Yokozuna Hakuho won his 28th career championship Sunday, sumo's dominant force doing what he has done umpteen times with everything on the line on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Hakuho suffered his first setback with a defeat at the hands of ozeki Kakuryu in the final bout of regulation, but bounced back to claim the Emperor's Cup with an impregnable display in the playoff, moving him within four titles of matching legendary yokozuna Taiho's all-time record of 32 championships.

"I was just determined to stay calm," said Hakuho, who finished on 14-1 along with Kakuryu. "I am glad I was able to move forward in the playoff. I just had to recall my first day of this tournament. This is a great start to the new year."