Harumafuji defeated fellow Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho on Sunday to win the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament and seize his eighth career championship.
Harumafuji entered the tournament finale needing a win to avoid a three-way championship playoff after No. 10 maegashira Takanoiwa and ozeki Kisenosato each improved to 12-3 in their bouts.
With the two yokozuna near stalemate in the middle of the ring, Hakuho (10-5) repeatedly stretched for a left-handed belt hold, but Harumafuji managed to keep that prize out of reach. And then, in a flash, Harumafuji moved in for the kill, grabbing another hold on the back of his rival's belt and forcing him out to finish with a 13-2 record.