Yokozuna Hakuho and Kakuryu each fell to their second defeats at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday, leaving the title open for sekiwake Asanoyama and a pair of rank-and-filers who share the lead.
Hakuho was unceremoniously slapped down by his opponent, Myogiryu (1-2), on Day 3 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, after being skillfully denied an inside belt hold by the top-ranked maegashira.
Myogiryu had only beaten the Mongolian-born yokozuna once in 21 previous match-ups and picked up his fifth kimboshi prize for beating a yokozuna as a rank-and-file wrestler.