No. 8 maegashira Hokutofuji lost his perfect record after 10 days of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday, when No. 3 Tamawashi won and returned as the joint leader.

Hokutofuji (9-1) launched a strong drive and forced No. 4 Takayasu (8-2) back but weakened his pressure for a split second as he made a slight adjustment to his position, giving Takayasu the decisive opening at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Takayasu (L) beats Hokutofuji on the 10th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sept. 20, 2022, at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. (Kyodo)

The former ozeki Takayasu made a right-handed push twice to the left shoulder of Hokutofuji and knocked him off balance, forcing the unbeaten wrestler to lose his footing before pushing him down to the sandy surface.

No. 3 Tamawashi (9-1), who led the meet alongside Hokutofuji until suffering defeat on the seventh day, picked up an important win with a late beltless arm throw against demotion-threatened ozeki Mitakeumi (3-7).

Tamawashi defeats Mitakeumi on the 10th day of the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sept. 20, 2022, at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan. (Kyodo)

"I wanted Hokutofuji to win today (and remain unbeaten)," said Tamawashi ahead of Wednesday's bout between the two joint leaders. "I'm looking forward to it (nevertheless)."

Mitakeumi, whose promising opening charge went in vain, will drop from the second-highest rank of ozeki with one more defeat at the ongoing meet.

No. 10 Nishikifuji (8-2) remained a win behind the leaders as he swung No. 6 Wakamotoharu with a right armlock throw before shoving him out.

No. 14 Chiyoshoma (7-3) took a step back as his three-bout winning streak came to an end, succumbing to a pulling overarm throw by No. 12 Ryuden (6-4).

Lone yokozuna Terunofuji (5-5) withdrew from the tournament after injuries to both his troubled knees. Sekiwake Daieisho (4-6) won the scheduled bout against the grand champion by default.

Takakeisho (6-4) was forced straight back to the edge by sekiwake Hoshoryu (5-5), who denied the ozeki's desperate armlock throw at the edge to force him down backward to end a four-bout losing run.

Ozeki Shodai (1-9) attacked momentarily but lost his ninth straight bout, forced out by giant komusubi and July's Nagoya meet winner Ichinojo (4-6) as all three ozeki lost again.

Sekiwake Wakatakakage (7-3) won his seventh straight after forcing a stocky No. 3 Ura (6-4) to the edge and flooring the trickster with a beltless arm throw.

No. 1 Tobizaru (7-3) persevered fierce shoves to his face by Kiribayama (6-4) before swinging and grappling out the komusubi.


Related coverage:

Sumo: Terunofuji out of Autumn meet with injuries to both knees

Sumo: Hokutofuji wins 9th straight, Tamawashi 1 back on day of upsets

Sumo: Sole leader Hokutofuji grinds out 8th win