Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at March (Haru) 2008

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Asashoryu went a strong 13-2 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kotooshu went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotomitsuki went 8-7 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, Kisenosato moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 1; Takekaze moves up to Komusubi after going 12-3 at Maegashira 7.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho 8-7
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 8-7
• Komusubi Kisenosatolast basho Maegashira 1, 10-5
• Komusubi Takekazelast basho Maegashira 7, 12-3

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 0-8-7 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 15 — he survived 10 of 14, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2426 sits 163 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 0-8-7 ・ kadoban #15

Making their makuuchi debut: Sakaizawa.

Returning to makuuchi: Otsukasa, Ryuo.

• Maegashira 15 Sakaizawadebut
• Maegashira 16 Otsukasareturning
• Maegashira 16 Ryuoreturning

Asashoryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2808. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2808 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2801 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake HarumafujiELO 2578 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotomitsukiELO 2557 ・ Belt Grinder
• Sekiwake KotoshogikuELO 2554 ・ Belt Grinder

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Takekaze (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 22-1; the rating model gives Hakuho 90%; Thrower vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Kisenosato (Komusubi) vs Asashoryu (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 13-4; the rating model gives Kisenosato 18%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Kotooshu (Ozeki) vs Asasekiryu (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kotooshu leads 9-6; the rating model gives Kotooshu 58%