TORCHBEARER 2016

[shimodahito]

Good day all,
Three players move into 3rd place but only one will vie for points in the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 7!

RIKISHI
SATOYAMA vs KITATAIKI

RANK
JURYO 14 EAST vs JURYO 10 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Yubinhaad's rikishi pick is SATOYAMA.
Shokikogi's rank pick is JURYO 10 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
9 points - Yubinhaad
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
4 points - Shokikogi
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points – Profomisakari
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - kotoshikona
1 point - Taiga
1 point - yorikiried by fate

[shimodahito]

good day all
 Happy Nakabi!  Yubinhaad reaches double digits and continues in the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 8!

RIKISHI
SATOYAMA vs OSUNAARASHI

RANK
JURYO 14 EAST vs JURYO 6 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Yubinhaad's rikishi pick is SATOYAMA.
Rufakiyama's rikishi pick is OSUNAARASHI.
Chisaiyama's rank pick is JURYO 6 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
12 points - Yubinhaad
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points – Profomisakari
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - kotoshikona
1 point - Taiga
1 point - yorikiried by fate

[shimodahito]

good day all,
The TORCH has made its way to the top half of Juryo and is with the current leader, J6E SandStorm.  TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 9!

RIKISHI
OSUNAARASHI vs CHIYOMARU

RANK
JURYO 6 EAST vs JURYO 1 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Rufakiyama's rikishi pick is OSUNAARASHI.
Chisaiyama's rank pick is JURYO 6 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Chisaiyama
3 points - Rufakiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points – Profomisakari
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - kotoshikona
1 point - Taiga
1 point - yorikiried by fate

[shimodahito]

good day all,
Amazingly, no Juryo 1 picks this year.  Here's the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 10!

RIKISHI
OSUNAARASHI vs AMAKAZE

RANK
JURYO 6 EAST vs JURYO 1 WEST

Player(s) up for points:
Rufakiyama's rikishi pick is OSUNAARASHI.
Chisaiyama's rank pick is JURYO 6 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
6 points - Chisaiyama
6 points - Rufakiyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points – Profomisakari
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - kotoshikona
1 point - Taiga
1 point - yorikiried by fate

[shimodahito]

good day all,
Five up for points in the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 11!

RIKISHI
OSUNAARASHI vs KYOKUTAISEI

RANK
JURYO 6 EAST vs JURYO 11 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Rufakiyama's rikishi pick is OSUNAARASHI.
Chisaiyama's rank pick is JURYO 6 EAST.
Profomisakari's rikishi pick is KYOKUTAISEI.
kotoshikona's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
yorikiried by fate's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
9 points - Chisaiyama
9 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points – Profomisakari
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - kotoshikona
1 point - Taiga
1 point - yorikiried by fate

[shimodahito]

TORCH change as the Juryo leader loses.  TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 12!

RIKISHI
KYOKUTAISEI vs DAIEISHO

RANK
JURYO 11 EAST vs JURYO 4 WEST

Player(s) up for points:
Profomisakari's rikishi pick is KYOKUTAISEI.
kotoshikona's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
yorikiried by fate's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
10 points - Chisaiyama
10 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points – Profomisakari
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points - kotoshikona
4 points – Ronnie
4 points - yorikiried by fate
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - Taiga

[shimodahito]

The TORCH could end up where it started this basho -- Yamaguchi/Juryo 10 West.  Here's the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 13!

RIKISHI
KYOKUTAISEI vs YAMAGUCHI

RANK
JURYO 11 EAST vs JURYO 10 WEST

Player(s) up for points:
Profomisakari's rikishi pick is KYOKUTAISEI.
kotoshikona's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
yorikiried by fate's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
Hitotsubushi's rank pick is JURYO 10 WEST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
10 points - Chisaiyama
10 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Profomisakari
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
7 point - kotoshikona
7 point - yorikiried by fate
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
1 point - Hitotsubushi
1 point - Taiga

[shimodahito]

good day all,
   It's now 100% certain -- someone will be in the final TORCH MATCH.  The prize is ready.  Just two more days of the 2016 showdown. Here's the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 14!

RIKISHI
KYOKUTAISEI vs AMURU

RANK
JURYO 11 EAST vs JURYO 7 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Profomisakari's rikishi pick is KYOKUTAISEI.
kotoshikona's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
yorikiried by fate's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
Gonzohnesushi's rank pick is JURYO 7 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
13 points - Yubinhaad
11 points – Profomisakari
10 points - kotoshikona
10 points - yorikiried by fate
10 points - Chisaiyama
10 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points - Hitotsubushi
1 point - Taiga

[shimodahito]

good day all,
   Profomisakari moves into 3rd place and 2 or 3 players will finish TORCHBEARER with the TORCH. Here's the TORCH MATCH on KYUSHU DAY 15 --- The Final Day of TORCHBEARER 2016!

RIKISHI
KYOKUTAISEI vs TOKUSHORYU

RANK
JURYO 11 EAST vs JURYO 3 EAST

Player(s) up for points:
Profomisakari's rikishi pick is KYOKUTAISEI.
kotoshikona's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
yorikiried by fate's rank pick is JURYO 11 EAST.
Kosimazaki's rank pick is JURYO 3 EAST.
Sukubidubidu's rank pick is JURYO 3 EAST.
a loss = 1 point, but a win = 3 points and an opportunity for more points in the next torch match

standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
14 points – Profomisakari
13 points - Yubinhaad
13 points - kotoshikona
13 points - yorikiried by fate
10 points - Chisaiyama
10 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points - Hitotsubushi
1 point - Ganzohnesushi
1 point - Taiga

[shimodahito]

good day all,
What a final day! As last year, three participants hit the jackpot with their RANK/RIKISHI TORCH picks finishing with the TORCH. They will pick up 25 END-OF-YEAR TORCH points. But first, here's the Kyushu summary -- a chance to check my math before the END-OF-YEAR TORCH points are tallied. 205 points were shared among 23 participants, with kuroimori keeping his very close lead.

start of Kyushu rikishi: YAMAGUCHI
start of Kyushu rank: JURYO 10 WEST

DAY 1: Juryo 10 West Yamaguchi (0-0) passes the TORCH to Juryo 10 East Kitataiki (0-0) [3 points Shokikogi; 1 point Hitotsubushi]
DAY 2: Juryo 10 East Kitataiki (1-0) passes the TORCH to Juryo 11 West Seiro (1-0) [3 points Unkonoyama; 1 point Shokikogi]
DAY 3: Juryo 11 West Seiro (2-0) defeats Juryo 13 East Ryuden (2-0) [3 points Unkonoyama; 1 point Achiyama & Kofuji-ICAN & Terarno & Umigame]
DAY 4: Juryo 11 West Seiro (3-0) passes the TORCH to Juryo 14 East Satoyama (2-1) [3 points Yubinhaad; 1 point Unkonoyama]
DAY 5: Juryo 14 East Satoyama (3-1) defeats Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (2-2) [3 points Yubinhaad; 1 point kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate]
DAY 6: Juryo 14 East Satoyama (4-1) defeats Juryo 13 East Ryuden (2-3) [3 points Yubinhaad; 1 point Achiyama & Kofuji-ICAN & Terarno & Umigame]
DAY 7: Juryo 14 East Satoyama (5-1) defeats Juryo 10 East Kitataiki (5-1) [3 points Yubinhaad; 1 point Shokikogi]
DAY 8: Juryo 14 East Satoyama (6-1) passes the TORCH to Juryo 6 East Osunaarashi (6-1) [3 points Chisaiyama & Rufakiyama; 1 point Yubinhaad]
DAY 9: Juryo 6 East Osunaarashi (7-1) defeats Juryo 1 East Chiyomaru (4-4) [3 points Chisaiyama & Rufakiyama]
DAY 10: Juryo 6 East Osunaarashi (8-1) defeats Juryo 1 West Amakaze (3-6) [3 points Chisaiyama & Rufakiyama]
DAY 11: Juryo 6 East Osunaarashi (9-1) passes the TORCH to Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (5-5) [3 points kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate; 1 point Chisaiyama & Rufakiyama]
DAY 12: Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (6-5) defeats Juryo 4 West Daieisho (7-4) [3 points kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate]
DAY 13: Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (7-5) defeats Juryo 10 West Yamaguchi (6-6) [3 points kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate; 1 point Hitotsubushi]
DAY 14: Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (8-5) defeats Juryo 7 East Amuru (6-7) [3 points kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate; 1 point Ganzohnesushi]
DAY 15: Juryo 11 East Kyokutaisei (9-5) defeats Juryo 3 East Tokushoryu (6-8) [3 points kotoshikona & Profomisakari & yorikiried by fate; 1 point Kosimazaki & Sukubidubidu]

FINAL TORCH 2016 RANK: JURYO 11 EAST
FINAL TORCH 2016 RIKISHI: KYOKUTAISEI

Final TORCH MATCH point standings:
29 points – kuroimori
28 points – Naganoyama
17 points – Profomisakari
16 points - kotoshikona
16 points - yorikiried by fate
13 points - Yubinhaad
10 points - Chisaiyama
10 points - Rufakiyama
9 points - Kofuji-ICAN
9 points – Umigame
8 points – Haidouzo
8 points – Toratorii
7 points - Unkonoyama
5 points - Shokikogi
4 points - Kintamayama
4 points – Ronnie
3 points – Achiyama
3 points - Terarno
2 points - Hitotsubushi
1 point - Ganzohnesushi
1 point - Kosimazaki
1 point - Sukubidubidu
1 point - Taiga

[shimodahito]

good day all,
   The 2016 TORCH prize is ready to be sent out.
   With the final TORCH MATCH POINTS complete, it’s now time to award the end-of-year FINAL TORCH POINTS.  To recap the rules for end-of-year TORCH POINTS, 25 points are awarded if you picked the FINAL TORCH position.  Additional points are awarded to the next 10 closest picks.  (10 points to the closest pick, down to 1 point for the 10th closest pick).
 
We’ll start with the END-OF-YEAR TORCH POINTS for RANK.  Kotoshikona & yorikiried by fate made the correct TORCH RANK pick at JURYO 11 EAST for 25 points; but 2 players were only one rank off the mark and each get 10 points.  In all, 29 players earned FINAL TORCH RANK points.

JURYO 6 EAST........(1 point: Chisaiyama)
JURYO 6 WEST........(2 points: Oshirokita & Ryoshishokunin & Shitamachi & Yubinhaad)
JURYO 7 EAST........(3 points: Ganzohnesushi)
JURYO 7 WEST........(4 points: Cydrome & Daughter of Sukubidubidu & Haidouzo & Mmikasazuma & Yoohoo)
JURYO 8 EAST........(5 points: Konrad & Naganoyama & Profomisakari & Suwihuto)
JURYO 8 WEST........(6 points: Furanohana)
JURYO 9 EAST........(7 points: Fatakiyama & Jejima & orandashoho)
JURYO 9 WEST........
JURYO 10 EAST.......(9 points: Shokikogi)
JURYO 10 WEST.......(10 points: Hitotsuboshi)
FINAL TORCH RANK: JURYO 11 EAST...(25 points: kotoshikona & yorikiried by fate)
JURYO 11 WEST.......(10 points: Unkonoyama)
JURYO 12 EAST.......(9 points: Pandaazuma)
JURYO 12 WEST.......(8 points: Gurowake)
JURYO 13 EAST.......(7 points: Achiyama & Terarno)
JURYO 13 WEST.......
JURYO 14 EAST.......
JURYO 14 WEST.......(4 points: chishafuwaku)
MAKUSHITA 1 EAST....
MAKUSHITA 1 WEST....
MAKUSHITA 2 EAST....

The FINAL TORCH RANK points put kotoshikona & yorikiried by fate into the lead with 41 points, Naganoyama stayed in 2nd place with 33 points, and kuroimori dropped to 3rd place with 29 points.

Next, the END-OF-YEAR TORCH POINTS for RIKISHI.  Profomisakari scored 25 points with the correct TORCH RIKISHI pick, KYOKUTAISEI.  In all, 20 players earned FINAL TORCH RIKISHI points.

GAGAMARU.....(1 point: Daughter of Sukubidubidu)
CHIYOMARU....
AMAKAZE......
KOTOEKO......
CHIYOO.......(2 points: Cydrome)
TOKUSHORYU...
SATO.........(3 points: Derek & Kintamayama)
ONOSHO.......(4 points: Jejima & Hoshihitomi)
DAIESHO......
URA..........(5 points: Gibuten & kotoshikona & Mmikasazuma & Pandaazuma)
TSURUGISHO...(6 points: Shitamachi & Unkonoyama)
OSUNAARASHI..(7 points: Rufakiyama)
AZUMARYU.....
AMURU........
ASAHISHO.....(8 points: Fatakiyama)
AMINISHIKI...
HOMAREFUJI...
KITAHARIMA...
ASASEKIRYU...
KITATAIKI....
YAMAGUCHI....
FINAL TORCH RIKSHI: KYOKUTAISEI...(25 points: Profomisakari)
SEIRO........
DAISHOHO.....
OYANAGI......
RYUDEN.......(10 points: Umigame & Kofuji-ICAN)
SADANOFUJI...
SATOYAMA.....(9 points: Yubinhaad)
MEISEI.......
RIKISHIN.....
SAKAMOTO.....
WAKANOSHIMA..
KIZENRYU.....
IWASAKI......(5 points: orandashoho & Tenshinhan)
ASABENKEI....
FUJIAZUMA....
TOCHIMARU....
SHIMANOUMI...
KAIRYU.......
MASUNOSHO....
TAMAASUKA....
TAKAGENJI....
TOYONOSHIMA.. 

With all the points added, our final standings:
47 points – Profomisakari
46 points – kotoshikona
41 points – yorikiried by fate
33 points – Naganoyama
29 points – kuroimori
24 points – Yubinhaad
23 points – Unkonoyama
19 points – Kofuji-ICAN
19 points – Umigame
17 points – Rufakiyama
15 points – Fatakiyama
14 points – Pandaazuma
14 points – Shokikogi
12 points – Haidouzo
11 points – Chisaiyama
11 points – Jejima
12 points – Hitotsubushi
12 points – orandashoho
10 points – Achiyama
10 points – Terarno
9 points – Mmikasazuma
8 points – Gurowake
8 points – Shitamachi
8 points – Toratorii
7 points – Kintamayama
6 points – Cydrome
6 points – Furanohana
5 points – Daughter of Sukubidubidu
5 points – Gibuten
5 points – Konrad
5 points – Suwihuto
5 points – Tenshinhan
4 points – chishafuwaku
4 points – Ganzohnesushi
4 points – Hoshihitomi
4 points – Ronnie
4 points – Yoohoo
3 points – Derek
2 points – Oshirokita
2 points – Ryoshishokunin
1 point – Kosimazaki
1 point – Sukubidubidu
1 point – Taiga
 (26 participants with zero points)

 Congratulations to Profomisakari, who won in 2009 with a record 59 points.  Also, this is the third year (2011 & 2015) with 3 players hitting the 25 TORCH point bullseye (2012 had one bullseye).  Incidently, if Juryo 3 East Tokushoryu would have won the final TORCH MATCH, the top 3 would have been Sukubidubidu, Naganoyama, & kuroimori.  Shin-deshis kotoshikona, Naganoyama, and Unkonoyama made strong debuts. 

Thanks for participating and I hope you all can update your pick or, if a new player, submit a pick for next year. You can send your TORCHBEARER 2017 picks to me now, or wait until the Hatsu banzuke is released.  An invite (with rules for new players) will be out soon.  Pick one rank and one rikishi where you think the TORCH will be at the end of the year.  This sumo game has a prize.  New players are always welcome.

Again, thanks.

 -shimodahito

 Past winners:
2008 – Jejima & Terarno 
2009 – Profomisakari (with a record 59 points) 
2010 – Konrad 
2011 – crall (I wonder where he went?) 
2012 – kuroimori 
2013 – wildcard 
2014 – Hoshihitomi 
2015 – Jejima 
2016 – Profomisakari