Kadoban pressure on Kotomitsuki at March (Haru) 2009

Yokozuna Asashoryu, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho, who forced a playoff at 14-1 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away.

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

In the sanyaku ranks, Goeido moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 3; Kyokutenho moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 8-7
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Komusubi Goeidolast basho Maegashira 3, 10-5
• Komusubi Kyokutenholast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

ozeki Kotomitsuki, after finishing 2-10-3 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is his first kadoban since reaching the rank. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2431 sits 249 points below his peak of 2680, just No. 14 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho 2-10-3 ・ kadoban #1

Making their makuuchi debut: Shotenro.

Returning to makuuchi: Shimotori, Kimurayama, Toyozakura.

• Maegashira 12 Shotenrodebut
• Maegashira 14 Shimotorireturning
• Maegashira 15 Kimurayamareturning
• Maegashira 16 Toyozakurareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2854. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2854 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2738 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2638 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2567
• Sekiwake BarutoELO 2553

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Kyokutenho (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 36-2; the rating model gives Asashoryu 78%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Asashoryu
• Goeido (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 38-7; the rating model gives Goeido 10%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Kotooshu (Ozeki) vs Kisenosato (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kotooshu leads 29-18; the rating model gives Kotooshu 55%