Lone yokozuna Terunofuji and promotion-hunting sekiwake Kotonowaka head into a gripping final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in a two-way tie for the lead after improving to 12-2 on Saturday.
Kotonowaka defeated the other overnight leader, ozeki Kirishima (11-3), while Terunofuji won by default following the injury withdrawal of ozeki Hoshoryu on Day 14 at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
If both joint leaders win their final-day bouts, they must face off in a two-man championship playoff.
Bidding for promotion to ozeki at the 15-day tournament, Kotonowaka needs one more victory to reach the unofficial benchmark of 33 wins over three consecutive meets as a komusubi or sekiwake.
One win may also be enough to clinch the 26-year-old his maiden title, depending on the outcome of Terunofuji's battle with yokozuna aspirant Kirishima.
The Mongolian ozeki will be looking for his first top-division win against Terunofuji on the 11th attempt, but that result, combined with a loss for Kotonowaka, would necessitate a three-way championship playoff.
Should Kirishima overcome the odds and secure the Emperor's Cup for the second time in a row, his promotion to yokozuna will also be guaranteed.
In the penultimate day's final bout, Kotonowaka made a pair of false starts before getting down to business. With Kirishima's hand on his throat, the sekiwake wrenched the ozeki off balance and forced him over the edge.
The injury-plagued Terunofuji is set to complete his first 15-day tournament since winning his eighth Emperor's Cup last May. The Mongolian-born grand champion will make it nine if he beats Kirishima and Kotonowaka loses to No. 4 maegashira Tobizaru (7-7) on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Hoshoryu (10-4) pulled out after hurting his right knee during his Day 13 loss to Kirishima and will not return for the final day, according to stablemaster Tatsunami.
Sekiwake Daieisho (8-6) ensured his place among the three distinguished "sanyaku" ranks by sealing a winning record at the expense of No. 6 Kinbozan (6-8). The explosive pusher-thruster stayed in control as he chased the maegashira from Kazakhstan over the edge.
Former ozeki Asanoyama (9-2-3) closed in on a double-digit win total as he consigned talented young No. 1 Atamifuji to a losing record for the tournament at 6-8. No. 7 Asanoyama led the tournament before sitting out four days with an ankle injury.
Related coverage:
Sumo: Title-chasing ozeki Hoshoryu withdraws from New Year meet
Sumo: Terunofuji beats Kotonowaka, creating 3-way tie for lead
Sumo: Kotonowaka inches toward first championship with 11th win
