Onosato beats sekiwake Atamifuji to go 11-1 at the Aki Basho and could clinch the title today

Yokozuna Onosato is close to winning the September Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo. On Day 12, Thursday, 24 September, he beat sekiwake Atamifuji with a shitatedashinage (under-arm pulling throw) to go to 11-1. He now leads the rest of the top division by two wins with three days left.

It was the second day in a row he beat a sekiwake. Atamifuji came into this tournament trying to earn promotion to ozeki.

The leaderboard after Day 12

• 11-1: Yokozuna Onosato
• 9-3: Ozeki Aonishiki, Sekiwake Fujinokawa, Maegashira 6 Asanoyama

All three chasers won on Thursday, according to Tachiai:

• Fujinokawa beat ozeki Kirishima by oshitaoshi (push-down)
• Aonishiki beat Kinbozan by yorikiri (force-out)
• Asanoyama beat Churanoumi by yorikiri

Ozeki Kotozakura also won, pushing out Oshoma (oshidashi).

How the title could be decided today

Fantasy Basho sets out the numbers. If Onosato wins one more bout, he is guaranteed at least a playoff. If he wins two, the Emperor's Cup is his. The three chasers don't face each other on Day 13, so Onosato could clinch the title today if he wins and the chasers slip.

His schedule is hard, though. Fantasy Basho says he faces an ozeki on each of the last three days. Day 13 starts with Kirishima.

Key Day 13 bouts (Friday, 25 September):

• Onosato vs Kirishima
• Kotozakura vs Aonishiki
• Atamifuji vs Asanoyama
• Fujinokawa vs Churanoumi

Onosato's comeback

Combat Press calls this a "rejuvenated" Onosato. He separated his shoulder last November and has wrestled hurt since, with below-par results. This month, Combat Press says, he has been "crushing opponents with his forward pressure." A win this weekend would be his sixth top-division title.

He is also the only yokozuna competing. Tachiai's preview reported that fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu would miss the whole tournament after knee surgery.

Pressure on Kirishima

Kirishima's loss to Fujinokawa left him at 6-6. Tachiai says he needs two wins from his last three bouts to avoid a losing record, which would put his ozeki rank in danger. Facing Onosato first makes that harder.

The other two ozeki are safe. Aonishiki won the Nagoya tournament in July to get his ozeki rank back, and Kotozakura is also secure. They meet each other today, and the result affects the chasing group.

Injuries and losing records

Tachiai reported that Kotoshoho withdrew, which gave Fujiryoga a win by default. Takanosho hurt his ankle and fell to a losing record. Daieisho and Chiyoshoma also have losing records now.

How to follow it

The Aki Basho ends on Sunday, 27 September, at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Top-division bouts are held in the late afternoon Japan time, which is one hour ahead of Malaysia, so the final bouts finish around early evening in KL.

Key takeaways

• Onosato beat Atamifuji to go 11-1 and leads by two wins.
• Aonishiki, Fujinokawa and Asanoyama are the chasers at 9-3.
• One more win guarantees Onosato at least a playoff, and two more win him the title outright.
• Ozeki Kirishima is 6-6, needs two wins from three to avoid a losing record, and faces Onosato today.

FAQ

Can Onosato win the Aki Basho today? Yes, if he beats Kirishima and the results of the three 9-3 wrestlers go his way. Otherwise, two more wins will be enough.

Why isn't Hoshoryu competing? He is missing the tournament after knee surgery, according to Tachiai's preview.

When does the tournament end? Day 15, Sunday 27 September.

Sources: Tachiai, Fantasy Basho, Combat Press