Kadoban pressure on Kaio at July (Nagoya) 2005

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

Ozeki Tochiazuma went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotooshu moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 5; Miyabiyama moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 3.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 15-0
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 12-3
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Komusubi Kotooshulast basho Maegashira 5, 10-5
• Komusubi Miyabiyamalast basho Maegashira 3, 8-7

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 5-1-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 8 — he survived 6 of 7, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. His pre-basho rating stands at 2576 (No. 4 in makuuchi); the fifteen days ahead will show whether he can turn it around.

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 5-1-9 ・ kadoban #8

Making their makuuchi debut: Tamaasuka, Hakurozan.

Returning to makuuchi: Tochisakae, Shunketsu.

• Maegashira 12 Tochisakaereturning
• Maegashira 14 Tamaasukadebut
• Maegashira 14 Hakurozandebut
• Maegashira 17 Shunketsureturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2839. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2839 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2623 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2591 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki KaioELO 2576
• Sekiwake HakuhoELO 2538 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Miyabiyama (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 34-5; the rating model gives Asashoryu 90%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Tochiazuma (Ozeki) vs Kakizoe (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Tochiazuma leads 7-1; the rating model gives Tochiazuma 77%
• Kyokushuzan (Maegashira 1) vs Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 18-7; the rating model gives Kyokushuzan 30%