2025 Hatsu Basho: Day 14 results, replays and analysis

It's spoilerrific!

Jan 25, 2025

What a Day 14!

The table is now set for showdown on Day 15 to determine our first top division champion of 2025.

This has been a really fun tournament. There have been some injuries along the way, which have sucked the fun out of a few guys’ performances. However, I’m delighted with title chase and the characters who are involved.

The leaders of this tournament clashed on Day 14 with Kinbozan vs. Kirishima and Hoshoryu vs. Takerufuji. We also had Oho vs. Takanosho.

You can see what happened in those pivotal matches below the bonus gif.

Bonus gif is Kirishima giving good hair.

SPOILERS BELOW

Results

Nishikigi (7-7) def. Kagayaki (5-9) via kotenage (arm lock throw)
Tamawashi (9-5) def. Nishikifuji (8-6) via oshidashi (frontal push out)
Meisei (6-8) def. Onokatsu (7-7) def. yorikiri
Tokihayate (6-8) def. Churanoumi (4-10) via yorikiri
Oshoma (8-6) def. Tamashoho (5-9) via tsukiotoshi (thrust down)
Kotoshoho (4-10) def. Takarafuji (5-9) via uwatenage (over arm throw)*
Hakuoho (9-5) def. Endo (6-8) via shitatenage (underarm throw)*
Shonannoumi (8-6) def. Ichiyamamoto (7-7) via oshidashi
Midorifuji (7-7) def. Shodai (6-8) katasukashi (under shoulder swing down)*
Gonoyama (7-7) def. Tobizaru (6-8) via tsukidashi (frontal thrust out)
Atamifuji (4-10) def. Mitakeumi (2-12) via oshidashi
Oho (11-3) def. Takanosho (6-8) via tsukiotoshi
Kinbozan (12-2) def. Kirishima (10-4) via sukuinage (beltless arm throw)*
Takayasu (8-6) def. Abi (7-7) via hatakikomi (slap down)*
Ura (7-7) def. Wakatakakage (7-7) via oshidashi*
Wakamotoharu (5-9) def. Chiyoshoma (8-6) via tsukiotoshi
Daieisho (10-4) def. Hiradoumi (6-8) via tsukidashi
Onosato (9-5) def. Kotozakura (5-9) via oshidashi
Hoshoryu (11-3) def. Takerufuji (10-4) via yorikiri*

*Must see bouts

Leaderboard

M14w Kinbozan: 12-2
O1w Hoshoryu, M3w Oho: 11-3

Analysis

Kinbozan showed a ton of grit on Day 14, not for the first time this tournament. He won a highly pressurized bout with Kirishima and, as a result, he now has one hand on his very first Emperor’s Cup.

The win took him to 12-2 and dropped Kirishima to 10-4, eliminating the former ozeki from title contention. Kirishma had gone on a 10-0 run to push Kinbozan for the title. I’m sure he’s disappointed by the loss, but he should be pretty proud of his ability to storm back from an 0-3 hole and come this close to a yusho.

You can see Kinbozan vs. Kirishima below:

Kirishima initiated a yotsu (belt grabbing) battle off the tachiai, fighting away Kinbozan’s hands and then locking up a migi-yotsu (right arm inside) grip. He was able to pull Kinbozan around early, especially when he had a hand on each side of his belt. But Kinbozan showed great strength and balance to prevent himself being tipped over.

After Kinbozan blocked those early attempts, there was a pause. Kinbozan made the mistake of leaving his right foot really close to Kirishima. When watching this for the first time, I told Mrs. Sumo Stomp! that Kiri was going to take that leg.

If I could see it coming, Kinbozan should have. Kirishima has scored some empathetic wins in the past by hooking that lead leg and then pushing over his opponent.

Kirishima did attempt that here, but he wasn’t able to hook enough around Kinbozan’s leg or force his foot off the ground. It did force Kinbozan to make an adjustment, though. As Kinbozan switched stances, Kirishima tried to power him out the east side of the ring. But then Kinbozan twisted and was able to throw Kirishima to the ground.

This throw was very impressive. Kinbozan used mostly his upper body to pull this off and he was able to send Kirishima over despite Kirishima having two hands on his belt. Kinbozan being able to execute a throw with no hand on a belt versus someone with two hands on a belt demonstrates a lot of physical strength. It also shows a lot of determination, too. Kinbozan wanted this and he summoned up a tonne of power to make it happen.

This adds another quality win over a big name for the young Kazakh.

After this bout Takerufuji and Hoshoryu duelled in a title eliminator bout. And it was Hoshoryu who got the victory and gave himself a chance of spoiling Kinbozan’s tournament.

This was only the second ever bout between Hoshoryu and Takerufuji. In their first match, Takerufuji got an early jump on Hoshoryu and pushed his heels back to the straw. Hoshoryu executed an amazing last ditch throw to send Takerufuji into the first row, though.

This time around Hoshoryu put himself on the front foot and refused to back down.

Hoshoryu secured moro-zashi (double underhooks) off the tachiai and then elevated Takerufuji, Tochinoshin style. Hoshoryu wasn’t able to carry Takerufuji out, like a toddler, but the move was enough to zap Takerufuji’s forward momentum. After putting him down, Hoshoryu easily forced him out over the straw. Hoshoryu then gave him a little extra nudge into the seats and long staredown as he returned to his mark.

The only other wrestler with a chance of winning the title tomorrow is Oho. He beat Takanosho on Day 14.

Like Kinbozan, Oho has showed mostly nerves of steel this basho. With his tournament on the line, and Takanosho backing him up to the boundary, Oho was strong and wilful enough to hold up his foe, turn, and dump him out for the win.

Kinbozan and Oho will face-off tomorrow. If Kinbozan wins, he wins the cup with a 13-2 record. If Oho wins the pair will be tied on 12-3 records.

Hoshoryu will fight the damaged Kotozakura (who lost easily to Onosato on Day 14). If Hoshoryu defeats Kotozakura, which he should do given Kotozakura’s condition this tournament, he will also have a 12-3 record.

If Oho wins and Hoshoryu loses, Oho will fight Kinbozan in a play-off for the cup.

If Oho and Hoshoryu win. They, along with Kinbozan, will fight in a three-way play-off.

The rules for a three-way play-off are as follows (via SumoWrestling.fandom):

The choices, "East", "West" and "O" are selected. The east and the west battle first, while the "O" is a reserve. The winner of the first match will face the reserve. If the winner of the original match also wins this match he takes the championship. If the reserve wins then he faces off against the loser of the first match. Overall first rikishi with two consecutive wins takes the championship.

Kinbozan vs. Oho is really tough to call. They fight with a similar style, but Oho has more experience fighting a higher level of competition. Kinbozan has shown some decent offensive grappling in the past (particularly in executing throws on the back foot) and Oho has shown some great defensive grappling in this tournament.

These two are 1-1 head-to-head. Oho won their last meeting.

If I have to make a prediction, I’m going with Kinbozan. He’s shown a lot of character in these high stakes bouts. His only blemish in them is his bout with Hoshoryu which was a bit of a freak loss, in my opinion. Oho has been excellent, but at times he can appear a little disconnected from the moment.

What do you think will happen folks?