# Tokushoryu Yusho

The last day of the January sumo tournament turned out to be rather
exciting. Tokushoryu, who is at the lowest rank in the top division -
west maegashira 17 - came in this day having 13 wins and only 1 loss.
Takakeisho, the ozeki has already been eliminated from the
championship race yesterday. With a loss to sekiwake Asanoyama he
picked up his 3rd loss.

Tokushoryu faced Shodai yesterday. Both rikishi had a 12-1 record
before that bout and Tokushoryu managed to win maintaining his one
loss record. However Shodai had a chance today to win the
championship. If he wins against Mitakeumi and Tokushoryu loses
against Takakeisho then we have a playoff between Shodai and
Tokushoryu to decide who gets the Emperor's Cup.

Shodai did win and watched the Tokushoryu-Takakeisho bout eagerly. In
a big match Takakeisho lost and thus Tokushoryu lifted the Emperor's
Cup with an awesome 14-1 record.

According to [sumodb] only Dewaminato won a tournament as the
lowest ranked rikishi (M17w) in 1939. Even Murray Johnson the NHK
commentator predicted that Tokushoryu does not really have a chance
against ozeki Takakeisho. I also very much wanted to see a playoff
match, but things turned out to be a bit different.

Congratulations to Tokushoryu. He seems to be a nice guy with a sense
of humor which he showed at the interview.

So this was the end of the January tournament, now sumo fans have to
wait till March 8 to see how our favourite almost naked big-bellied
(except Enho) wrestlers do in the next tournament. And of course have
an eye on the rankings that will be reshuffled.

[sumodb]:
http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Query.aspx?show_form=0&form1_rank=M17w&form1_y=on&for
m1_m=on