Kadoban pressure on Goeido, Kotoshogiku at September (Aki) 2016

Yokozuna Harumafuji, who won the title at 13-2, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho went 10-5 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Kakuryu, who withdrew at 2-2-11 last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Kisenosato went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Terunofuji went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Takarafuji moves up to Sekiwake after going 10-5 at Maegashira 2; Tochiozan moves up to Komusubi after going 8-7 at Maegashira 1.

• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho Yokozuna, 13-2
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho Yokozuna, 10-5
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho Yokozuna, 2-2-11
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Sekiwake Takarafujilast basho Maegashira 2, 10-5
• Komusubi Tochiozanlast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7

ozeki Goeido, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 4, but he has fought his way out of all 3 previous ones. His pre-basho rating of 2554 is 179 points off his peak of 2733 — yet still the No. 5 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

Meanwhile, ozeki Kotoshogiku, after finishing 1-6-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 6, but he has fought his way out of all 5 previous ones. His pre-basho rating of 2545 is 191 points off his peak of 2736 — yet still the No. 6 figure in makuuchi. The ability is there; the question is the record.

• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #4
• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho 1-6-8 ・ kadoban #6

Making their makuuchi debut: Chiyoshoma, Amakaze.

Returning to makuuchi: Homarefuji, Gagamaru, Kyokushuho.

• Maegashira 11 Homarefujireturning
• Maegashira 12 Gagamarureturning
• Maegashira 12 Chiyoshomadebut
• Maegashira 13 Amakazedebut
• Maegashira 15 Kyokushuhoreturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2818. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2818 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2787
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2752
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2679
• Ozeki GoeidoELO 2554

• Harumafuji (Yokozuna) vs Kaisei (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 16-0; the rating model gives Harumafuji 82%
• Tochiozan (Komusubi) vs Kakuryu (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 24-21; the rating model gives Tochiozan 24%
• Kisenosato (Ozeki) vs Okinoumi (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Kisenosato leads 18-3; the rating model gives Kisenosato 83%