Kadoban pressure on Kotooshu at July (Nagoya) 2011

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships.

Ozeki Baruto went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Harumafuji went 10-5 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, Goeido moves up to Komusubi after going 11-4 at Maegashira 1; Tochinoshin moves up to Komusubi after going 12-3 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 13-2
• Ozeki Barutolast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Harumafujilast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kaiolast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Komusubi Goeidolast basho Maegashira 1, 11-4
• Komusubi Tochinoshinlast basho Maegashira 6, 12-3

ozeki Kotooshu, after finishing 3-8-4 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3, but he has fought his way out of all 2 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2465 sits 224 points below his peak of 2689, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 3-8-4 ・ kadoban #3

Making their makuuchi debut: Takarafuji, Takayasu, Daido, Fujiazuma.

Returning to makuuchi: Sagatsukasa.

• Maegashira 10 Takarafujidebut
• Maegashira 11 Takayasudebut
• Maegashira 12 Daidodebut
• Maegashira 13 Sagatsukasareturning
• Maegashira 15 Fujiazumadebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2983. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2983 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KakuryuELO 2647 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki BarutoELO 2618 ・ Thrower
• Sekiwake KotoshogikuELO 2618 ・ Belt Grinder
• Ozeki KaioELO 2611 ・ Thrower

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Tochinoshin (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 27-1; the rating model gives Hakuho 94%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Baruto (Ozeki) vs Goeido (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Baruto leads 10-8; the rating model gives Baruto 54%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Tosayutaka (Maegashira 1) vs Harumafuji (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 2-0; the rating model gives Tosayutaka 19%; Belt Grinder vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Harumafuji