Basho Reports

Overnight leaders Terunofuji and Mitakeumi suffered upsets to drop back into a three-way tie for the lead at the New Year Basho.

Sekiwake Mitakeumi forced out struggling ozeki Shodai before lone grand champion Terunofuji outmuscled Mongolian maegashira Chiyoshoma at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Mitakeumi and Terunofuji are tied atop the leaderboard at 9-1 after sumo's lone grand champion took care of business against No. 5 Onosho in the closing bout of Day 10.

Mitakeumi met little resistance as he improved to a perfect 9-0, flying out of the blocks and sliding Okinoumi (2-7) straight over the straw.

Chasing his third consecutive championship, six-time grand tournament winner Terunofuji will have the chance to even the slate against Mitakeumi later in the second week of the competition.

Two wrestlers, yokozuna Terunofuji, who is seeking his third straight championship, and No. 6 maegashira Abi, are a win back at 6-1 in the 15-day meet.

The win improved the 37-year-old Tamawashi's career record between the Mongolian-born grapplers to 6-10 and left both with 5-1 records.

The sport's lone yokozuna demonstrated his unrivaled combination of strength and grappling technique to win the battle of Mongolian-born giants in the final bout on Day 5.

A close call eventually ended in victory for the sport's lone yokozuna in a thrilling conclusion to Wednesday's bouts.