Bernd 03/24/2024 (Sun) 22:21 No.51815 del
This was a basho with full of surprises.
Firstly in juryo the two favourites, neither Wakatakakage nor Hakuoho did managed to get near to winning the championship. It was Mitoryu who secured his first place with a 12-3.
In makuuchi Kirishima fared extremely bad. Especially considering his previous forms. Still - again - surprisingly he managed to beat fellow ozeki Kotonowaka in the ultimate match. Terunofuji's withdrawal was kinda expected, I hoped differently but we all know he isn't doing good. All those injuries, operations, recoveries. Sad.
But the greatest surprise was the freshest newbie in makuuchi, the Maegeshira #17 Takerufuji. He is from the same stable as Teru, from Isegahama. This was his first tournament in makuuchi, and he fought his way up to the very top, and became the champion with an impressive 13-2, beating some top rikishis not Hoshoryu tho.
On day 14 Takerufuji suffered his second loss, against Asanoyama, a former ozeki, and while falling out of the dohyo he hurt his right leg, had to limp out, and from the news we know ambulance took him away. Despite this today he showed up and beat Gonoyama with noticeable pain. But this win cemented his yusho. He also got all but one prizes. He'll probably jump up to the sanyaku ranks - from the last place of the division.

Great basho all around were many good bouts, exciting and fun. Zuper awesome.