Here are the quick results from today’s Day 11 of the November 2024 Grand Sumo Tournament in Fukuoka:
Key: M-Maegashira, K-Komusubi, S-Sekiwake, O-Ozeki, J-Joryo
Makuuchi (top tier):
Nishikifuji (M14) beat Shishi (M17)
Chiyoshoma (M14) beat Tokihayate (M15)
Asakoryu (M16) beat Ryuden (M13)
Ichiyamamoto (M10) beat Shonannoumi (M13)
Takayasu (M9) beat Sadanoumi (M12)
Gonoyama (M8) beat Takerufuji (M16)
Hokutofuji (M12) beat Roga (M8)
Tamawashi (M11) beat Mitakeumi (M7)
Endo (M7) beat Meisei (M11)
Kotoshoho (M5) beat Midorifuji (M9)
Churanoumi (M4) beat Nishikigi (M6)
Onokatsu (M15) beat Abi (M3)
Wakatakakage (M2) beat Takarafuji (M10)
Ura (M2) beat Hiradoumi (M1)
Oshoma (M4) beat Oho (M1)
Atamifuji (M3) beat Shodai (K)
Kirishima (S) beat Tobizaru (M5)
Kotozakura (O) beat Wakamotoharu (K)
Takanosho (M6) beat Onosato (O)
Hoshoryu (O) beat Daieisho (S)
Leader: Kotozakura, Hoshoryu, Takanosho (10-1)
RE-ENTRY: Bushozan (M17). Will return tomorrow. Missed the last 5 days due to injury. Will be the equivalent of 1-10 and still should be demoted to Juryo.
Of note: Best of 3? Ura & Hiradoumi had not one, not two, but THREE matches today! Hiradoumi initially was declared the winner on a close call, but after a Momo-ii there was a rematch. Close call again favoring Hiradoumi but another Momo-ii…ANOTHER rematch! Third time was the charm for Ura with a decisive win. So Hiradoumi won 2 but Ura gets the win that counts most. Elsewhere, there were hopes that new Ozeki Onosato would be the first newly promoted Ozeki to win the championship since Hakuho in 2006. That almost certainly will not happen as he is now 7-4 and 3 back, while the leading trio has pulled 2 in front. The Ozeki showdown between Kotozakura & Hoshoryu may wait until the last day and could wind up being for the championship, tomorrow Hoshoryu has Shodai while Kotozakura faces Daieisho. Takanosho gets Kirishima. Onosato has the final match of the day against Takerufuji, who is now 2 back at 8-3.
Juryo:
Aonishiki (J11) beat Chiyomaru (J11)
Tochitaikai (J12) beat Onosho (J10)
Kotoeiho (J13) beat Daishoho (J9)
Nabatame (J14) beat Daiamami (J9)
Wakaikari (J13) beat Hakuyozan (J8)
Daiseizan (J12) beat Mitoryu (J8)
Shiden (J6) beat Oshoumi (J14) by default/withdrawal
Fujiseiun (J10) beat Tamashoho (J4)
Kayo (J3) beat Shimazuumi (J5)
Shirouma (J3) beat Shimanoumi (J4)
Hakuoho (J2) beat Hidehoumi (J7)
Kagayaki (J2) beat Tomokaze (J5)
Tsurugisho (J7) beat Kinbozan (J1)
Kitanowaka (J1) beat Tohakuryu (J9) by disqualification/judges reversal…HANSOKU! Tohakuryu won iniitially but it was ruled he grabbed Kitanowaka’s eyelashes and thus he was DQ’d. Usually DQ’s happen for grabbing hair/topknots but any type of hair grabbing is illegal.
Leader: Tsurugisho (10-1)
WITHDRAWAL: Oshoumi. Left shoulder (labrum). Out 1 week. Sadly, tournament likely over, which is beyond horrible timing as he took his first loss yesterday and was still co-leader coming in to today, but his title hopes have been dashed and if he can’t return he will finish the equivalent of 9-6. But he did manage enough wins to secure promotion beforehand. Shiden got the fusen as a result.
Of note: While the Oshoumi injury takes him out of it and has all but handed the championship to Tsurugisho, it’s not over yet despite the 2 win margin he now has after beating Kinbozan. Tsurugisho has now won 7 straight since his only loss and, if he holds on, would win his 3rd Juryo championship and will have a chance at promotion back to the top tier. He has Kayo tomorrow while Kinbozan faces Mitoryu in a must-win.
Lower tier notes:
The Makushita Championship is set for Friday, it will be Hokutomaru vs. Osanai. The Sandanme Championship is also set and Enho will go for 7-0 and almost certain promotion to Makushita against Fujitoshi. The Jonidan may need a playoff to settle things as 3 go into the final days at 6-0 while in the Jonokuchi Gonoumi only needs to win his last match to finish 7-0 and clinch the championship after winning his match today, which was in the Jonidan. If he loses his last match, a playoff could happen.
Obituary: Kasuaki Takizawa, a sumo commentator for NHK who was the 52nd Yokozuna Kitanofuji, has died. He was 82. The cause of death appears to be an unspecified illness for which he was hospitalized after the September tournament according to Nikkan Sports. He was promoted to Grand Champion in the 1970s and won 10 Emperor’s Cups, was director of the referees association for 8 years and also trained wrestlers for several years including two Yokozuna, one of which is the current Hakkau (Chairman of the Japan Sumo Association). He even was a singer whose debut sold 500,000 copies in Japan. Services are planned for December in Tokyo.
