Ozeki Takakeisho and komusubi Terunofuji both remained unbeaten with victories on Thursday, sharing the lead with a pair of maegashira-ranked wrestlers through five days at the November Grand Sumo Tournament.
With the withdrawal of newly promoted ozeki Shodai due to an ankle injury earlier in the day, Takeisho and Terunofuji have emerged as the favorites to take home the Emperor's Cup.
Takakeisho, aiming for his second career title, came out firing on all cylinders to defeat No. 2 maegashira Daieisho.
Daieisho, coming off his win over a hobbled Shodai on Wednesday, found the going tougher against a healthy Takakeisho, who used a merciless shoving attack to hand him his second loss.
Terunofuji, a former ozeki who won the July tournament in his dramatic return to the uppermost makuuchi division, came out on top in a battle of unbeatens, muscling down No. 4 Hokutofuji for his fifth win.
The two sekiwake both picked up their third wins, as Takanosho pushed out No. 1 Kiribayama while Mitakeumi bellied out No. 1 maegashira Wakatakage.
No. 4 maegashira Tobizaru, the darling of the September tournament when he chalked up a 11-4 record in his makuuchi division debut, fell to 1-4 when he pushed out by No. 5 maegashira Kotoshoho.
No. 14 maegashira Chiyonokuni, back in the makuuchi division after a stint in juryo, and No. 17 maegashira Shimanoumi also have 5-0 records.
The two yokozuna, Hakuho and Kakuryu, withdrew prior to the start of the tournament, and ozeki Asanoyama joined them on Tuesday.
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