The news of Takanohana's withdrawal from the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament once again left fellow yokozuna Musashimaru as favorite after lifting his 12th Emperor's Cup in September in Tokyo.
However, a sore left wrist has restricted Musashimaru's preparations for the Nov. 10-24 meet at Fukuoka Kokusai Center and the title race could be wide open with a full slate of ozeki as well as a resurgent sekiwake Kotomitsuki waiting to pounce.
Musashimaru rebounded from an opening-day loss and outclassed Takanohana on the final day to win the autumn tournament with a 13-2 record, moving into a fourth-place tie with his nemesis with 697 career wins in the top makuuchi division.