Kadoban pressure on Goeido, Takayasu at July (Nagoya) 2018

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 11-4 last basho and anchors the field again. Yokozuna Kisenosato, who sat out the entire tournament last time, returns looking to make amends.

Ozeki Tochinoshin went a strong 13-2 last basho and belongs in the title conversation.

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

• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 11-4
• Yokozuna Kisenosatolast basho 0-0-15
• Ozeki Tochinoshinlast basho Sekiwake, 13-2
• Komusubi Tamawashilast basho Maegashira 1, 8-7
• Komusubi Shohozanlast basho Maegashira 2, 8-7

ozeki Goeido, after finishing 3-6-6 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 2447 sits 286 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 12 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Takayasu, after finishing 0-0-15 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 2, but he has fought his way out of his only previous one. His rating of 2683 remains near his career peak (No. 3 in makuuchi) — the ability is intact, and escape is well within reach.

• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 3-6-6 ・ kadoban #7
• Ozeki Takayasulast basho 0-0-15 ・ kadoban #2

Making their makuuchi debut: Kotoeko, Meisei.

Returning to makuuchi: Onosho.

• Maegashira 11 Onoshoreturning
• Maegashira 14 Kotoekodebut
• Maegashira 16 Meiseidebut

Kakuryu tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2744. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2744
• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2720
• Ozeki TakayasuELO 2683 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki TochinoshinELO 2676 ・ Belt Grinder
• Komusubi TamawashiELO 2531 ・ Forward Pusher

• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Shohozan (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 13-2; the rating model gives Kakuryu 82%
• Tamawashi (Komusubi) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 16-1; the rating model gives Tamawashi 25%
• Goeido (Ozeki) vs Shodai (Maegashira 1) →head-to-head: Goeido leads 13-5; the rating model gives Goeido 46%