No. 8 maegashira Asanoyama emerged as the sole tournament leader at 11-2 after Friday's action at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo.
Sekiwake Tochinoshin (9-4) -- after a lengthy meeting by ringside judges -- failed for the third consecutive day to pick up the 10th victory he needs at the tournament to ensure a return to the ozeki rank.
Kakuryu (10-3) went down to ozeki Takayasu (8-5) as the Mongolian yokozuna was pushed out on the final bout of Day 13.
Tochinoshin appeared to have narrowly defeated Asanoyama by throwing him out near the bales, but judges raised an objection to the decision in the ring. A meeting of the ringside judges lasted more than 5 minutes, and the decision was reversed after they determined the sekiwake's heel touched out of the ring first.
Meanwhile, ozeki Goeido pushed out No. 7 maegashira Shodai, earning his ninth win.
The victory leaves the ozeki in a group of four -- Tochinoshin, No. 7 maegashira Meisei and No. 3 maegashira Tamawashi -- two off the pace with a slim chance of winning the tournament.
Kakuryu is set to go up against Tochinoshin in the final bout today, while Asanoyama is scheduled to take on Goeido.
A victory by Asanoyama coupled with a Kakuryu loss would result in the rank-and-filer's first career tournament title.
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