No. 1 maegashira Nishikigi secured an upset win against yokozuna Terunofuji on Monday, handing the yokozuna a defeat after two days of action at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament.
Nishikigi (2-0), whose first-day win arrived by default following the withdrawal of injured new ozeki Kirishima, overcame an arm-barring charge from Terunofuji before reeling off a beltless arm throw at the edge of Dolphins Arena's raised ring.
"I'm happy," the rank-and-filer said after his first win over Terunofuji, who won the summer tournament in May. I could get both my arms inside and managed to throw him going with the flow."
All three sekiwake aiming for ozeki promotion, meanwhile, improved to 2-0. Daieisho had an emphatic thrust-out victory over No. 2 Mitakeumi (0-2) as his powerful shoves to the throat and chest left the former ozeki with no answer.
Wakamotoharu received a face slap by tricky Tobizaru (0-2) but had little issues in getting a firm belt hold with both hands before convincingly grappling out the No. 1.
Hoshoryu also had a solid bout in defeating former ozeki Shodai (0-2). The nephew of former Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu pushed his opponent's throat to seize control and swiftly drove forward to secure a win.
Komusubi Abi (1-1) overcame a sharp opening charge from diminutive No. 3 Midorifuji (0-2) in a push-down win, while No. 3 Meisei (2-0) bulldozed out Kotonowaka (1-1) in a matter of seconds.
Former ozeki Asanoyama (1-1) won his first bout after patiently chasing around fellow No. 4 Ura (0-2), who held on at the edge but was eventually floored by an overarm throw.
No. 13 Gonoyama, No. 14 Shonannoumi and No. 17 Hakuoho all won as the three makuuchi-division debutants remained unbeaten.