Kadoban pressure on Wakanohana at July (Nagoya) 1997

Yokozuna Takanohana, who forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away. Yokozuna Akebono, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Takanonami went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Musashimaru went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Tamakasuga moves up to Sekiwake after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Oginishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 5; Tochiazuma moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Sekiwake Tamakasugalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Oginishikilast basho Maegashira 5, 11-4
• Komusubi Tochiazumalast basho Maegashira 6, 11-4

ozeki Wakanohana, after finishing 0-0-15 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5 — he survived 2 of 4, but fell to sekiwake 2 times. His rating of 2428 remains near his career peak (No. 3 in makuuchi) — the ability is intact, and escape is well within reach.

• Ozeki Wakanohanalast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #5

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2552. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2552 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2529
• Ozeki WakanohanaELO 2428
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2382 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TakanonamiELO 2323 ・ Thrower

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Oginishiki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 12-2; the rating model gives Takanohana 86%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Oginishiki
• Dejima (Maegashira 4) vs Akebono (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Dejima leads 7-6; the rating model gives Dejima 12%
• Takanonami (Ozeki) vs Tochiazuma (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanonami leads 16-14; the rating model gives Takanonami 61%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Takanonami