Overnight leaders Terunofuji and Ichinojo both suffered underwhelming defeats at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday and will head into the final day deadlocked at 11-3.
Mongolian-born grand champion Terunofuji took a controversial loss against ozeki Shodai, while No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo fell to No. 10 Meisei on the penultimate day of the 15-day tournament at Dolphins Arena, where the field has been ravaged by the coronavirus.
Seven wrestlers joined the absentee list Friday under Japan Sumo Association rules requiring every member of a stable with one reported COVID-19 case to withdraw.
Ozeki Takakeisho (10-4) missed his chance to join Terunofuji and Ichinojo on the top rung of the leaderboard by losing to sekiwake Wakatakakage.
Chasing his second straight Emperor's Cup and eighth overall, Terunofuji dropped to 10-7 head-to-head against Shodai (8-6), who won using a pulling technique frowned upon by some sumo purists.
Shodai, who started the meet as a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki, gave limited resistance against Terunofuji's opening charge and toppled him with a hand pull down, prompting some spectators to murmur their disapproval.
Mongolian-born giant Ichinojo, aiming to win his first top-division title, was barely in the battle against Meisei, a fellow former sekiwake.
Meisei (8-6) attacked from a low angle at the opening charge and secured an inside-outside grip that he used to keep the 192-centimeter, 211-kilogram Ichinojo from moving forward before bundling him out.
Takekeisho remained in contention for a third top-division crown despite letting victory slip through his fingers against Wakatakakage (8-6).
March grand tournament winner Wakatakakage rallied back after being bundled to the edge, driving the ozeki across the ring for a victory by rear push out.
Komusubi Hoshoryu improved to 9-5 by beating No. 8 Tochinoshin (7-7) and will now aim for his first double-digit win total since entering the three elite "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
The rising star from Mongolia once again showed off his impressive grappling technique by dispatching the former ozeki with a pulling overarm throw.
Komusubi Abi, who is aiming to move back up to sekiwake, secured his all-important eighth win by slapping down No. 10 Chiyotairyu (6-8).
