No. 14 maegashira Takatoriki stunned Miyabiyama and the entire sumo world Sunday when he upset heavily favored sekiwake Miyabiyama to clinch the championship of the Haru Basho in Osaka with a spectacular 13-2 record. It not only marked 'Riki's first yusho, but it was also the first time in sumo history that the yusho has ever been won by a bottom-ranked maegashira. Moreover, it was the second hiramaku (maegashira) yusho in the last nine basho -- Kotonishiki took the championship of the 1998 Kyushu Basho as a No. 12 maegashira with a 14-1 record.
Yokozuna Akebono and sekiwake Musoyama had to settle for second place with 12-3 records, while yokozuna Takanohana and Musashimaru, ozeki Dejima and sekiwake Miyabiyama wound up in a third-place tie with 11-4 marks. It had been widely expected toward the end of the basho that the spring tournament would end up with a five-way playoff with either Takanohana or Akebono, yokozuna Musashimaru, sekiwake Musoyama, sekiwake Miyabiyama and Takatoriki. But 'Riki obviously had other ideas.
In an all-yokozuna collision, Akebono defeated Takanohana, although it appeared that Taka had won by unleashing an arm throw near the edge, as they both crashed out together. But the tategyoji (referee) gave Akebono the nod and the shimpan (judges) declined to hold a monoii (bout review by the judges). The two yokozuna are now even in their 40-bout rivalry. The other remaining yokozuna, Musashimaru, proved to be easy prey for Chiyotaikai, who spilled Maru by tsukiotoshi (push down) shortly after the tachi-ai.