Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →Reigning champion Takatoriki opens an ozeki bid
May (Natsu) 2000 opens on May 7. And then there is Takatoriki, who won the championship at 13-2 from Maegashira 14. Now at Komusubi, another double-digit basho would put an ozeki run firmly on the table.
Banzuke Notes
Yokozuna Akebono went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Musashimaru went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again.
Ozeki Dejima went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Musoyama went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Takatoriki moves up to Komusubi after going 13-2 at Maegashira 14.
- Yokozuna Akebonolast basho Yokozuna, 12-3
- Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 11-4
- Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 11-4
- Ozeki Dejimalast basho 11-4
- Ozeki Musoyamalast basho Sekiwake, 12-3
- Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 8-7
- Komusubi Takatorikilast basho Maegashira 14, 13-2
Ozeki Bid & Kadoban
Meanwhile, ozeki Takanonami, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5 — he survived 3 of 4, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2319 sits 161 points below his peak of 2480, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?
- Komusubi Takatorikilast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ ozeki bid
- Ozeki Takanonamilast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #5
New Faces in Makuuchi
Making their makuuchi debut: Kotomitsuki, Tochinohana, Jumonji.
Returning to makuuchi: Kinkaiyama.
- Maegashira 8 Kotomitsukidebut
- Maegashira 10 Kinkaiyamareturning
- Maegashira 12 Tochinohanadebut
- Maegashira 14 Jumonjidebut
Title Contenders (Rating)
Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2513. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
- Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2513
- Ozeki MusoyamaELO 2497
- Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2492
- Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2474
- Sekiwake MiyabiyamaELO 2426 ・ Pulling Pusher
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Takatoriki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 31-16; the rating model gives Akebono 79%
- Tochinonada (Maegashira 1) vs Takanohana (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 12-2; the rating model gives Tochinonada 18%
- Dejima (Ozeki) vs Kaio (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 25-15; the rating model gives Dejima 56%