Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at July (Nagoya) 1999

Yokozuna Akebono went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Musashimaru, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Wakanohana, who withdrew at 3-5-7 last time, returns looking to make amends. Yokozuna Takanohana, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Tosanoumi moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Chiyotenzan moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 3.

• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho Yokozuna, 11-4
• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho Ozeki, 13-2
• Yokozuna Wakanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 3-5-7
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 0-0-15
• Ozeki Takanonamilast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Komusubi Tosanoumilast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Chiyotenzanlast basho Maegashira 3, 9-6

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 0-0-15 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2 — he survived 0 of 1, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2340 sits 249 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 7 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #2

Returning to makuuchi: Wakanoyama.

• Maegashira 13 Wakanoyamareturning

Musashimaru tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2516. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2516 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake KaioELO 2456 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2455 ・ Forward Pusher
• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2392 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake TochiazumaELO 2386 ・ Forward Pusher

• Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Chiyotenzan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 4-0; the rating model gives Akebono 73%; Forward Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Kotonishiki (Maegashira 1) vs Musashimaru (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 26-18; the rating model gives Kotonishiki 21%; Forward Pusher vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Wakanosato (Maegashira 2) vs Takanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 9-0; the rating model gives Wakanosato 26%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Wakanosato