Chiyotaikai chases the rope at May (Natsu) 2003

Yokozuna Asashoryu went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Musashimaru, 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.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kyokutenho moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho Yokozuna, 10-5
• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho Yokozuna, 0-0-15
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Komusubi Kyokutenholast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

After going 0-0-15 two basho ago, ozeki Chiyotaikai took the last one at 12-3. 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 Musoyama, after finishing 1-6-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3 — he survived 1 of 2, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2313 sits 184 points below his peak of 2497, just No. 16 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Tochiazuma, 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. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2328 sits 365 points below his peak of 2693, just No. 14 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 12-3 ・ champion ・ yokozuna bid
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho 1-6-8 ・ kadoban #3
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #4

Returning to makuuchi: Aogiyama, Yotsukasa, Otsukasa, Asanowaka.

• Maegashira 12 Aogiyamareturning
• Maegashira 13 Yotsukasareturning
• Maegashira 14 Otsukasareturning
• Maegashira 15 Asanowakareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2582. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2582 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2575
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2548
• Ozeki KaioELO 2509
• Sekiwake WakanosatoELO 2459 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Tosanoumi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 18-6; the rating model gives Asashoryu 74%
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Kyokutenho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 28-9; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 70%
• Tochinonada (Maegashira 1) vs Kaio (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 25-12; the rating model gives Tochinonada 31%