Kadoban pressure on Tochiazuma at January (Hatsu) 2006

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Kaio went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotooshu went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

In the sanyaku ranks, Tamanoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 14-1
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 11-4
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Sekiwake, 11-4
• Komusubi Tamanoshimalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

ozeki Tochiazuma, after finishing 2-2-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 8 — he survived 3 of 7, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. His pre-basho rating of 2543 is 150 points off his peak of 2693 — yet still the No. 4 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho 2-2-11 ・ kadoban #8

Making their makuuchi debut: Yoshikaze.

Returning to makuuchi: Toyozakura, Tochisakae, Tokitsuumi, Kitazakura.

• Maegashira 12 Toyozakurareturning
• Maegashira 13 Tochisakaereturning
• Maegashira 13 Yoshikazedebut
• Maegashira 14 Tokitsuumireturning
• Maegashira 17 Kitazakurareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2840. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2840 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2628
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2563
• Ozeki KaioELO 2543
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2543 ・ Forward Pusher

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Tamanoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 21-4; the rating model gives Asashoryu 91%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Kyokutenho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 28-9; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 63%
• Miyabiyama (Maegashira 1) vs Kaio (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kaio leads 31-15; the rating model gives Miyabiyama 41%