Kaio chases the rope at September (Aki) 2001

Yokozuna Musashimaru went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Tamanoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 12-3 at Maegashira 7.

• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho Yokozuna, 12-3
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho Yokozuna, 0-0-15
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Komusubi Tamanoshimalast basho Maegashira 7, 12-3

After going 4-5-6 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. 3, but he has fought his way out of all 2 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2324 sits 315 points below his peak of 2639, just No. 10 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Miyabiyamalast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #3

Returning to makuuchi: Takatoriki, Hamanishiki, Daishi.

• Maegashira 14 Takatorikireturning
• Maegashira 14 Hamanishikireturning
• Maegashira 15 Daishireturning

Takanohana tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2650. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2650
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2605
• Ozeki KaioELO 2554
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2518
• Sekiwake TochiazumaELO 2472 ・ Forward Pusher

• Musashimaru (Yokozuna) vs Tamanoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 5-2; the rating model gives Musashimaru 82%
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Wakanosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 21-13; the rating model gives Kaio 75%
• Kotonowaka (Maegashira 1) vs Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 12-2; the rating model gives Kotonowaka 21%