Kaio chases the rope at May (Natsu) 2001

Yokozuna Takanohana went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Musashimaru went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Musoyama went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Dejima went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotomitsuki moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 3; Asashoryu moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 12-3
• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Dejimalast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Kotomitsukilast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5
• Komusubi Asashoryulast basho Maegashira 6, 9-6

After going 10-5 two basho ago, ozeki Kaio took the last one at 13-2. The standard is "back-to-back championships, or the equivalent" — stay at the front of the race here, and the rope becomes real. Fifteen days begin in which he can hardly afford a single loss.

Meanwhile, ozeki Miyabiyama, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2309 sits 330 points below his peak of 2639, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 0-0-15 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4 — he survived 1 of 3, but fell to sekiwake 2 times. His pre-basho rating of 2422 is 167 points off his peak of 2589 — yet still the No. 6 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Miyabiyamalast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #2
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #4

Making their makuuchi debut: Wakatsutomu, Hamanishiki.

Returning to makuuchi: Toki, Daizen.

• Maegashira 12 Wakatsutomudebut
• Maegashira 12 Hamanishikidebut
• Maegashira 13 Tokireturning
• Maegashira 14 Daizenreturning

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2614. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2614
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2597
• Ozeki KaioELO 2568
• Ozeki MusoyamaELO 2467
• Sekiwake TochiazumaELO 2454 ・ Forward Pusher

• Takanohana (Yokozuna) vs Kotomitsuki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Takanohana leads 4-0; the rating model gives Takanohana 79%
• Asashoryu (Komusubi) vs Musashimaru (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 5-4; the rating model gives Asashoryu 11%
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Tochinonada (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 25-12; the rating model gives Kaio 77%