Yokozuna Hakuho clinched a record-extending 43rd tournament victory on Day 14 of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, after defeating sekiwake Mitakeumi (6-8) to notch his 13th win of the basho at Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Saturday.
In the final bout of the day, Hakuho, notching his first tournament title since a 15-0 victory at the Spring tourney in March, quickly secured Mitakeumi's belt and threw his opponent down to the dirt with a leg trip.
"I am so glad to win [the tournament]," the Monglian yokozuna said in a televised interview after the match. "I had good preparation [before the tournament]."
Komusubi Asanoyama, winner of the Summer basho in May, had trailed Hakuho by two wins behind before the day's start, but lost the chance to win the tournament with the yokozuna's win for the day.
Asanoyama (11-3) forced out No. 5 maegashira Ryuden (6-8) after securing the front of his opponent's belt, though Ryuden showed a strong initial charge against the komusubi.
No. 10 maegashira Shodai, who also had a mathematical chance of winning the current basho before the start of the day, was bulldozed out of the ring by No. 2 maegashira Myogiryu (7-7) to suffer his fourth loss of the tournament, losing a chance for the tournament title.
Asanoyama, who had become the most winning wrestler of the year on the previous day with his 54th win, improved to 11 wins, or 55 wins for the year, improving his chances in his quest for promotion to the rank of ozeki in the next tournament in January.
In contrast, Mitakeumi, who took his second career title at the Autumn tourney in September, will have to start from scratch in his effort for promotion to ozeki.
In the penultimate bout of the day, ozeki Takakeisho (9-5) was instantly pulled out of the ring by komusubi Abi, allowing the komusubi to improve to eighth kachikoshi win. Abi skillfully managed the ozeki's charge and sent the ozeki out of the ring.
Earlier, physically small sensation No. 6 maegashira Enho threw down No. 14 maegashira Terutsuyoshi (8-6) in the middle of the ring to improve to seven wins, leaving a chance for a kachikoshi eighth win on the final day on Sunday.
No. 1 maegashira Daieisho pushed out No. 6 maegashira Onosho (7-7) after a powerful exchange of slaps to mark crucial kachikoshi eighth win.
Komusubi Hokutofuji (6-8) pushed No. 5 maegashira Aoiyama out of the ring in a quick job. The Bulgarian maegashira suffered an eighth makekoshi loss.
Komusubi Endo threw No. 4 maegashira Tamawashi down to the dirt after an exchange of pushes and attempted throws. The popular komusubi improved to seven wins, still having a chance to mark an eighth kachikoshi win on Sunday to stay in the rank of komusubi for the next New Year tourney.
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