[sumo] [sumo TORCH game] TORCHBEARER 2024 first TORCH match.

[kj bauman]

>From the bottom of the banzuke, the TORCH started here:
Start-of-2024 Rank: JONOKUCHI 17 EAST
Start of 2024 Rikishi: DAISHIYAMA

…The TORCH was passed on the ceremonial wildcard first match moving to 1-0 Anryukai. Meanwhile golden rikishi pick Kyokukaiyu LOST his first match going 0-1. So usually, the torch continues with winners and the TORCH would not meet golden pick in this basho. But oddly Anryukai was next paired with Taranami – who not only had a loss, but also TWO matches (1-1). What did this mean if Taranami won?
1. Unless there is a playoff, the TORCH would only have six matches in Hatsu.
2. Now with one loss, the TORCH had a chance to get paired with golden pick.

Here's a summary of the TORCH matches:

DAY 2: Jonokuchi 17 East Daishiyama (0-0) passes the TORCH to Jonokuchi 16 East Anryukai (0-0)
DAY 5: Jonokuchi 16 East Anryukai (1-0) passes the TORCH to Jonokuchi 14 East Taranami (1-1)
DAY 8: Jonokuchi 14 East Taranami (2-1) defeats Jonokuchi 9 East Nishikiori (2-1)

Which brings us to our TORCH MATCH on Day 10:

RIKISHI
TARANAMI vs KYOKUKAIYU

RANK
JONOKUCHI 14 EAST vs JONOKUCHI 15 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Andreas21’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Athenayama’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Bunbukuchagama’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Hakuhonofan’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Kaito's rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Kintamayama’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Ripe’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Torideyama’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
Yarimotsu’s rikishi pick is KYOKUKAIYU
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

And for what it’s worth, NO player with a jonokuchi rikishi pick has ever won the annual TORCHBEARER top position. Will that change this year?