Hakuho had a crushing oshitaoshi win over Harumafuji, leaving him a win against Baruto short of a zensho yusho. Kotoshogiku broke his losing streak to finally reach double digits along with Baruto, Kisenosato, Myogiryu and Takekaze while Aoiyama and Wakakoyu are even at eleven wins by now. Goeido managed a win over sekiwake Kakuryu to avoid make-koshi with Tochinowaka also at 7-7 with a loss to the other sekiwake, leaving Goeido in the best position for the open komusubi slot, given a win on senshuraku.
The demotion picture to juryo is looking clearer now and it's not pretty. Going by the numbers Shotenro, Wakanosato, Kokkai, Tamawashi, Takarafuji, Tsurugidake and Kimurayama already have too many losses and Kaisei needs one more win at 5-9 after the 5-3 start. I doubt there will be eight demotions though as there aren't enough promotion candidates from juryo, so Kaisei and Tamawashi (with a win) probably are safe, which still gives some shaky juryo promotions.
Speaking of juryo, Ikioi lost to Chiyonokuni but can't lose the yusho anymore as Yoshiazuma lost too. The loss probably means no direct makuuchi promotion though which may have been there with a 14-1 given the situation. Yoshiazuma, Chiyonokuni, Takanoyama, Nionoumi, Tosayutaka can feel good about their promotion chances while Tenkaiho, Masunoyama and Kyokushuho need one more win (ok, Tosayutaka and Takanoyama should get a win too to be safe). It was a good basho for the three shin-sekitori as all are kachi-koshi with a combined 30-12 record.
Doitsuyama (sumoforum)
