Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at September (Aki) 2005

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

Ozeki Kaio went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Wakanosato moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 2; Futeno moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 3.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Sekiwake Wakanosatolast basho Maegashira 2, 11-4
• Komusubi Futenolast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 3-6-6 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 12 — he survived 7 of 11, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2405 sits 184 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 12 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 3-6-6 ・ kadoban #12

Returning to makuuchi: Tokitsuumi, Wakatoba, Kasugao, Shimotori.

• Maegashira 14 Tokitsuumireturning
• Maegashira 15 Wakatobareturning
• Maegashira 16 Kasugaoreturning
• Maegashira 17 Shimotorireturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2822. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2822 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KaioELO 2575
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2573 ・ Forward Pusher
• Sekiwake KotooshuELO 2544
• Maegashira 1 HakuhoELO 2535 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Futeno (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 4-1; the rating model gives Asashoryu 90%
• Kaio (Ozeki) vs Miyabiyama (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 31-15; the rating model gives Kaio 70%
• Hakuho (Maegashira 1) vs Tochiazuma (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 8-5; the rating model gives Hakuho 45%; Thrower vs Forward Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho