Kadoban pressure on Goeido, Tochinoshin at September (Aki) 2019

Yokozuna Kakuryu, who won the title at 14-1, goes for back-to-back championships. Yokozuna Hakuho went a strong 12-3 last basho and anchors the field again.

Ozeki Takayasu withdrew at 8-3-4 last basho — lasting the full fifteen days comes first.

In the sanyaku ranks, Endo moves up to Komusubi after going 10-5 at Maegashira 2.

• Yokozuna Kakuryulast basho 14-1
• Yokozuna Hakuholast basho 12-3
• Ozeki Takayasulast basho Ozeki, 8-3-4
• Komusubi Endolast basho Maegashira 2, 10-5

ozeki Goeido, after finishing 3-5-7 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 8, but he has fought his way out of all 7 previous ones. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2533 sits 200 points below his peak of 2733, just No. 9 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

Meanwhile, ozeki Tochinoshin, after finishing 0-6-9 last basho, enters this one kadoban. It is kadoban No. 3 — he survived 1 of 2, but fell to sekiwake 1 time. The numbers add to the worry: his rating of 2421 sits 255 points below his peak of 2676, just No. 17 in makuuchi — thin for an ozeki. Can he summon the rank's pride anyway?

• Ozeki Goeidolast basho 3-5-7 ・ kadoban #8
• Ozeki Tochinoshinlast basho 0-6-9 ・ kadoban #3

Making their makuuchi debut: Tsurugisho.

Returning to makuuchi: Ishiura, Azumaryu, Yutakayama.

• Maegashira 14 Tsurugishodebut
• Maegashira 15 Ishiurareturning
• Maegashira 15 Azumaryureturning
• Maegashira 16 Yutakayamareturning

Hakuho tops the pre-basho ELO chart at 2798. On the numbers, these five headline the title race.

• Yokozuna HakuhoELO 2798 ・ Thrower
• Yokozuna KakuryuELO 2715 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Ozeki TakayasuELO 2616 ・ Pulling Pusher
• Sekiwake TakakeishoELO 2594 ・ Forward Pusher
• Komusubi EndoELO 2562 ・ Belt Grinder

• Kakuryu (Yokozuna) vs Endo (Komusubi) →head-to-head: Kakuryu leads 13-4; the rating model gives Kakuryu 71%; Pulling Pusher vs Belt Grinder — style matchup is even
• Hokutofuji (Maegashira 1) vs Hakuho (Yokozuna) →head-to-head: Hakuho leads 9-3; the rating model gives Hokutofuji 18%; Forward Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Hakuho
• Aoiyama (Maegashira 1) vs Goeido (Ozeki) →head-to-head: Goeido leads 23-3; the rating model gives Aoiyama 46%; Pulling Pusher vs Thrower — style matchup slightly favors Goeido