2025 Hatsu Basho: Day 11 results, replays and analysis
There are spoilers in here.
Just four days left to go, folks. And it feels like we know what the narrative will be as he careen towards that final day.
Our leader Kinbozan was given his stiffest test (again) this day. He was matched up with Onosato, who was just two wins back of him. Chiyoshoma was matched up with his fellow Mongolian Hoshoryu. We also had Oho vs. Onokatsu and Daieisho vs. Takerufuji.
Those bouts had serious implications for the destination of this month’s Emperor’s Cup.
Two bouts which aren’t so important, but were super fun nonetheless were Tobizaru vs. Hakuoho, Abi vs. Ichiyamamoto
I’ve got videos of all these matches below, along with my analysis. Check them out after the bonus gif.
All time bonus gif leader Ura is at again.
SPOILERS BELOW
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Results
Shonannoumi (6-5) def. Kotoshoho (2-9) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Midorifuji (4-7) def. Tokihayate (5-6) via shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Meisei (4-7) def. Kagayaki (3-8) via oshidashi
Nishikifuji (6-5) def. Oshoma (5-6) via oshitaoshi (frontal push down)
Tamashoho (4-7) def. Churanoumi (4-7) via oshidashi
Hiradoumi (6-5) def. Nishikigi (5-6) via yorikiri (frontal force out)*
Ura (6-5) def. Mitakeumi (2-9) via oshidashi
Endo (6-5) def. Shodai (5-6) via oshidashi
Oho (9-2) def. Onokatsu (6-5) via oshidashi*
Gonoyama (6-5) def. Takarafuji (4-7) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Hakuoho (7-4) def. Tobizaru (5-6) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)
Kirishima (8-3) def. Tamawashi (6-5) via yoritaoshi (frontal crush out)*
Takanosho (4-7) def. Atamifuji (2-9) via yorikiri
Abi (7-4) def. Ichiyamamoto (6-5) via tsukidashi after mono-ii (judges review)*
Daieisho (7-4) def. Takerufuji (8-3) via oshidashi*
Takayasu (7-4) def. Wakamotoharu (3-8) via tsukidashi
Kotozakura (5-6) def. Wakatakakage (5-6) via oshidashi
Kinbozan (10-1) def. Onosato (7-4) via tsukitaoshi (thrust down)*
Hoshoryu (8-3) def. Chiyoshoma (8-3) via yoritoashi*
*Must see bouts
Leaderboard
M14w Kinbozan: 10-1
M3w Oho: 9-2
O1w Hoshoryu, M1w Kirishima, M5w Chiyoshoma, M11w Takerufuji: 8-3
Analysis
Kinbozan continued to show fighting spirit as he took on, and beat, Onosato for the first time in his career. If Kinbozan has nerves about clinching his first career top division title, he’s certainly not showing it.
His best performances have come during crunch time over the past few days. He had to dig deep in his wins against Tamawashi and Takeurufji. Against Onosato he showed a ton of confidence from the jump, sticking the ozeki with a nodowa (throat thrust) and moving him back immediately. Kinbozan then kept on Onosato and thrusted him off the ring, while avoiding a late tottari (armbar throw) attempt from Onosato.
Kinbozan earned some style points, too, freezing on one foot as his opponent tumbled off the apron.
See that below:
I doubted that Kinbozan could keep this up. But since the match-making has shifted to harder opponents, he’s flourished. He is fighting with a lot of character, but also with a lot of control. It’s very easy for pusher/thrusters to push and thrust themselves into losses, but Kinbozan has looked very measured and composed as he lands thrusts in the right places and muscles through them.
His hardest tests are yet to come, but I don’t think anyone can say Kinbozan doesn’t deserve to be in the lead right now.
What do you think readers, can he pull it out? Or will he choke in the final days?
Kinbozan’s closest challenger for the yusho is Oho. Oho has also had a coming out party in this basho and looked quite similar to Kinbozan. Their sumo is very similar, but Oho, too, has shown a lot of character and fortitude on the dohyo this month (against stiffer opposition, too).
Partly because he’s already fought the highest ranked guys, Oho was able to get a more favorable match-up on Day 11. He was paired with Onokatsu for the first time in his career.
Onokatsu has been doing OK this tournament, but he’s still quite raw. He tried to impose his yotsu (belt grabbing) game against Oho, securing his preferred hidari-yotsu (left arm inside) grip. Oho was able to halt Onokatsu from marching him out, though. Then, when he broke that grip (using some excellent ottsuke [forearm blocking]) he created some space for the winning thrust.
The below freeze frames show the ottsuke move from Oho, where he fought to get inside of Onokatsu’s left arm.
He first pushed down on Onokatsu’s arm.
He then squeezed his arm through the gap he made.
Once inside, Oho reached down and pushed against Onokatsu’s arm with his forearm, to weaken the grip and create more space. He then drew his arm out. The space that created gave him his opportunity to thrust Onokatsu square in the chest.
Hoshoryu’s hopes of a yusho shrink with every Kinbozan win. He kept himself mathematically in the running, though, by beating Chiyoshoma.
These two had as close to a judo match as you can in sumo. Hoshoryu, just like he did yesterday, lead with his hands low looking for the belt. Once he got on Chiyoshoma’s mawashi he was able to threaten with throws and block Chiyoshoma’s responses until he was able to drive him down.
That result put Hoshoryu and Chiyoshoma at 8-3.
The only other wrestlers with 8-3 records, and slim shots at beating Kinbozan to the finish line, are Kirishima and Takerufuji.
Kirishima won his eighth bout in a row on Day 11. He did so by hand-fighting Tamawashi before getting in close for the thrust down.
Takerufuji missed his chance to go 9-2 due to losing to Daieisho. In their first ever meeting Daieisho was able to resist Takerufuji’s fabled opening charge. He then pushed off the straw and powered Takerufuji into the splash zone.
There were two other really fun bouts on Day 11, too.
Ichiyamamoto gets some ribbing online with names like Budget Abi and Abi from Wish. Well, on Day 11 he got to fight the real thing. He’s done that once before and lost. Same thing happened this time around.
Ichiyamamoto’s tsuppari style has improved over the last year. He’s gotten meaner with it and put more muscle into each thrust. But he’s still no Abi.
Abi’s tsuppari is so dangerous because of his great size and reach. He likes the pitter-patter style of tsuppari, but he can also deliver a really hard palm strike when he wants to. That’s what he did against Ichiyamamoto to win the bout. Ichiyamamoto froze for a second, to keep himself in, and that’s when Abi hit him right below the chin.
The last bout I want to share is Tobizaru and Hakuoho, another first-time meeting. Tobizaru threw his bag of tricks at the 21-year-old early, but Hakuoho didn’t bite. Tobizaru then decided to clinch. In the clinch both men took a breather. I thought Tobizaru would look for an opportunity to pull away and bring Hakuoho down. Instead he improved his grip, tightening his left hand on the belt. I think this prompted Hakuoho’s winning charge, with the young man no longer fearing a quick hikiotoshi or hatakikomi attempt. Tobizaru tried to turn out of trouble along the boundary, but Hakuoho was too strong.
Day 12 brings us an epic showdown between Kinbozan and Hoshoryu. If Hoshoryu wins he’ll be 9-3 to Kinbozan’s 10-2. He’ll need Kinbozan to lose one more after that if he’s to catch him.
Day 12 also has Chiyoshoma vs. Onosato, Takerufuji vs. Kotozakura and Oho vs. Kirishima.
How can you not love the way Kinbozan is competing right now. I kept thinking he’d go off the rails somewhere along the way to this point but he’s looked just great.
I had to take a few days off from sumo and binge-watch today. Have come to the conclusion that I don't know crapola about sumo. The whole world is upside down! My boys the Waka Bros are sinking fast, Kotozakura might as well sit the rest out, and even Horshoryu is playing catch-up with a bottom-level Maegashira!
At this point I'm really rooting for Kinbozan. It's good for the sport to have somebody come out of nowhere to win. Let Shodai and Papa Yasu get kachi-koshi and I'll be happy.