Haru 2025 Day Three

With three matches down, here's how everyone stands in the March sumo tournament.

Public League Leaderboard

Scores from Fantasizr.

Notable Maneuvers

Kubinage, which is technically a “head lock throw.” But what Hoshoryu really did to Wakamotoharu was grab his head from the side while moving and then throw his hip into the Maegashira for a spectacular throw over

Match of the Day

07 Komusubi West Abi versus 03 Ozeki West Kotozakura

This was a match that told a lot about where both rikishi are at in this basho. Abi came out as usual, putting his hands right into Kotozakura’s neck. Kotozakura then blew up Abi’s initial attack, shoving him back. Although Kotozakura got Abi moving backwards, he clearly still does not have the power to dominate. Abi found the opening and moved sideways as only he can. At that point, Kotozakura couldn’t handle the tsuppari and went backwards.

Recap

An under-the-radar development on Day Three was that six Maegashira picked up their first loss on Day Three. That means Wakamotoharu, Takerufuji, Hakuoho, Ryuden, Churanoumi, and Kotoshoho are all one behind the leaders. And the leader group is now just six rikishi—Onosato, Abi, Takayasu, Endo, Onokatsu, and Asakoryu. That means the Yusho race is already tightening after three days.

A basho can be relentless, and that begins early. Rikishi have to be on their game in every match, and you can wonder if Endo, Onokatsu, and Asakoryu can hang on. Endo needed a weird mono-ii call to defeat Shonannoumi, as he stepped out as Shonannoumi was falling to his knees. Onokatsu’s been solid, but is working on establishing he can move up the Banzuke. Asakoryu is demonstrating he can hang in Makuuchi despite his smaller size.

That would leave Onosato, Abi, and Takayasu. That is an odd grouping. Takayasu is one of the best rikishi of recent years, but he is getting older and has battled injuries of late. He is so far looking like his best self, although you shouldn’t count on Takayasu lasting all 15 days. Abi is extremely talented and a former Yusho winner. He can also be inconsistent while winning, as he was against Kotozakura on Day Three. Abi is simultaneously a threat to anybody and a good bet to fight himself out of a match.

By process of elimination, that leaves Onosato. Not only is he the 3-0 Ozeki while the Yokozuna has one loss and his fellow Ozeki is 1-2, he has been excellent. He did two subtle things against Gonoyama that provided an advantage. First, he has regularly waited for the other rikishi to put their hands down before getting himself set. The other thing he did against Gonoyama was set back slightly. That gave Onosato the chance to absorb Gonoyama’s tachiai, and then Onosato could easily shove him back.

While Onosato has the advantage, he does need to keep it up for 12 more days. Onosato shot to Ozeki on a rocket, and his first two basho as an Ozeki showed he needed to work on beating everyone’s best, toughest, and/or wildest sumo. Against anyone Onosato has a size, strength, or athleticism advantage, and usually all three. He needs to use that to disrupt other wrestlers when they surprise him, and he has done it so far. This could be Onosato’s basho if he can stay the course.