Kadoban pressure on Tochiazuma at March (Haru) 2007

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

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Kotoshogiku moves up to Sekiwake after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1; Harumafuji moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 4; Tokitenku moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 14-1
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Hakuholast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Sekiwake Kotoshogikulast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6
• Komusubi Harumafujilast basho Maegashira 4, 10-5
• Komusubi Tokitenkulast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7

ozeki Tochiazuma, after finishing 5-10 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 10 — he survived 5 of 9, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2477 sits 216 points below his peak of 2693, just No. 12 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Tochiazumalast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #10

Making their makuuchi debut: Tochiozan.

Returning to makuuchi: Shimotori, Wakanosato.

• Maegashira 14 Tochiozandebut
• Maegashira 15 Shimotorireturning
• Maegashira 16 Wakanosatoreturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2870. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2870 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HakuhoELO 2645 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki ChiyotaikaiELO 2589
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2565
• Sekiwake KotoshogikuELO 2518 ・ Belt Grinder

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Tokitenku (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 10-1; the rating model gives Asashoryu 90%
• Chiyotaikai (Ozeki) vs Harumafuji (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 12-7; the rating model gives Chiyotaikai 64%
• Kisenosato (Maegashira 1) vs Hakuho (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 45-16; the rating model gives Kisenosato 29%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho