Kadoban pressure on Kotomitsuki at March (Haru) 2010

Yokozuna Hakuho, who forced a playoff at 12-3 last basho, goes after the cup that slipped away.

Ozeki Harumafuji 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 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Toyonoshima moves up to Sekiwake after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Kisenosato moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 3; Aminishiki moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Sekiwake Toyonoshimalast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Kisenosatolast basho Maegashira 3, 9-6
• Komusubi Aminishikilast basho Maegashira 6, 11-4

ozeki Kotomitsuki, after finishing 1-7-7 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2425 sits 255 points below his peak of 2680, just No. 12 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotomitsukilast basho 1-7-7 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Okinoumi, Tokusegawa, Sagatsukasa.

Returning to makuuchi: Kasugao.

• Maegashira 12 Okinoumidebut
• Maegashira 13 Tokusegawadebut
• Maegashira 15 Sagatsukasadebut
• Maegashira 16 Kasugaoreturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2909. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2909 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake BarutoELO 2699
• Ozeki HarumafujiELO 2652 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KotooshuELO 2614
• Ozeki KaioELO 2591

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Aminishiki (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 37-4; the rating model gives Hakuho 92%; Thrower vs Technician — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Harumafuji (Ozeki) vs Kisenosato (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 38-24; the rating model gives Harumafuji 66%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Harumafuji
• Kakuryu (Maegashira 1) vs Kotooshu (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 18-12; the rating model gives Kakuryu 38%