Rising star Hoshoryu grabbed the outright lead Wednesday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, racking up another impressive win after fellow front-runner Oho suffered his second loss of the 15-day meet.
The two young guns started Day 11 deadlocked at 9-1, but only 23-year-old Hoshoryu managed to hold serve, dominating fellow sekiwake Mitakeumi to reach 10 wins for the first time as a member of the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna.
Fighting as a No. 13 maegashira, the 22-year-old Oho was thrust out by No. 9 Abi and joined No. 1 Takayasu on the second rung of the leaderboard at 9-2. Ozeki Takakeisho, meanwhile, stayed in the title race at 8-3 by slapping down No. 5 Hokutofuji (6-5).
Hoshoryu wrapped up his bout against former ozeki Mitakeumi (4-7) in short order, securing a belt grip and forcing him straight back over the straw bales.
The Mongolian dynamo is scheduled to meet Oho on Day 12 in an intriguing battle between sumo thoroughbreds seeking their first top-division crowns. Hoshoryu is the nephew of Mongolian former yokozuna Asashoryu, while Oho is the son of former sekiwake Takatoriki and the grandson of former yokozuna Taiho.
Oho suffered his first defeat since the opening day at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, getting ushered from the ring by former sekiwake Abi (8-3) with relative ease.
Takakeisho, who won his two previous top-level championships in November tournaments, was on top from the outset against Hokutofuji, rocking him back at the jump and then slinging him to the clay.
Demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki Shodai (5-6) forced out sekiwake Wakatakakage (6-5), moving one win closer to the eight he needs to stay at sumo's second-highest rank.
In a stark turnaround, komusubi Tamawashi will finish with a losing record one meet after lifting the Emperor's Cup. The two-time grand tournament winner dropped to 3-8 after being pushed out by No. 6 Nishikigi (5-6).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Hoshoryu beats Shodai, stays tied for lead with Oho on Day 10
