For the second time at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, sekiwake Tochinoshin and yokozuna Kakuryu fell to defeat on the same day.
This time, their losses on Wednesday dropped them out of the lead -- leaving No. 8 maegashira Asanoyama alone on top at 10-1 -- and for Tochinoshin, it put his bid to clinch promotion back to the ozeki rank on hold for at least another day.
Kakuryu, aiming for his sixth career title, never got on track against No. 5 maegashira Myogiryu, who fought off all attacks before gaining the upper hand and pushing him out, leaving the yokozuna at 9-2.
Tochinoshin, needing one more win to gain the 10 he needs to ensure a return to the second-highest rank, was dealt a shock defeat by No. 4 maegashira Abi to also end the day at 9-2.
Tochinoshin started with a pushing attack, but a sidestep and slap down by Abi caused the sekiwake to awkwardly lurch forward, and he was nudged out before he could regain his balance.
Meanwhile, the ozeki pair of Goeido and Takayasu were both denied kachikoshi eighth wins and fell three wins behind the leader at 7-4.
Goeido got overextended against No. 5 maegashira Ryuden and was pressed down to the dirt, while Takayasu was shoved out by komusubi Aoiyama (5-6), who did well to fight back after being forced to the edge.
Earlier, Asanoyama remained in the title chase with a one-sided victory over No. 13 maegashira Sadanoumi that he came close to losing through his own exuberance.
Bulldozing Sadanoumi swiftly across the ring at the jump-off, Asanoyama put his left foot on top of the straw as Sadanoumi put up a final but futile stand at the edge. That led to a judges' conference on whether Asanoyama's toe had hit the dirt outside of the ring before Sadanoumi's heel hit down.
Asanoyama was ruled the winner, although only after a brief moment of confusion when the ringside judge explaining the decision mixed up the wrestlers.
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