Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho on Thursday crashed to shock defeat against relegation-threatened ozeki Terunofuji to surrender his share of the lead heading into the final stretch of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.

Hakuho's third defeat of the tournament, along with a loss for komusubi Takayasu, leaves promotion-chasing ozeki Kisenosato and Mongolian yokozuna Harumafuji tied at the top at 10-2 with three days of the 15-day basho remaining.

Hakuho looked nervous in the day's final bout and had to take a second crack at Terunofuji after a failed tachiai charge.