The ozeki trio of Chiyotaikai, Kaio and Tochiazuma tasted their third losses and Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu was poised to exit the tourney after suffering a second straight defeat on Monday, the ninth day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
After the day's action, Ozeki Musoyama and four rank-and-file wrestlers -- Tosanoumi, Tokitsuumi, Kasuganishiki and Kotomitsuki -- share the lead for the tourney title at identical 7-2 records.
Asashoryu, who is nursing a bad right elbow, will sit out the tourney from Tuesday, sumo sources said, after his listless performance against No. 4 maegashira Tamanoshima.
After the jump-off, the Mongolian grand champion opened with a barrage of left-right thrusts to send the maegashira backpedaling.