Kadoban pressure on Kaio at January (Hatsu) 2009

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Asashoryu, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Kotomitsuki went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Chiyotaikai went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotooshu went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Harumafuji went forced a playoff at 13-2 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Kisenosato moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 4; Toyonoshima moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 13-2
• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho 9-6
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Sekiwake, 13-2
• Komusubi Kisenosatolast basho Maegashira 4, 11-4
• Komusubi Toyonoshimalast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

ozeki Kaio, after finishing 1-3-11 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 13 — he survived 11 of 12, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2506 sits 162 points below his peak of 2668, just No. 10 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 1-3-11 ・ kadoban #13

Making their makuuchi debut: Yamamotoyama.

Returning to makuuchi: Iwakiyama, Tamawashi.

• Maegashira 11 Iwakiyamareturning
• Maegashira 13 Tamawashireturning
• Maegashira 15 Yamamotoyamadebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2850. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2850 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2704 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2606 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotomitsukiELO 2578 ・ Belt Grinder
• Komusubi KisenosatoELO 2543 ・ Belt Grinder

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Toyonoshima (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 32-3; the rating model gives Hakuho 87%; 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 41%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Kotomitsuki (Ozeki) vs Aminishiki (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kotomitsuki leads 20-9; the rating model gives Kotomitsuki 67%; Belt Grinder vs Technician — style matchup is even