Kadoban pressure on Goeido, Terunofuji at September (Aki) 2017

Yokozuna Hakuho, 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 Kisenosato, who withdrew at 2-4-9 last time, returns looking to make amends. Yokozuna Kakuryu, who withdrew at 2-2-11 last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Takayasu went 9-6 last basho and looks to build on it.

In the sanyaku ranks, Tochiozan moves up to Komusubi after going 12-3 at Maegashira 5.

• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Harumafujilast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Kisenosatolast basho 2-4-9
• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 2-2-11
• Ozeki Takayasulast basho Ozeki, 9-6
• Komusubi Tochiozanlast basho Maegashira 5, 12-3

ozeki Goeido, after finishing 7-8 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 6, but he has fought his way out of all 5 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2514 sits 219 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 11 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Terunofuji, after finishing 1-5-9 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 2539 sits 294 points below his peak of 2833, just No. 8 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 7-8 ・ kadoban #6
• Ozeki Terunofujilast basho 1-5-9 ・ kadoban #5

Making their makuuchi debut: Asanoyama.

Returning to makuuchi: Kaisei, Yutakayama.

• Maegashira 13 Kaiseireturning
• Maegashira 15 Yutakayamareturning
• Maegashira 16 Asanoyamadebut

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2826. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2826
• Yokozuna HarumafujiELO 2680
• Yokozuna KisenosatoELO 2620
• Ozeki TakayasuELO 2617 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Sekiwake MitakeumiELO 2587 ・ Forward Pusher

• Tochiozan (Komusubi) vs Harumafuji (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Harumafuji leads 26-8; the rating model gives Tochiozan 25%
• Takayasu (Ozeki) vs Tochinoshin (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Takayasu leads 14-9; the rating model gives Takayasu 65%; Pulling Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Kotoshogiku (Maegashira 1) vs Goeido (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Goeido leads 30-21; the rating model gives Kotoshogiku 52%