Mongolian iron man Tamawashi handed front-runner Asanoyama his first loss of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, creating a four-man logjam atop the leaderboard at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Promotion-seeking sekiwake Kotonowaka won by forfeit to join No. 7 maegashira Asanoyama at 7-1, but ozeki Kirishima (6-2) was unable to take his place at the top after an upset loss to No. 4 Tobizaru on Day 8 of the 15-day tournament.
The leading pack was rounded out by No. 14 Onosho and No. 15 Onosato, the highly touted top-division debutant from Ishikawa Prefecture, who both defeated their opponents in the lower half of the draw.
Among the five wrestlers occupying the second rung at 6-2 is sole yokozuna Terunofuji, who needed to dig deep against No. 5 Ryuden.
Veteran No. 10 Tamawashi (5-3) overpowered former ozeki Asanoyama with a performance harking back to his two Emperor's Cup-winning runs. The 39-year-old former sekiwake delivered a barrage of upper-body blows to keep Asanoyama away from his belt before throwing him to the clay.
Former komusubi Tobizaru (4-4) stayed on the offensive to bundle yokozuna aspirant Kirishima over the edge before he could go to his preferred grappling techniques.
"Of course, fighting the ozeki, I just wanted to give it my all," Tobizaru said. "I'm just doing my best to become a sekiwake and an ozeki after that."
Injury returnee Terunofuji put his back and surgically repaired knees to the test in a drawn-out battle with former komusubi Ryuden (3-5). The yokozuna eventually forced the maegashira over the straw bales after cleverly maneuvering his way out of a dangerous belt hold.
Kotonowaka, who is gunning for ozeki promotion, earned his seventh win after komusubi Takayasu (2-4-2) pulled out due to the flu and a recurrence of back pain. The former ozeki has withdrawn from the current tournament for the second time, having missed three days with the back problem before returning on Day 6.
Ozeki Hoshoryu improved to 6-2 by pushing down No. 3 Hokutofuji (4-4), who was taken backstage in a wheelchair after tumbling awkwardly from the dohyo. Sekiwake Daieisho also stayed in the title hunt at 6-2 by slapping down fast-moving No. 2 Midorifuji (2-6).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Asanoyama keeps sole lead, Shodai upsets Terunofuji on Day 7
Sumo: Gonoyama stuns previously unbeaten Hoshoryu on Day 5
Sumo: Midorifuji stuns promotion-chasing Kirishima at New Year meet
