Reigning champion Kotomitsuki opens an ozeki bid

Yokozuna Musashimaru went 9-6 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Takanohana, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Musoyama went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotomitsuki moves up to Sekiwake after going 13-2 at Maegashira 2; Asashoryu moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1; Kaiho moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 4.

• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 9-6
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Sekiwake Kotomitsukilast basho Maegashira 2, 13-2
• Komusubi Asashoryulast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5
• Komusubi Kaiholast basho Maegashira 4, 10-5

Meanwhile, ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 4-5-6 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5 — he survived 2 of 4, but fell to sekiwake 2 times. His pre-basho rating of 2432 is 157 points off his peak of 2589 — yet still the No. 6 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

Meanwhile, ozeki Kaio, after finishing 0-4-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. His pre-basho rating of 2457 is 211 points off his peak of 2668 — yet still the No. 5 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

• Sekiwake Kotomitsukilast basho 13-2 ・ champion ・ ozeki bid
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 4-5-6 ・ kadoban #5
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 0-4-11 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Kobo, Buyuzan.

Returning to makuuchi: Aogiyama, Tamarikido.

• Maegashira 13 Aogiyamareturning
• Maegashira 14 Kobodebut
• Maegashira 15 Tamarikidoreturning
• Maegashira 15 Buyuzandebut

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

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2650
• Sekiwake TochiazumaELO 2520
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2499
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2472 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki KaioELO 2457

• Musashimaru (Yokozuna) vs Kaiho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 3-3; the rating model gives Musashimaru 75%
• Musoyama (Ozeki) vs Wakanosato (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Musoyama leads 17-8; the rating model gives Musoyama 61%
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Tamanoshima (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 19-5; the rating model gives Kaio 66%