in each of his first two tournaments).
Reminder: NHK World Japan will have 50 minutes of LIVE top-tier coverage tomorrow at 3:10 AM ET/12:10 AM PT and the final 90 minutes of the tournament Sunday at 2:30 AM ET/Saturday at 11:30 PM PT. I will try to do LIVE results for the final day’s matches.
