Kadoban pressure on Miyabiyama at September (Aki) 2000

Yokozuna Akebono, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Musashimaru went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana, who withdrew at 5-3-7 last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Dejima went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kaio went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Akinoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Akebonolast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho Yokozuna, 10-5
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 5-3-7
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Dejimalast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Sekiwake, 11-4
• Komusubi Akinoshimalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

ozeki Miyabiyama, after finishing 6-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is his first kadoban since reaching the rank. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2347 sits 292 points below his peak of 2639, just No. 9 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Miyabiyamalast basho 6-9 ・ kadoban #1

Making their makuuchi debut: Tochisakae.

Returning to makuuchi: Wakanosato, Daishi.

• Maegashira 10 Wakanosatoreturning
• Maegashira 14 Daishireturning
• Maegashira 15 Tochisakaedebut

Akebono tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2591. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AkebonoELO 2591
• Ozeki KaioELO 2543
• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2511
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2500
• Sekiwake TochiazumaELO 2484 ・ Forward Pusher

• Akebono (Yokozuna) vs Akinoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Akebono leads 30-8; the rating model gives Akebono 84%
• Tosanoumi (Maegashira 1) vs Musashimaru (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 28-6; the rating model gives Tosanoumi 37%
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Takanonami (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 21-7; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 78%