Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Reigning champion Wakanohana opens an ozeki bid
May (Natsu) 1993 opens on May 9. And then there is Wakanohana, 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
Yokozuna Akebono went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again.
Ozeki Takanohana went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Konishiki went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Takanonami moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Kyokudozan moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 2.
- Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 10-5
- Ozeki Takanohanalast basho 11-4
- Ozeki Konishikilast basho 9-6
- Komusubi Takanonamilast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
- Komusubi Kyokudozanlast basho Maegashira 2, 9-6
Ozeki Bid
- Sekiwake Wakanohanalast basho 14-1 ・ champion ・ ozeki bid
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Kaio, Oginishiki.
Returning to makuuchi: Tokitsunada.
- Maegashira 13 Tokitsunadareturning
- Maegashira 15 Kaiodebut
- Maegashira 16 Oginishikidebut
Title Contenders (Rating)
Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2337. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightAkebono has climbed from a rating of 2250 to 2337 over the past year — the momentum is real.
- Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2337 ・ Forward Pusher
- Sekiwake WakanohanaELO 2291 ・ Pulling Pusher
- Ozeki TakanohanaELO 2284 ・ Belt Grinder
- Sekiwake MusashimaruELO 2255 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki KonishikiELO 2219
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Kyokudozan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 8-4; the rating model gives Akebono 76%; Forward Pusher vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Akebono
- Takanohana (Ozeki) vs Tomoefuji (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 8-4; the rating model gives Takanohana 73%
- Misugisato (Maegashira 1) vs Konishiki (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Konishiki leads 19-9; the rating model gives Misugisato 35%