Sumo Nagoya Basho: Aonishiki wins three-way playoff

thomas · Monday at 08:32

What an exciting last day at the Nagoya Basho!

Ukrainian wrestler Aonishiki won his third top-division championship at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, defeating fellow sekiwake Atamifuji and Mongolian-born ōzeki Kirishima in a three-way playoff after all three finished the 15-day tournament tied at 12-3. The 22-year-old capped a remarkable tournament by also securing automatic promotion back to ōzeki after reaching the required 10-win mark. He achieved the feat despite competing with a painful foot injury throughout the tournament.

Having started the final day at IG Arena with the outright lead, he was brought back to the pack with his loss to 187-centimeter, 197-kilogram Shizuoka Prefecture native Atamifuji, who bulldozed the young European star off the raised ring. Kirishima, trying to strengthen his case for yokozuna promotion, then booked his place in the tiebreaker by forcing out fellow ozeki Kotozakura (8-7). The three joint leaders drew lots for their starting order in the playoff, in which the first wrestler to win two consecutive bouts would be crowned winner. Atamifuji forced out Kirishima in the first playoff match after delivering another devastating initial charge, but he was unable to repeat the performance in the second bout, giving up the momentum to Aonishiki and succumbing to a force out. Having beaten Kirishima two days earlier, Aonishiki once again outmaneuvered the ozeki in the third playoff battle, getting a deep inside grip at the jump and forcing him over the straw bales.

Neither yokozuna fared so well:

Injury-hampered yokozuna Onosato (9-6) wrapped up a disappointing tournament on a positive note by beating sekiwake Kotoshoho (6-9). Having missed most of the March tourney and the entire May competition with left shoulder trouble, the five-time Emperor's Cup winner looked far from his imposing best in Nagoya. Fellow grand champion Hoshoryu (7-7-1) withdrew from a second straight tournament, pulling out on Day 14 after aggravating the right hamstring injury that sidelined him in May.

Sumo: Ukrainian star Aonishiki wins 3-way playoff to clinch Nagoya title - The Mainichi

NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Ukrainian dynamo Aonishiki captured his third top-division title at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, winning a three-way

mainichi.jp

Here's the winning bout:

Ukigumo · Monday at 15:44

The whole basho was very entertaining. I personally like the little rikishi (Asakoryu in particular) especially when they bring down the huge guys!

thomas · Monday at 21:52

Ukigumo said:
The whole basho was very entertaining. I personally like the little rikishi (Asakoryu in particular) especially when they bring down the huge guys!

Yes, it was quite spectacular! I am glad that Aonishiki will be reinstated as ozeki, but never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined he'd win the Emperor's Cup with his foot injury.

My favourite "little guy" is Fujinokawa, who brought down yokozuna Onosato on Day 2 (he beat BOTH yokozuna in the Osaka Basho in March). His bout against Aonishiki was almost comical when his attempt at a henka failed, and Aonishiki literally plucked him mid-air.

This time, he again sported a Keith Haring mawashi!

thomas · Monday at 21:59

Btw: Top 10 Prize Money Winners - Nagoya Basho Final Day 15

thomas · 2026-07-28T09:06:39+0900

As expected, Sekiwake Aonishiki is now aiming for sumo's highest rank after claiming his third career championship at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and earning an immediate return to ōzeki. Aonishiki said the victory had shown his success was not simply the result of momentum. He said he would now set his sights on reaching the sport's highest rank.

Aonishiki Sets Sights on Yokozuna After Nagoya Triumph

Sekiwake Aonishiki said he will target sumo’s highest rank after winning his third career championship at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and securing an immediate return to ozeki.

newsonjapan.com

mdchachi · 2026-07-28T22:46:45+0900

What do you mean return to ozeki? Did he achieve it and then lose it?

Ukigumo · 2026-07-28T23:03:04+0900

mdchachi said:
What do you mean return to ozeki? Did he achieve it and then lose it?

Yes I think he did.

thomas · 2026-07-28T23:13:21+0900

Aonishiki's return to ozeki shows how the kadoban (角番) system works: an ozeki who finishes a tournament with a losing record becomes kadoban ("on the brink") and must secure at least eight wins in the following tournament to avoid demotion. If he fails again, he drops to sekiwake. However, a demoted ozeki gets one immediate chance to regain the rank by winning 10 or more bouts in the next tournament as a sekiwake. That's exactly what Aonishiki has done (he's only the 7th ozeki ever to achieve this), earning an immediate promotion back to ozeki after just one tournament outside the rank. He not only regained his ozeki title but won the tournament!

Sumo Nagoya Basho: Aonishiki wins three-way playoff

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Sumo: Ukrainian star Aonishiki wins 3-way playoff to clinch Nagoya title - The Mainichi

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Aonishiki Sets Sights on Yokozuna After Nagoya Triumph

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