Promotion-chasing sekiwake Kotonowaka claimed the outright lead Tuesday, the 10th day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, moving ahead of his five closest rivals by a single win.
Kotonowaka (9-1) cruised in his highly-anticipated bout against top-tier makuuchi-division debutant and fellow joint overnight leader Onosato (8-2), helped by the No. 15 maegashira's tepid opening charge and failure to make use of his big frame at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
A powerful drive from Kotonowaka met little resistance in a force-out win as the sekiwake inched toward ozeki promotion.
The usual ozeki-promotion benchmark is 33 wins over three tournaments in the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna. Kotonowaka, who won nine in September and 11 in July, faces a tough battle since he has yet to face any opponents ranked higher than him.
Ozeki Kirishima (8-2), who is vying for promotion to yokozuna, overcame dogged attacks from another joint overnight leader, No. 14 Onosho (8-2), to stay in the title race.
Onosho had the better of the opening clash and probed Kirishima with low powerful drives, but Kirishima withstood the pressure from the former komusubi before eventually dodging his body at the edge and slapping his fellow title hopeful down.
Yokozuna Terunofuji (8-2) floored No. 6 Kinbozan (5-5) with an overarm throw after quickly getting a left-handed belt hold against the wrestler from Kazakhstan, claiming a winning record on his return after missing all of the last two tournaments with lower back trouble.
Ozeki Hoshoryu (8-2) also remained one win off the lead with a win over Daieisho (6-4). Hoshoryu found himself backpedalling but grabbed a right overarm hold just in the nick of time, swung the sekiwake around, and pushed him across the ring and out.
Sanyaku debutant komusubi Ura (2-8) was condemned to a losing record with a loss to livewire No. 2 Midorifuji (3-7).
Related coverage:
Sumo: Top-division debutant Onosato stays among leaders on Day 9
Sumo: Asanoyama loses sole lead, Kirishima suffers upset on Day 8
Sumo: Asanoyama keeps sole lead, Shodai upsets Terunofuji on Day 7
