Yokozuna Kakuryu defeated sekiwake Tochinoshin on Saturday to take sole lead of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with just one day remaining.
Kakuryu (13-1) is now one win ahead of Tochinoshin (12-2) in the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, while yokozuna Hakuho (11-3) suffered a shocking loss that cost him his chance of a record-extending 41st championship.
Kakuryu will face fellow Mongolian and yokozuna Hakuho in Sunday's final bout in a bid to win back-to-back championships for the first time in his career.