Kadoban pressure on Kotoshogiku at January (Hatsu) 2017

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Harumafuji went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Kisenosato went a strong 12-3 last basho and belongs in the title conversation. Ozeki Goeido went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it. Ozeki Terunofuji went 8-7 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Shodai moves up to Sekiwake after going 11-4 at Maegashira 3; Tochinoshin moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 6.

• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho Yokozuna, 14-1
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho Yokozuna, 11-4
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 11-4
• Ozeki Kisenosatolast basho Ozeki, 12-3
• Ozeki Goeidolast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho Ozeki, 8-7
• Sekiwake Shodailast basho Maegashira 3, 11-4
• Komusubi Tochinoshinlast basho Maegashira 6, 10-5

ozeki Kotoshogiku, after finishing 5-10 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 2492 sits 244 points below his peak of 2736, just No. 9 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Kotoshogikulast basho 5-10 ・ kadoban #7

Making their makuuchi debut: Takakeisho, Chiyonoo.

Returning to makuuchi: Osunaarashi.

• Maegashira 12 Takakeishodebut
• Maegashira 15 Chiyonoodebut
• Maegashira 16 Osunaarashireturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2787. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2787 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2782 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki KisenosatoELO 2756 ・ Belt Grinder
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2752 ・ Thrower
• Ozeki GoeidoELO 2677 ・ Thrower

• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Tochinoshin (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 23-4; the rating model gives Kakuryu 87%; Pulling Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Takayasu (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 15-5; the rating model gives Takayasu 23%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Harumafuji
• Hakuho (Yokozuna) vs Shodai (Sekiwake) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 10-3; the rating model gives Hakuho 84%; Thrower vs Pulling Pusher — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho