Kadoban pressure on Kaio at November (Kyushu) 2006

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

Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotooshu went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Tochiazuma went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Hakuho went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Aminishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 3; Roho moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Hakuholast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Aminishikilast basho Maegashira 3, 11-4
• Komusubi Roholast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 1-6-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 11 — he survived 9 of 10, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2412 sits 256 points below his peak of 2668, just No. 13 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 1-6-8 ・ kadoban #11

Making their makuuchi debut: Kakuryu, Asofuji.

Returning to makuuchi: Toyozakura, Kitazakura, Ushiomaru, Otsukasa, Katayama.

• Maegashira 8 Toyozakurareturning
• Maegashira 8 Kakuryudebut
• Maegashira 11 Kitazakurareturning
• Maegashira 12 Ushiomarureturning
• Maegashira 13 Asofujidebut
• Maegashira 15 Otsukasareturning
• Maegashira 15 Katayamareturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2782. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2782 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HakuhoELO 2643 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake MiyabiyamaELO 2610 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2561
• Ozeki TochiazumaELO 2546 ・ Forward Pusher

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Roho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 9-0; the rating model gives Asashoryu 84%
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Aminishiki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Chiyotaikai leads 18-6; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 65%
• Kokkai (Komusubi) vs Kotooshu (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kotooshu leads 9-4; the rating model gives Kokkai 37%