Kadoban pressure on Chiyotaikai at November (Kyushu) 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 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kotomitsuki went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Harumafuji 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, Kakuryu moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 3; Goeido moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Asashoryulast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 9-6
• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho 9-6
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho 9-6
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho 8-7
• Sekiwake Kakuryulast basho Maegashira 3, 11-4
• Komusubi Goeidolast basho Maegashira 5, 10-5

ozeki Chiyotaikai, after finishing 2-9-4 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 18 — he survived 13 of 17, but fell to sekiwake 4 times. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2387 sits 202 points below his peak of 2589, just No. 14 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Chiyotaikailast basho 2-9-4 ・ kadoban #18

Returning to makuuchi: Tamawashi, Kimurayama, Yamamotoyama.

• Maegashira 11 Tamawashireturning
• Maegashira 14 Kimurayamareturning
• Maegashira 15 Yamamotoyamareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2913. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2913 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna AsashoryuELO 2798 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2652 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2634 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake BarutoELO 2629 ・ Thrower

• Asashoryu (Yokozuna) vs Goeido (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Asashoryu leads 5-2; the rating model gives Asashoryu 89%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Kisenosato (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 45-16; the rating model gives Kisenosato 10%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Kotooshu (Ozeki) vs Kakuryu (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 18-12; the rating model gives Kotooshu 59%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Kotooshu