Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at January (Hatsu) 2002

Yokozuna Musashimaru, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Takanohana, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Kaio went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Musoyama went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Wakanosato moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1; Kyokutenho moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Takanohanalast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Sekiwake, 12-3
• Komusubi Wakanosatolast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5
• Komusubi Kyokutenholast basho Maegashira 5, 8-7

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 0-0-15 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 6 — he survived 2 of 5, but fell to sekiwake 3 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2432 sits 157 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 7 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #6

Returning to makuuchi: Oikari, Asanowaka, Jumonji, Sentoryu.

• Maegashira 11 Oikarireturning
• Maegashira 12 Asanowakareturning
• Maegashira 14 Jumonjireturning
• Maegashira 15 Sentoryureturning

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

• Yokozuna TakanohanaELO 2650 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2554 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2545 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki KaioELO 2481 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2463 ・ Belt Grinder

• Musashimaru (Yokozuna) vs Wakanosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 10-5; the rating model gives Musashimaru 68%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Wakanosato
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Kyokutenho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 34-5; the rating model gives Kaio 80%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Kaio
• Kotomitsuki (Sekiwake) vs Musoyama (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kotomitsuki leads 10-7; the rating model gives Kotomitsuki 58%; Belt Grinder vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even