Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho moved within one win of extending his all-time record of career titles to 35 on Saturday with a demolition of nemesis Kisenosato on the penultimate day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
But yokozuna rival Kakuryu bounced back from his second defeat on Friday to see off Goeido to ensure the title race goes down to the wire.
Hakuho improved to 13-1 and faces Kakuryu (12-2) in the final bout of regulation at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium on Sunday, with Kakuryu needing a win to force a playoff and keep alive his hopes of his first championship since being promoted to yokozuna.