Yokozuna Hakuho put himself in the driver's seat for his 37th career championship on Friday, when the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament officially became a two-man race.
In the penultimate bout of the day at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Harumafuji fell to his third loss, defeated by fellow Mongolian yokozuna Kakuryu to leave the title race in the hands of the last two men to do battle after 13 days.
The 31-year-old Hakuho, who holds the record for most grand championships following his win in March's Osaka tourney, has for the most part beaten Kisenosato like a drum.