Top-ranked maegashira Daieisho moved to within one win of his first championship, earning his 12th victory as his closet rival slipped up on Saturday, the penultimate day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
Daieisho's victory, over No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi, left him and ozeki Shodai as the only two wrestlers in title contention at the 15-day tourney at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Daieisho brought down Tamawashi (5-9) in a bruising bout, getting off the mark quickest and landing three powerful shoves to the Mongolian's throat. Tamawashi landed some hard shots of his own, but one more blow to the throat from Daieisho set up a slap down that ended the fight.