Terunofuji's bid to capture his second title in three meets continued to gather pace as the Mongolian ozeki defeated compatriot Ichinojo at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
Summer champion Terunofuji was in total control in the day's penultimate bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, wrapping up the giant fourth-ranked maegashira and shunting him over the edge of the ring to preserve his spotless record at 9-0. The loss was Ichinojo's fifth.
Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu and rank-and-filer Ikioi both kept up the chase with their eighth wins, but ozeki Kisenosato's hopes of a maiden title took a hit with a second defeat, at the hands of komusubi Okinoumi. He joins two others at 7-2.