Front-runner Nishikigi suffered his first loss of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at the hands of komusubi Kotonowaka on Saturday, dropping back into a tie for the lead with promotion-hunting sekiwake Hoshoryu and two other wrestlers.
Taking a double inside grip from the jump, Kotonowaka quickly forced No. 1 maegashira Nishikigi (6-1) out of the ring to snap his 14-match win streak dating back to May's grand tournament.
The 32-year-old Nishikigi, on track for his first promotion to the three elite sanyaku ranks below yokozuna, now shares the top rung at Dolphins Arena with Hoshoryu, No. 7 Tamawashi and No. 9 Hokutofuji.
He had beaten every other active sanyaku wrestler, along with now-withdrawn grand champion Terunofuji, before falling to the powerfully built Kotonowaka (5-2) on Day 7 of the 15-day competition.
One of three sekiwake seeking promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki, Hoshoryu demonstrated outstanding technique to defeat former ozeki and current No. 4 Asanoyama.
The nephew of former Mongolian great Asashoryu controlled the bout with an inside belt grip and tossed Asanoyama (4-3) to the clay with an overarm throw after the 168-kilogram maegashira showed great agility to counter Hoshoryu's initial attempt at the maneuver.
No. 2 Mitakeumi (1-6) notched his first win by pushing out new ozeki Kirishima (2-3-2), who missed the first three days of the meet with sore ribs. The former ozeki delivered a strong opening hit and drove his way to a decisive victory.
The other two sekiwake, Daieisho and Wakamotoharu, advanced to 5-2 by beating No. 4 Ura (4-3) and komusubi Abi (3-4), respectively.