Kadoban pressure on Kotooshu at November (Kyushu) 2013

Yokozuna Hakuho, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Harumafuji went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kisenosato went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Kotoshogiku went 10-5 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Kakuryu went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Shohozan moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1; Okinoumi moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 10-5
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho Ozeki, 10-5
• Ozeki Kakuryulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Komusubi Shohozanlast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Okinoumilast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7

ozeki Kotooshu, after finishing 4-3-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 7, but he has fought his way out of all 6 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2536 sits 153 points below his peak of 2689, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotooshulast basho 4-3-8 ・ kadoban #7

Making their makuuchi debut: Osunaarashi.

Returning to makuuchi: Kyokushuho.

• Maegashira 14 Kyokushuhoreturning
• Maegashira 15 Osunaarashidebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2954. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2954 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2740
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2703
• Sekiwake GoeidoELO 2658
• Ozeki KotoshogikuELO 2652 ・ Belt Grinder

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Okinoumi (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 24-1; the rating model gives Hakuho 94%; Thrower vs Thrower — style matchup is even
• Shohozan (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 14-3; the rating model gives Shohozan 26%
• Kisenosato (Ozeki) vs Myogiryu (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kisenosato leads 16-5; the rating model gives Kisenosato 77%