Kyushu 2020 Basho Sumo Power Rankings

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Power rankings are an essential part of every sport. While records may not reflect it, some athletes and teams have harder schedules than others. Sumo wrestling (as far as I’ve seen) lacks just that.

So, at The Fight Library, I’ve developed a point system that rewards rikishi for winning matches based on rank.

These rankings will have a rolling total of one year. These first rankings will be only for the Kyushu 2020 basho and in January, we will add on to our point totals until we reach basho number seven, to which these points will fall off.

Every basho, we will provide line movement for each rikishi to show how far they have risen or fallen from basho to basho.

Tweaks to the scoring system will be made with careful consideration.

So without further a due, I present to you:

Kyushu Basho Power Rankings – November 2020

Rank = where the rikishi ranks among point totals

Rikishi = wrestlers bame

Points = total points earned from entire basho

Record = single basho record

Mvmt = movement on rank from last basho (this basho has no movement)

Last basho = last basho rank (this basho has no last basho rank)

APW = average points won. This is points divided by wins

ABR = average banzuke rank beat

Rolling total = total wins and losses for this rolling period

Kyushu 2020 was won by the Komusubi, Takakeisho, who won an average of 14.3 points per win, an average of Maegashira 5. In day 15, Terunofuji secured the top spot in the power rankings by defeating Takakeisho. While Terunofuji beat Takakeisho in the last match of the day, it was Takakeisho who took the win in a playoff, giving him the yusho. Daieisho scored 171 points on 10 wins giving him an average of Maegashira 2.

Out of the power rankings are the two yokozuna, Hakuho and Kakuryu. Should they compete in January, they’ll make their power rankings debut. Others that were forced to pull out of the basho were ozeki Asanoyama and Shodai, who both scored points before pulling out, and Maegashira 15 Kotoyuki, who missed the whole tournament.

Other notable points are Tochinoshin’s kochi kochi, which has him coming in 9th in the inaugural power rankings. Maegashira 1, Wakatakakage struggled early on in the basho but came on strong at the end, cracking the 100 point barrier for the basho.

Fan favorite, Enho, struggled mightily this basho, clocking in a 3-12 record and only 31 points. Look for Enho to turn it around next basho, should he heal up, and make a big jump in the rankings.

Points to Watch for Future Power Rankings

In January, our second edition of the Sumo Power Rankings will come out. Points will compound from this basho and will continue to do so until next November. While these are incomplete and are quite volatile, they will become less so as we get closer to the full power rankings formula being completed.

Want more sumo? New to sumo? Check out the two posts below for sumo terminology and the history of sumo wrestling.

Sumo Wrestling Terms: A Westerner’s Glossary

Sumo is such a fun sport. With so much Japanese terminology, it’s hard for westerners to keep up with what’s going on in the sport. Here is an ongoing glossary explaining the sport and it’s jargon.