Hakuho and Kakuryu remained locked for the lead at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament as the two yokozuna improved to 11-1 on Thursday.

Trailing the grand champions at 10-2 with three days to go at the season-ending competition was eighth-ranked maegashira Tochinoshin, followed by yokozuna Harumafuji and ozeki Kisenosato at 9-3.

Up first was Kakuryu, who bounced back from his defeat to ozeki Kisenosato a day earlier by dodging Goeido at the tachiai to make quick work of the 4-8 ozeki.

Kisenosato was plotting a giant-kill for the second straight day against Hakuho, but failed miserably in the face of a champion who has won the last three meets.

Kisenosato laid into his opponent from the face-off yet Hakuho barely budged, the yokozuna sending the Tagonoura wrestler tumbling on the sandy surface.

Hakuho, on the warpath toward a record-tying career 32nd Emperor's Cup, fights Kotoshogiku on Friday while Kakuryu takes on Harumafuji.

Harumafuji, who took a step back in the title race with defeat to sekiwake Aoiyama (7-5) on Tuesday, bulldozed sixth-ranked Toyonoshima (6-6) out of the ring to hang on his distant championship hopes.

Tochinoshin kept up with the leaders by dismissing No. 14 Sokokurai (8-4) by yorikiri.