Sekiwake Hoshoyru overpowered demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Shodai to remain tied for the lead with rank-and-file wrestler Oho at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.
Chasing his maiden top-level title, the 23-year-old rising star from Mongolia improved to 9-1 by beating Shodai (4-6) on Day 10 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center after No. 13 maegashira Oho got the better of No. 10 Aoiyama (4-6).
A native of Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, Shodai received hearty cheers from the crowd before his short-lived battle with Hoshoryu. The sekiwake came in hard and fast, taking the action to the edge and crushing out the ozeki, who needs eight wins here to keep his rank.
"I'm not really thinking about (the championship race) particularly," Hoshoryu said. "I'll just keep doing my best to do my sumo."
The 22-year-old Oho, who is the son of former sekiwake Takatoriki and the grandson of former yokozuna Taiho, will look to continue his title challenge from the bottom half of the schedule, having already achieved his best result in the elite makuuchi division.
Also seeking his first Emperor's Cup, No. 1 maegashira Takayasu stayed one win off the pace at 8-2 by slapping down komusubi Tobizaru (5-5). He shares the second rung of the leaderboard with No. 5 Nishikifuji, who pushed out No. 2 Ichinojo (2-8).
Ozeki Takakeisho (7-3) remained in the championship race by pushing out komusubi Kiribayama (6-4). The pair met in a fierce exchange of blows before the powerfully built ozeki drove his way to the win.
Sekiwake Mitakeumi's bid for automatic promotion back to ozeki ended with a force-out loss to No. 3 Midorifuji (5-5). The three-time Emperor's Cup winner dropped to 4-6, leaving him unable to reach the 10-win threshold for moving straight back up to the second-highest rank in his first meet following demotion.
Sekiwake Wakatakakage, winner of the March grand tournament, improved to 6-4 by pushing out No. 4 Sadanoumi (4-6).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Hoshoryu, Oho move into 2-way tie for lead, Takakeisho stumbles
Sumo: Hoshoryu, Takayasu among 4 wrestlers with midway Kyushu lead
Sumo: Hoshoryu beats Wakamotoharu, stays tied for lead on Day 7
