Kadoban pressure on Kaio at November (Kyushu) 2005

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

Ozeki Tochiazuma went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kyokutenho moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 3; Hakuho moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Komusubi Kyokutenholast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5
• Komusubi Hakuholast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 0-4-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 9 — he survived 7 of 8, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2497 sits 171 points below his peak of 2668, just No. 7 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 0-4-11 ・ kadoban #9

Returning to makuuchi: Toyonoshima, Tochinohana, Kasuganishiki, Katayama.

• Maegashira 8 Toyonoshimareturning
• Maegashira 14 Tochinohanareturning
• Maegashira 15 Kasuganishikireturning
• Maegashira 16 Katayamareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2825. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2825 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotooshuELO 2613
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2566 ・ Forward Pusher
• Komusubi HakuhoELO 2535 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotomitsukiELO 2512 ・ Belt Grinder

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Hakuho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 15-14; the rating model gives Asashoryu 84%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Tochiazuma (Ozeki) vs Tamanoshima (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Tochiazuma leads 17-1; the rating model gives Tochiazuma 71%; Forward Pusher vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup is even
• Hokutoriki (Maegashira 1) vs Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 9-4; the rating model gives Hokutoriki 26%