Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at January (Hatsu) 2005

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Kaio went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Hakuho moves up to Komusubi after going 12-3 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 12-3
• Komusubi Hakuholast basho Maegashira 1, 12-3

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 10 — he survived 5 of 9, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. His pre-basho rating stands at 2460 (No. 7 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #10

Making their makuuchi debut: Kotoshogiku.

Returning to makuuchi: Tochisakae, Harunoyama, Aminishiki, Toyonoshima.

• Maegashira 15 Tochisakaereturning
• Maegashira 15 Harunoyamareturning
• Maegashira 16 Kotoshogikudebut
• Maegashira 16 Aminishikireturning
• Maegashira 17 Toyonoshimareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2680. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2680 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KaioELO 2668
• Sekiwake WakanosatoELO 2541
• Komusubi HakuhoELO 2520 ・ Thrower
• Komusubi KotomitsukiELO 2498 ・ Belt Grinder

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Hakuho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 15-14; the rating model gives Asashoryu 72%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Iwakiyama (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 11-0; the rating model gives Kaio 79%
• Tochinonada (Maegashira 1) vs Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 20-11; the rating model gives Tochinonada 42%