The Spring Grand Sumo Tournament took a twist on Friday when both yokozuna Harumafuji and Hakuho suffered defeats, throwing the door wide open in the title race with just two days remaining.
Hakuho and promotion-chasing ozeki Kakuryu moved into a two-way tie for the lead at 12-1, while Harumafuji, who missed the entire New Year Basho through injury, is still within mathematical reach at 11-2 as he aims for his seventh career title.
Harumafuji was sent to a shock second straight defeat at the hands of sekiwake Goeido (10-3), who took full advantage of the partisan crowd cheering him on in his hometown as he knocked the yokozuna out by "yoritaoshi" in the day's penultimate bout.