Kadoban pressure on Kaio at March (Haru) 2005

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 15-0, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Iwakiyama moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Kotooshu moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 4.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 15-0
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Sekiwake, 11-4
• Komusubi Iwakiyamalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Kotooshulast basho Maegashira 4, 9-6

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 4-6-5 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 7 — he survived 5 of 6, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating stands at 2551 (No. 3 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 4-6-5 ・ kadoban #7

Making their makuuchi debut: Shunketsu.

Returning to makuuchi: Futeno, Kasuganishiki, Toyozakura, Otsukasa.

• Maegashira 13 Futenoreturning
• Maegashira 14 Kasuganishikireturning
• Maegashira 14 Toyozakurareturning
• Maegashira 16 Otsukasareturning
• Maegashira 17 Shunketsudebut

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2757. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2757 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake HakuhoELO 2561 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KaioELO 2551
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2530 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Sekiwake MiyabiyamaELO 2501

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Kotooshu (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 17-7; the rating model gives Asashoryu 88%
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Kyokutenho (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 28-9; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 57%
• Wakanosato (Maegashira 1) vs Kaio (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 21-13; the rating model gives Wakanosato 35%