Two yokozuna pushed their way into the lead at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
Hakuho, who extended his record number of wins as a yokozuna to 800, and yokozuna Kakuryu are now alone at the top with eight victories at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Hakuho defeated No. 2 maegashira Yutakayama in the blink of eye as the Mongolian sent the maegashira flying off the dohyo with a left-handed throw just after the jump-off -- and seemingly before Yutakayama knew what hit him.
Yokozuna Kakuryu overcame massive sekiwake Ichinojo with relative ease. The yokuzuna pushed the 227-kilogram Mongolian to the edge of the ring before forcing him out to keep his record unblemished.
Yokozuna Kisenosato (6-2) had a lackluster performance in losing to komusubi Tamawashi (1-7), who used one two-handed thrust from the jump-off to back the yokozuna up near the bales, and another similar push to quickly end the bout.
Ozeki Takayasu absorbed his first loss of the tournament. The ozeki started strong against No. 3 maegashira Shodai, who recovered to slap Takayasu down and knock the ozeki from the group of unbeatens.
No. 9 maegashira Hokutofuji also lost for the first time in the basho as No. 13 maegashira Ryuden (7-1) forced him out.
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