May Basho

[jubaji]

.......Pics?

I got none. I'm just watching the matches and writing down what I see. Sorry!

[Tant01]

Asashoryu very quickly gets the corner on Kisonosato and shows him out of the dohyo to also remain 3-0.

..........................>>>

And then what?

[jubaji]

Sorry, I've been too busy to keep up the play-by-play for the last few days. Bottom line: Both Yokozuna Asashoryu and Ozeki (and potential Yokozuna) Hakuho remain undefeated at 8-0. These two are the real focus of this tournament.

This tournament has been unusual in that an uncommonly high number of people have already achieved Katchi-koshi, or majority of wins, by the mid-point of the 15 day event.

[Tant01]

Wow, interesting...

Thanks for the update.

[jubaji]

Day 9 action has just begun...

[jubaji]

And....after some great matches both Asashoryu and Hakuho remain undefeated. This is getting interesting!


In this, the second week, the higher ranked rikishi will have to face tougher competition, so the drama will build considerably.

[jubaji]

Today, Hakuho made short work of his opponent to remain undefeated at 10-0, but the Yokozuna Asashoryu was upset in stunning fashion to fall to 9-1! It was a very close call, but the grand champion was deemed out of the dohyo first, and the zabuton were flying all over the arena!

This makes things very interesting, as Hakuho's chances of achieving Yokozuna have improved, and Asashoryu (not very fond AT ALL of losing) is under significant pressure from here on out to win the rest of his matches and hope Hakuho has a misstep along the way that at least gives him the chance to even things up.

[Tant01]

The drama.... suspense... Action!

This thread has it all!

Thanks Ju.

[jubaji]

Some exciting Sumo this morning! Two of the matches ended so closely that the judges had them fight again to determine the winner, a couple of Rikishi were sent flying out of the dohyo so hard that they ended up in the third row or so, and there were a number of nifty throws and vicious head shots.

Bottom line: Hakuho won a hard-fought match to remain the sole undefeated wrestler and Asashoryu made short work of his man to stay one win off Hakuho's pace. Can Hakuho remain perfect, virtually ensuring his promotion to Yokozuna, or will he drop one and tie up with Asashoryu, forcing an exciting last day play-off?

Stay tuned!

[Tant01]

You know... I really enjoy your basho threads Ju!


Thanks again buddy.

[jubaji]

My pleasure!

[jubaji]

Oh, and I forgot to mention an interesting thing that happened in today's action; something that you don't see too often, although I suppose it could be expected. During one of the early bouts of the top division wrestlers, the losing Rikishi was thrown right into the referee, both of them tumbling off the platform and into the first row of seats. When the ref tried to climb back onto the dohyo he just collapsed; his knee was apparently messed up pretty good. He had to be helped out of the arena by a couple of the ring attendants and from the look on his face was in some serious pain.

I'm sure we'll get an update on his condition today.

[jubaji]

Whoa! An exciting morning of Sumo!

Hakuho won another hard-fought bout to remain undefeated at 12-0.

But Yokozuna Asashoryu lost another upset to Ozeki Chiotaikai, to fall to 10-2!

Once again the zabuton were flying, one whacking Chiotaikai right in the face!

Asashoryu was looking pretty pissed off, for sure!

Chiotaikai is an interesting story in himself. When he was a kid just out of high school he was head of a local biker gang in Osaka before going to Tokyo to pursue pro Sumo.

So, he was a rough kid (though it is said he made it a point to never bully smaller kids) who made his way from the tough streets of Osaka to the level of Ozeki. Pretty impressive!

[jubaji]

In yesterday's action, it was another exciting one! A lot of solid Sumo leading up to the main bouts everyone is really waiting for.

Hakuho won a long, hard-fought match to remain undefeated and looking more and more like a lock on that Yokozuna promotion. A lot of Sumo-insiders have been saying that 13 wins was his magic number to lock the promotion. Well, he's officially there, although the tournament isn't over yet!

Yokozuna Asashoryu faced Ozeki Kaio and.........lost! for his third loss of the tournament! Again the cushions fly! Asashoryu hasn't gone two tournaments in a row without a tourney win since achieving Yokozuna some 5 years ago! Now there is no way for the Yokozuna to win the tournament and it is Hakuho's opportunity to make that promotion!

[jubaji]

Day 14 and Hakuho wins again to remain undefeated and almost certainly on his way to Yokozuna promotion!

The only current Yokozuna, Asashoryu, lost again, making it a shocking three in a row and four overall for the tournament. He is officially in a slump now!

One of the guest announcers today was none other than former Yokozuna Musashimaru himself.