[OT - Sumo] Haru Basho 2003

[Black Omega]

And here we are at the final day of the basho.

Chiyotaikai leads at 11-3 but Kaio and Yokozuna Asashoryu are right behind at 10-4. And tonight It's Chiyotaikai v. Asashoryu with the basho on the line. Chiyotaikai wins, he wins it all. He loses and it's a playoff. If he loses and Kaio wins, then it's a three way playoff.

Dejima is at 8-6 and has had another decent basho. Wobblemonster Miyabiyama is one of many still lurking back at 9-5.

Dejima has shaped up quite a bit but Asashoryu is still sometimes looking nervous over his new Yokozuna status.

 

[Black Omega]

And for the end. Kotomitsuki upset Kaio in the final round, after Kaio had previously defeated Asashoryu and Chiyotakai.

The defeat would have removed Kaio from the playoff if there was a tie, but it turned out not to matter as Chiyotakai defeated Asashoryu in a hard fought match to won the basho outright.

After two basho won decisively by Asashoryu, this was much better. Good matches, well matched competition, and a tournament that wasn't decided until the final match of the last day.

The downside is that as good as Asashoryu is, I'm left wondering if he could ever have become Yokozuna so quickly if so many people had not been injured in the previous two tournaments.

 

[MacMathan]

OT to the OT

I am only rarely able to catch rebroadcasts but I love Sumo.

OT-Has anyone seen any good D20 rules for running one?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

And for the end. Kotomitsuki upset Kaio in the final round, after Kaio had previously defeated Asashoryu and Chiyotakai.

Nice to see Kotomitsuki a factor, even if he wasn't in the running for the tournament. So what was his final record? Katchi-koshi, I hope?

The downside is that as good as Asashoryu is, I'm left wondering if he could ever have become Yokozuna so quickly if so many people had not been injured in the previous two tournaments.

Me too. He wasn't even close a year ago. Hopefully he'll grow into the role, though. His record isn't great for a yokozuna, but he was in the running for the title, which is a big factor. The yokozuna should almost always be in the running for the title.

Btw, thanks for these updates. It was darned nice of you to give us the Cliff's Notes.

 

[Black Omega]

Nice to see Kotomitsuki a factor, even if he wasn't in the running for the tournament. So what was his final record? Katchi-koshi, I hope?

6-9 sadly. I believe he might have been injured though.

Me too. He wasn't even close a year ago. Hopefully he'll grow into the role, though. His record isn't great for a yokozuna, but he was in the running for the title, which is a big factor. The yokozuna should almost always be in the running for the title.

My understanding is he managed the absolute minumum for people not to already be questioning his status as Yokozuna. If Musoshimaru and Tochiazuma are back next tournament it'll be even tougher on him.

Btw, thanks for these updates. It was darned nice of you to give us the Cliff's Notes.

Happy to help. this was a pretty close tournament.

As for d20 rules, the Rokugan book listed sumo as part of the Game skill, using strength as the ability. So I suppose contested skill rolls, though if it as going to be important to the game I'd probably develop some additional rules to make it more interesting.