Promotion-chasing Baruto was handed a shock setback in his bid for yokozuna by fellow ozeki Kotooshu, crashing out of a tie for the lead on the 11th day of action at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Yokozuna Hakuho, meanwhile, was back in killer mode with some crafty handiwork in a demolition of Kotoshogiku to retain his share of the lead in a two-way tie with sekiwake Kakuryu with four days left in Osaka. Baruto, ozeki Harumafuji and rank-and-filer Shotenro sit one back at 9-2.
In the day's penultimate match, Estonian Baruto never got inside for a firm grip on his rival's mawashi and paid dearly for his slowness, when Bulgarian Kotooshu (7-4) latched on for a powerful grip of his own before tackling his rival over the edge to a second loss at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.