Just five days left now folks. And it feels like we have a pretty clear cut race for the cup. Nothing is decided yet, though, and there could be some surprises over the next few days.
The big match of Day 10 was Onosato vs. Kirishima. Onosato came into the day with a 9-0 record. Kirishima was 8-1. A Kirishima win would tie those two heading into the final stretch of the basho.
You can watch what happened in their bout below the spoiler warning. I’ve also got all the other results, plenty of other match videos and my analysis.
Enjoy!
Bonus gif today is Ura walking off with his hard earned envelopes.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Takayasu (8-2) def. Nishikifuji (4-6) via oshidashi (frontal push out)*
Shirokuma (3-7) def. Bushozan (4-6) via yorikiri (frontal force out)
Onokatsu (4-6) def. Kinbozan (4-6) via yorikiri
Kitanowaka (4-6) def. Sadanoumi (5-5) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Nishikigi (8-2) def. Kagayaki (1-9) via oshidashi*
Takarafuji (6-4) def. Roga (5-5) via yorikiri
Ichiyamamoto (4-6) def. Hokutofuji (6-4) via yorikiri*
Oshoma (7-3) def. Ryuden (6-4) via hatakikomi (slap down)
Wakatakakage (8-2) def. Endo (7-3) via tsukiotoshi*
Tamawashi (4-6) def. Churanoumi (6-4) via oshidashi
Shonannoumi (2-8) def. Midorifuji (4-6) via oshidashi
Shodai (6-4) def. Meisei (2-8) via oshidashi
Wakamotoharu (6-4) def. Atamifuji (4-6) via yorikiri*
Takanosho (3-7) def. Mitakeumi (3-7) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)
Oho (6-4) def. Daieisho (5-5) via hikiotoshi (hand pull down)
Hiradoumi (6-4) def. Tobizaru (3-7) via yorikiri*
Onosato (10-0) def. Kirishima (8-2) via yorikiri*
Ura (6-4) def. Abi (2-8) via tottari (arm bar throw)*
Kotozakura (7-3) def. Gonoyama (3-7) via yorikiri*
Hoshoryu (6-4) def. Kotoshoho (5-5) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)*
*Must see bouts!
Leaderboard
S1w Onosato: 10-0
S2e Kirishima, M7e Wakatakakage, M13w Nishikigi, M15e Takayasu: 8-2
O1e Kotozakura, M8e Endo, M92 Oshoma: 7-3
Analysis
Onosato’s grasp on this tournament turned into a stranglehold on Day 10 after he beat his closest competitor Kirishima. Kirishima, who was 0-2 vs. Onosato heading into this, opted for a henka in this match. However, Onosato was too quick for that. Onosato read the move and turned towards Kirishima quickly to catch his opponent and marshal him out (utilizing a very strong hand on the back of the mawashi). The pair then fell off the dohyo, almost into the lap of Onosato’s mentor and oyakata Nishonoseki (the former yokozuna Kisenosato).
Tomorrow Onosato will meet Kotoshoho. Kotoshoho holds two juryo wins over Onosato (including a play-off win in the 2023 Kyushu basho). Onosato won their first and only bout in makuuchi in January. Kotoshoho will be motivated to play spoiler in their bout. Doing so would give his stable-mate Kotozakura the slimmest of chances of getting back into title contention.
Joining Kirishima with 8-2 records this day were Wakatakakage, Takayasu and Nishikigi.
Wakatakakage won his bout, over Endo, with a henka. Wakatakakage went for this move to ensure he stayed in the running for this competition, while also near eliminating a competitor (Endo would have gone to 8-2 with a win here).
Takayasu beat Nishikifuji in a mismatch. Nishikifuji tried thrusting Takayasu back, but it failed. He then tried to grapple, but that failed, too, with Takayasu powering him back and off the ring.
Nishikigi showed more mobility than we’ve been used to seeing from him in his win over the now 1-9 Kagayaki.
Nishikigi and Wakatakakage will face off tomorrow. Takayasu will face Endo.
Kotozakura got a win on Day 10. He beat Gonoyama. It was close, though. Gonoyama almost had Kotozakura out before the ozeki summoned up the power to stay in and force Gonoyama back across the ring. He’s 7-3 and meets Daieisho tomorrow.
Hoshoryu got to 6-4 on Day 10. He decided to engage Kotoshoho in a thrusting battle. Kotoshoho came close to knocking Hoshoryu down at one point (which would have given him a 5-0 career record over the ozeki). However, Hoshoryu was able to maintain his balance and outlast Kotoshoho, driving him off the ring.
Abi vs. Ura was a very fun bout, which had no implications for the overall tournament. Ura stayed low in the bout, as he is want to do. Abi tried rifled palm strikes at Ura’s face to try and stand him up, but Ura showed a ton of resolve to fight through the strikes. He eventually grabbed one of Abi’s outstretched arms and pulled him through for the nice throw. That win took Ura to 6-4. The loss for Abi gave him his make-koshi (2-8) for the tournament.
See you tomorrow folks!