Sole leader and No. 15 maegashira Atamifuji recorded a superb win over komusubi Tobizaru to open a two-win lead after 11 days of action at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday when his closest rival, No. 7 Takayasu, fell to his third defeat.
Atamifuji (10-1), ranked on the third lowest rung of sumo's elite makuuchi division, grabbed a left overarm belt hold straight away before quickly reeling off an emphatic throw to upend Tobizaru (5-6) as the 21-year-old continued his remarkable run at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Wrestling in sumo's top flight for the second time in his career after going 4-11 in November, Atamifuji has competed in the second-tier jūryō division in the past four grand tournaments.