Takatoriki takes a gold star off yokozuna Akebono

Musashimaru, Takanonami trail by one. 4 days remain.

• Ozeki Takanohana10-1 ・ W4
• Yokozuna Akebono10-1
• Ozeki Musashimaru9-2
• Ozeki Takanonami9-2

Takatoriki (Maegashira 1) defeated yokozuna Akebono by Hikiotoshi for a kinboshi gold star. It is career kinboshi No. 3.

• Maegashira 1 Takatoriki7-4

Konishiki (Maegashira 5) beat Takanonami (Ozeki) by Yorikiri — pre-basho ratings gave just a 13% chance. He had trailed their head-to-head 5-10, which makes it count double.

• Maegashira 5 Konishiki3-8

Ozeki Takanonami, bidding for yokozuna, stands at 9-2 — 4 wins short of the 13-win benchmark.

Kadoban ozeki Wakanohana has been absent since day one. With no path to a winning record, demotion to sekiwake is certain.

• Ozeki Takanonami9-2 ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Wakanohana0-0-11 ・ kadoban #1―――――――――――

4 rikishi had their winning or losing records decided today.

• Maegashira 14 Daishohokachi-koshi (8-3)
• Maegashira 12 Mainoumikachi-koshi (8-3)
• Maegashira 6 Tokitsunadamake-koshi (3-8)
• Maegashira 2 Kenkomake-koshi (3-8)

• Akebono (Yokozuna, 10-1) vs Kotonishiki (Sekiwake, 6-5) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 30-11; the rating model gives Akebono 77%; Forward Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Musashimaru (Ozeki, 9-2) vs Akinoshima (Maegashira 3, 2-9) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 32-11; the rating model gives Musashimaru 80%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Akinoshima
• Daizen (Maegashira 4, 5-6) vs Takanohana (Ozeki, 10-1) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 9-0; the rating model gives Daizen 17%; Belt Grinder vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even