Kadoban pressure on Kotoshogiku at July (Nagoya) 2015

Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Harumafuji went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Kakuryu, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Kisenosato went a strong 11-4 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Goeido withdrew at 8-6-1 last basho — lasting the full fifteen days comes first. Ozeki Terunofuji went won the title at 12-3 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Takarafuji moves up to Komusubi after going 9-6 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Goeidolast basho Ozeki, 8-6-1
• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho Sekiwake, 12-3
• Komusubi Takarafujilast basho Maegashira 1, 9-6

ozeki Kotoshogiku, after finishing 6-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 5, but he has fought his way out of all 4 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2486 sits 250 points below his peak of 2736, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho 6-9 ・ kadoban #5

Making their makuuchi debut: Hidenoumi, Seiro.

Returning to makuuchi: Tokitenku, Chiyotairyu, Kagamio, Satoyama.

• Maegashira 11 Tokitenkureturning
• Maegashira 13 Hidenoumidebut
• Maegashira 13 Chiyotairyureturning
• Maegashira 14 Kagamioreturning
• Maegashira 15 Seirodebut
• Maegashira 15 Satoyamareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2880. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2880 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2674 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki TerunofujiELO 2673 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2670
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2669

• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Takarafuji (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 16-2; the rating model gives Hakuho 89%; Thrower vs Belt Grinder — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Myogiryu (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 13-5; the rating model gives Myogiryu 24%
• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Ichinojo (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 13-3; the rating model gives Kakuryu 67%; Pulling Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even