Mitakeumi defeated fellow overnight leader Abi at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Friday to move back into a two-way tie atop the leaderboard with lone yokozuna Terunofuji.
The three championship rivals started Day 13 deadlocked at 10-2 after both Terunofuji and sekiwake Mitakeumi suffered upset losses the previous day, allowing No. 6 maegashira Abi to join them on the top rung.
But the leading pack was pared back to just two at Ryogoku Kokugikan after Terunofuji overpowered sekiwake Takanosho following the battle between the other front runners.