Kadoban pressure on Kaio, Musoyama at November (Kyushu) 2003

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.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Kyokutenho moves up to Sekiwake after going 10-5 at Maegashira 2; Takamisakari moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Iwakiyama moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Musashimarulast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Sekiwake Kyokutenholast basho Maegashira 2, 10-5
• Komusubi Takamisakarilast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
• Komusubi Iwakiyamalast basho Maegashira 5, 11-4

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 6 — he survived 4 of 5, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating of 2464 is 204 points off his peak of 2668 — yet still the No. 5 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

Meanwhile, ozeki Musoyama, after finishing 1-5-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4 — he survived 2 of 3, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2338 sits 159 points below his peak of 2497, just No. 15 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #6
• Ozeki Musoyamalast basho 1-5-9 ・ kadoban #4

Making their makuuchi debut: Toyozakura.

Returning to makuuchi: Takekaze, Takanowaka, Tamakasuga.

• Maegashira 11 Takekazereturning
• Maegashira 12 Takanowakareturning
• Maegashira 13 Tamakasugareturning
• Maegashira 14 Toyozakuradebut

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2584. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2584 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2543 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake WakanosatoELO 2537 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna MusashimaruELO 2490 ・ Forward Pusher
• Ozeki KaioELO 2464 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Iwakiyama (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 15-1; the rating model gives Asashoryu 80%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Takamisakari (Komusubi) vs Musashimaru (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Musashimaru leads 4-1; the rating model gives Takamisakari 39%; Belt Grinder vs Forward Pusher — style matchup is even
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Tochinonada (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 20-11; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 71%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Tochinonada