Natsu Basho 2002 marked the beginning of a great new tradition in internet sumo gaming - the playing of the inaugural SUPER BANZUKE MASTERS Tournament!  For the first time ever, the ten best cyber-Rikishi in the World were invited to measure themselves against their closest peers and rivals,  and to compete in the greatest tournament in all of internet sumo - THE MASTERS!  The Hatsu 2003 edition of the SB Masters is thus the 5th time this great new competition is held.

Every cyber-Rikishi may dream of one day competing in the MASTERS, but only the very best of the best will receive the honor of being invited to compete for the fabled Green Mawashi, which is emblematic of the MASTERS Champion.  The Green Mawashi is exclusively awarded to SB MASTERS Champions as a token which embodies the pursuit of excellence and the ability to perform at one's best abilities, mastering a variety of different challenges.  The Green Mawashi consists of a simple "Masters Green" Kesho-Mawashi with golden trim and the white Tsuna, which is worn only by a Grand Champion.  The MASTERS Champion will own the exclusive privilege of wearing the Green Mawashi after it is awarded, until, and for the duration of, the next Basho.  As is the tradition, the Defending Champion will then help the New Champion to slip into the Green Mawashi in the solemn Mawashi Ceremony (unless of course the Defending Champion retains the title)!   To win the MASTERS YUSHO shall henceforth become the ultimate achievement in internet sumo gaming! :)

The SUPER BANZUKE MASTERS SERIES pitches the top-10, or Sanyaku, Rikishi on the SUPER BANZUKE against each other in EVERY game included in the SUPER BANZUKE, with everyone battling everyone in each of the games, establishing the SB MASTERS CHAMPION for each Basho based on their overall performance in all the games!  (In games that feature direct duels, such as Bench Sumo and Sumo Game, any direct duels between SB MASTERS invitees will count as they are - should two or more Rikishi not face each other directly (for instance, because they are not competing in the same division), their overall points performance will count as a match, as it will in all games that do not feature direct duels!). 

The 10 honored cyber-Rikishi who qualify for the SB MASTERS SERIES every 2 months do not have to do anything additional or change their usual gaming habits.  HOWEVER, it would obviously be to their advantage to participate in "as many of the games as possible", for maximum points earning potential!  This way, the SBK hopes that the top players in the world will be indirectly "encouraged" to play in more of the games!

The SBK will announce the ten honored invitees to the SB MASTERS (which will coincide with the top-10 (or Sanyaku ranks) in the SUPER BANZUKE before each Basho.  In the case that an invitee would like to, for whatever reason, withdraw from the SB MASTERS that Basho, they should inform the SBK immediately, in which eventuality they will be replaced by the next highest ranked Rikishi on the SB (i.e. numbers 11, 12, etc. as needed).

Please note: invitee's performances in the SB MASTERS will have no actual impact on their ranking on the SUPER BANZUKE or any of their rankings in any of the individual games, but separate SB MASTERS rankings will be maintained, and an overall SB MASTERS WORLD CHAMPION will be proclaimed at the end of each year!

There are three basic categories: overall (raw) record, head-to-head (bout) record, and winning percentage! 

Overall (raw) record: 
Counts up all the wins, ties and losses of each Rikishi in each game.  For example, of a player participates in 3 games, and their records against other MASTERS competitors in these three games happen to be 4-0-2, 3-0-6, and 6-2-2, then their raw record will be 13-2-10 (or 13 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses).  This category will determine the Outstanding Performance Prize (Shukun-sho) winner. 

Head-to-head (bout) record: 
Is determined though the direct match-up of two particular rikishi based on their meetings in each of the games they BOTH participate.  Rikishi A may beat Rikishi B in 3 games, lose to B in 2 games, and they tie in 1 game... with a direct comparison of  3-1-2 in all five, A wins the head-to-head bout between the two.  With 10 Rikishi participating in the SB MASTERS, the best possible record here is obviously 9-0-0.  This category will be used to determine the Fighting Spirit Prize (Kanto-sho) winner! 

Winning percentage: 
Divides the raw points earned though wins and ties by the total number of matches participated in from all games.  This will be used to determine the Technique Prize (Gino-sho) winner! 

Yusho:
Players receive points for all  places they earn in each of the three categories, ranging from 9 points for first to 0 points for tenth.  The Rikishi with the highest combined points score will win the MASTERS Yusho, and the Green Mawashi!  A perfect score of 27 (top in all three categories) will constitute a "Zen-Yusho".  In case of a points tie at the top, the direct head-to-head bout(s) between those tied will serve as the first tie-breaker.  The quotient derived from multiplying the overall (raw) record points by the winning percentage will serve as the second tie-breaker.  Third tie-breaker will be the number of Kachi-koshi each tied Rikishi has achieved in the individual games that Basho.  Should there still be a tie after all that, Co-Champions will be declared.  Yusho winners are NOT eligible for any of the special prizes, and should they occupy the top spot in any of the special prize categories, the prizes will be given to the next highest ranked Rikishi in that category.