Kadoban pressure on Takanonami at March (Haru) 1999

Yokozuna Wakanohana, who forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away. Yokozuna Takanohana went 8-7 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Akebono, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Musashimaru went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went won the title at 13-2 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Akinoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 3; Kaio moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Wakanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 13-2
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 8-7
• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Musashimarulast basho 8-7
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Sekiwake, 13-2
• Komusubi Akinoshimalast basho Maegashira 3, 11-4
• Komusubi Kaiolast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

ozeki Takanonami, after finishing 6-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3, but he has fought his way out of all 2 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2230 sits 250 points below his peak of 2480, just No. 14 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 6-9 ・ kadoban #3

Making their makuuchi debut: Miyabiyama, Ohinode.

Returning to makuuchi: Asanowaka.

• Maegashira 7 Miyabiyamadebut
• Maegashira 13 Asanowakareturning
• Maegashira 13 Ohinodedebut

Chiyotaikai tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2488. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2488 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2431 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna WakanohanaELO 2429 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2398 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki MusashimaruELO 2376 ・ Forward Pusher

• Wakanohana (Yokozuna) vs Kaio (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Wakanohana leads 15-14; the rating model gives Wakanohana 63%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Kaio
• Kotonishiki (Maegashira 1) vs Takanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 34-14; the rating model gives Kotonishiki 33%; Forward Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Musashimaru (Ozeki) vs Akinoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 32-11; the rating model gives Musashimaru 59%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Akinoshima