Basho Preview ・ 場所前展望
Banzuke →July (Nagoya) 2003 preview — Asashoryu tops the rating chart
July (Nagoya) 2003 opens on July 6. Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Musashimaru, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.
Banzuke Notes
Ozeki Kaio went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Musoyama went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.
In the sanyaku ranks, Tochinonada moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.
- Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
- Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 0-0-15
- Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 11-4
- Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
- Ozeki Musoyamalast basho 8-7
- Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho 8-7
- Komusubi Tochinonadalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
New Faces in Makuuchi
Returning to makuuchi: Tochisakae, Kasuganishiki, Ushiomaru, Tamakasuga, Kinkaiyama.
- Maegashira 11 Tochisakaereturning
- Maegashira 12 Kasuganishikireturning
- Maegashira 14 Ushiomarureturning
- Maegashira 15 Tamakasugareturning
- Maegashira 15 Kinkaiyamareturning
Title Contenders (Rating)
Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2631. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.
解説 ・ InsightAsashoryu has climbed from a rating of 2530 to 2631 over the past year — the momentum is real.
One caveat: Musashimaru is returning from a layoff — whether the numbers hold is an open question.
- Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2631 ・ Thrower
- Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2575 ・ Forward Pusher
- Ozeki KaioELO 2546 ・ Thrower
- Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2527 ・ Forward Pusher
- Sekiwake WakanosatoELO 2458 ・ Thrower
Day 1 Bouts to Watch
- Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Tochinonada (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 17-6; the rating model gives Asashoryu 82%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
- Kyokutenho (Sekiwake) vs Musashimaru (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 10-1; the rating model gives Kyokutenho 33%; Belt Grinder vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
- Kaio (Ozeki) vs Miyabiyama (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 31-15; the rating model gives Kaio 74%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Kaio