Yokozuna Hakuho picked up his ninth win of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday, beating rank-and-filer Aoiyama to maintain the sole lead.
Hakuho (9-1) needed a few extra seconds to overcome No. 5 maegashira Aoiyama (5-5) in the final bout of Day 10 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center but eventually drove the 199-kg Bulgarian out.
Komusubi Asanoyama remained one win back to keep the pressure on the yokozuna, who faces No. 5 Ryuden on Wednesday.