Yokozuna Hakuho stayed in the lead two-thirds of the way through the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament, making quick work of No. 4 maegashira Tokushoryu on Tuesday.
In their first career meeting, Hakuho bulldozed Tokushoryu (5-5) out of the ring in the bat of an eyelash, winning by yorikiri. Hakuho, continuing to plow toward his seventh straight title, faces sekiwake Terunofuji (8-2) on Wednesday.
Joining Hakuho at 9-1 is No. 11 Kaisei, who defeated Amuru by oshidashi, sending the 16th-ranked maegashira to his third loss of the meet.
Hakuho's Mongolian compatriot and fellow yokozuna Harumafuji suffered an all-too painful third defeat at the hands of No. 6 Gagamaru (4-6).
Gagamaru bounced Harumafuji backward from the tachiai and just when the yokozuna was about to counter, he lost his right footing, slipping on the sandy surface to fall on his knee.
No. 11 Kyokushuho took a step back, suffering his second defeat to eighth-ranked Takayasu (8-2).
Kisenosato improved to 8-2 in a battle of ozeki against Goeido (6-4), upending his man on the edge of the straw bales. No. 10 Okinoumi also got the better of 15th-ranked Kotoyuki (6-4) to pick up his eighth win.
