Used to post these writeups on some of the sumo forums throughout the tournament back in the day, so I thought I’d bring them back here! Every few days in any given basho, I provide a brief overview of my current top 5 favorites for the yusho based on record/form, momentum, and remaining schedule. Here’s a quick overview of my pre-basho list for September.

1. O2e Aonishiki

Questions linger about the Ukrainian’s health (though in fairness, when have they not in recent times?), but the fact remains that he enters this basho having won 3 of the last 5 basho, only 4 of which he actually participated in. Until we get confirmation that his toe issues or lack of degeiko have meaningfully impacted his form, the re-promoted Ozeki is the favorite to finish what he could not in March and begin putting together another Yokozuna run.

2. O1e Kirishima

Don’t look now, but Kirishima has quietly put together five consecutive basho with 11+ victories, including three 12-3 performances in a row, on his return to Ozeki. He’s only the third man (besides the rikishi who sandwich him on today’s list) to have such a streak since Terunofuji’s retirement, but for all his consistency, he’s “only” managed to take home a single Emperor’s Cup in what has been a relatively open stretch or tournaments. To be clear, such a record is more than adequate for an Ozeki, but if he’s serious about wanting to make a rope run, it’s likely now-or-never. He needs to start converting more of those second week opportunities (Kirishima is 0-3 in playoff matches across the last 2 basho), but he earns this spot by virtue of being the most consistent yusho contender of the san’yaku this year.

3. Y1e Onosato

If there are questions surrounding whether Aonishiki’s body will permit him to capitalize on his momentum after a stirring yusho comeback in Nagoya, fans are understandably even more tentative about Onosato’s title chances. This basho marks a full year since Onosato last lifted the Emperor’s Cup, a stretch during which he missed significant action for the first time in his career and recorded his first sub-10 win performance in years. That being said, the end to his July tournament was encouraging, and Onosato doesn’t need to be anywhere close to his best to land a provisional spot on a list such as this.

4. S1e Atamifuji

Always hesitant to put non-Ozeki above the upper ranks at the start of basho, especially non-Ozeki who have yet to win their hatsu yusho, but Atamifuji has twice fallen only a single playoff victory short of claiming a maiden title in just the first 4 basho of this year. A combined 5-2 record against the Yokozeki at Nagoya indicates that he’s ready to compete at the next level, and his primary goal entering this month should be securing Ozeki promotion, which another 12-win (possibly even 11?) performance could do for him. If he just so happens to find himself in the thick of the hunt in the second week, let’s hope the mounting pressure of both that and securing a first championship don’t prove too great.

5. O1w Kotozakura

I don’t feel confident at all about putting Kotozakura here, especially considering it’s now been a full ten basho since we last saw him surpass 10 wins in a tournament (not since his 14-1 yusho in November 2024). That being said, the other best picks for this spot (Hoshoryu and Wakatakakage) are both absent, and there’s not a lot of yusho pedigree elsewhere on the banzuke should the favorites succumb to pressure and/or kyujo. With the clock well and truly ticking now for any hopes of Yokozuna promotion, is the Sadogatake man still capable of elevating to the level we’ve seen from him before?

Honorable mentions: S1w Fujinokawa, K1w Daieisho, M1e Kotoshosho, M1w Kotoeiho, M6e Asanoyama