Haru 2025 Day Fourteen
The next-to-last day is in the books, and we've got much more to sort out in the March sumo tournament.
Public League Leaderboard
Scores from Fantasizr
Yusho Arasoi
11 Wins
02 Ozeki East Onosato
14 Maegashira #4 East Takayasu
10 Wins
35 Maegashira #14 West Churanoumi
36 Maegashira #15 East Aonishiki
42 Maegashira #18 East Tokihayate
Notable Maneuvers
Aonishiki beat Takerufuji with a yorikiri, but it wasn’t notable for the kimarite as it was for the way Aonishiki got under Takerufuji at the tachiai. Takerufuji had no chance in this one from the word go.
Match of the Day
14 Maegashira #4 East Takayasu versus 35 Maegashira #14 West Churanoumi
Churanoumi’s game plan against basho leader Takayasu was simple—he would not let him get any offense going. Whether it was a mawashi grip or the two-hand thrusts that beat Wakamotoharu on Day Thirteen, Churanoumi was hoping not to see it. Remarkably, he did it. From the tachiai, Churanoumi attacked Takayasu’s arms. That made the former Ozeki flail as much as anything, even while Churanoumi was going backwards. The awkwardness led to Takayasu going backwards, and Churanoumi didn’t let up until he backed Takayasu over the tawara for a yorikiri.
Recap
Your only possibly yusho winners for March 2025 will be Onosato, Takayasu, Churanoumi, Aonishiki, and Tokihayate. The first one is an Ozeki looking to step up to Yokozuna-dom in the near future. The second is a former Ozeki and frequent contender who has always been one of the best rikishi when healthy and in-form. The last three are fairly shocking to be here at this point. Churanoumi is coming off back-to-back 4-11 records. Aonishiki is making his Makuuchi debut and turns 21 on Sunday. Tokihayate was returning from Juryo trying to prove he could stick as a Maegashira.
In truth, the trip at 10-4 still needs a lot to go right for any of them to get the yusho. First, obviously, they need to win their final match. Then, Onosato would need to lose to Kotozakura, AND Takayasu would have to drop his match to Abi. If that happens, then there would be a playoff featuring Onosato, Takayasu, and whoever manages to get an 11th win on the final day. The situation can be dizzying, but the most likely outcomes are that just one of Onosato or Takayasu win or that both win and there’s a head-to-head playoff.
Any of those situations are all still on the table because Takayasu lost to Churanoumi. Takayasu has had a remarkable career, joining Makuuchi in 2011 and never leaving since. In the interim, he has made Ozeki, battled minor injuries, and secured 8 Jun-Yusho. What he has not done is lifted the Emperor’s Cup. The loss to Churanoumi feels like another slip at the end, but this basho isn’t over for him. His match with Abi should favor him, especially as Abi looks wilder as the basho goes on.
The problem with Takayasu’s yusho chances with one day remaining is that relies on Onosato slipping up. Onosato has not been perfect this basho, but he’s a co-leader heading into Day Fifteen because he has been very, very good. Even if Takayasu holds up and Onosato wins, that means they square off again for all the marbles. Onosato will also be looking for revenge for his Day Ten loss. The yusho possibilities are very narrow, but a lot can also happen.
The final day’s matchups are a little disappointing from the standpoint of the yusho race. Takayasu doesn’t get either Aonishiki or Tokihayate, neither of whome he’s seen. Onosato will see fellow Ozeki Kotozakura to uphold tradition, but Kotozakura has his 8 wins and continued Ozeki rank already. Weirdly for a final day, there is only one 7-7 versus 7-7 match—Kotoshoho and Endo in a match that should put the shimpan on alert for falling rikishi. There are only two other 7-7 rikishi, Kirishima and Sadanoumi. Tokihayate will see Kirishima, just before Aonishiki sees… 6-8 Oho. But those matches are the ones that will decide the yusho. At least, they’ll decide if we need a playoff for the yusho.