No. 1 maegashira Daieisho pulled out a victory with his back to the wall to improve to a perfect 8-0 on Sunday, the midway point of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Having already defeated the seven wrestlers here ranked higher than him, Daieisho was pushed to the brink but managed to take a two-win lead into the final week of the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Ozeki Shodai, who started the day one win back at 6-1, suffered his second loss in a long rollicking battle with komusubi Mitakeumi.