Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Reigning champion Takanohana opens an ozeki bid
November (Kyushu) 1992 opens on November 8. And then there is Takanohana, who won the championship at 14-1 from Komusubi. Now at Sekiwake, another double-digit basho would put an ozeki run firmly on the table.
Banzuke Notes
There is no yokozuna on this banzuke. Ozeki Konishiki, Akebono, Kirishima carry the top of the bill — and the extra weight that comes with it.
Ozeki Konishiki went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Akebono went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Kotonishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 1; Takatoriki moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 2.
- Ozeki Konishikilast basho Ozeki, 9-6
- Ozeki Akebonolast basho Ozeki, 9-6
- Komusubi Kotonishikilast basho Maegashira 1, 11-4
- Komusubi Takatorikilast basho Maegashira 2, 10-5
Ozeki Bid & Kadoban
Meanwhile, ozeki Kirishima, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4, but he has fought his way out of all 3 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2155 sits 210 points below his peak of 2365, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?
- Sekiwake Takanohanalast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ ozeki bid
- Ozeki Kirishimalast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #4
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Kotobeppu.
Returning to makuuchi: Kasugafuji, Hananokuni.
- Maegashira 13 Kasugafujireturning
- Maegashira 14 Kotobeppudebut
- Maegashira 15 Hananokunireturning
Title Contenders (Rating)
Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2284. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightTakanohana has climbed from a rating of 2119 to 2284 over the past year — the momentum is real.
- Sekiwake TakanohanaELO 2284 ・ Belt Grinder
- Ozeki AkebonoELO 2260 ・ Forward Pusher
- Sekiwake MusashimaruELO 2236 ・ Forward Pusher
- Komusubi KotonishikiELO 2225 ・ Belt Grinder
- Ozeki KonishikiELO 2221
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Konishiki (Ozeki) vs Takatoriki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Konishiki leads 12-12; the rating model gives Konishiki 61%
- Tochinowaka (Maegashira 3) vs Akebono (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 12-7; the rating model gives Tochinowaka 20%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
- Kirishima (Ozeki) vs Kyokudozan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kirishima leads 12-7; the rating model gives Kirishima 53%; Belt Grinder vs Technician — style matchup is even