No. 2 maegashira Ichinojo outmuscled yokozuna Terunofuji to keep his record perfect and take the sole lead on Thursday after five days of action at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Four rank-and-file wrestlers are chasing Ichinojo at 4-1, while two demotion-threatened ozeki, Shodai and Mitakeumi, both lost as they continue their underwhelming performance at Dolphins Arena.
The giant 211-kilogram 1.92-meter Ichinojo (5-0) fully displayed his potential by defeating fellow Mongolian-born wrestler Terunofuji (3-2) after quickly seizing a left overarm belt hold, which he never relinquished.
Terunofuji responded by grabbing Ichinojo's belt on the opposite side, but Ichinojo secured another belt hold with his right before emphatically grappling out the tournament favorite.
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"I tried to keep cool while going forward," said Ichinojo. "(My performances so far) haven't been bad. I'm focusing on each day and bout."
Two wrestlers suffered their first loss.
Nishikigi (4-1) could not wriggle out of the grasp of rival No. 8 Tochinoshin (3-2), the joint overnight leader's late resistance ending as the Georgian former ozeki triumphed in a force-out.
Ichiyamamoto (4-1) was slapped down by fellow No. 13 Chiyoshoma (3-2) following a fierce exchange of slaps.
No. 6 Tobizaru floored No. 6 Aoiyama (3-2) with a beltless arm throw and No. 11 Midorifuji pushed out No. 10 Chiyotairyu (2-3) as both improved to 4-1.
Mitakeumi (2-3) was thrown to the sandy surface spectacularly by No. 3 Ura (3-2) as the trickster dealt the demotion-threatened ozeki a blow to his hope of staying on at the second-highest rank.
Mitakeumi, needing a winning record of eight wins or more here to remain as an ozeki, wrestled with caution before forcing Ura off balance with a pull-down attempt. Ura, however, unexpectedly recovered his balance and executed an arm bar throw.
The other "kadoban" ozeki, Shodai (1-4), resumed his losing ways, succumbing to No. 4 Wakamotoharu (2-3), who was facing an ozeki for the first time in his career.
Shodai initially stood his ground against the rank-and-filer's sharp drive but Wakamotoharu soon held a right overarm held hold and denied a late armlock-throw attempt from Shodai to force the ozeki out.
Ozeki Takakeisho (3-2) derailed a charging Tamawashi (3-2) with a left-handed parry before shoving him out of the raised ring.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage (2-3) sealed his win in similar fashion. After halting the opening charge from Hoshoryu (1-4), March's champion shoved the komusubi to one side, and secured victory with a simple push from the back.
The other sekiwake, Daieisho (3-2), withstood vigorous pushes from komusubi Abi (3-2) before driving forward to grab an impressive thrust-out victory.
