Yokozuna Kakuryu handed out a royal beating to Ikioi to remain undefeated on the eighth day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
The second week of the 15-day tourney kicked off with the third sell-out crowd at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, and Kakuryu retained his sole lead at 8-0 as he aims for his second career title and first since his promotion to sumo's highest rank in May.
Rival yokozuna Hakuho is hot in pursuit along with ozeki Kisenosato and veteran rank-and-filer Kyokutenho at 7-1. Harumafuji, sumo's other yokozuna, disposed of Takekaze (1-7) to remain two off the lead in a logjam of rikishi at 6-2.