Komusubi Kaio forced out Chiyotaikai to claim his second ozeki scalp of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday and keep the early pace with unbeaten grand champions Akebono and Takanohana.
Kaio, who threw Dejima down to an opening-day loss, took advantage of Chiyotaikai's faulty start to muscle the off-balance ozeki up against and then over the straw ridge at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Chiyotaikai (1-1) was the only major casualty of the second day of the 15-day tourney as the remaining ozeki and the two yokozuna came through with wins.
Yokozuna Akebono marked his 31st birthday with an easy win over Wakanoyama (0-2), shoving the No. 2 maegashira out of the ring at arm's length in a one-sided bout.
Fellow grand champion Takanohana had the measure of upset-minded Tosanoumi (1-1), backing the komusubi out of the ring in textbook fashion.
Ozeki Dejima (1-1) rebounded from Sunday's loss to Kaio, bulldozing out No. 2 maegashira Hamanoshima (0-2).
Takanonami, in danger of losing his ozeki ranking, wrestled third-ranked Oginishiki out of the ring for the second of eight wins he needs in this tourney to avoid demotion.
Sekiwake Miyabiyama (2-0) was not fooled by Kyokushuzan (0-2), shaking off the Mongolian trickster's attempted pull-down and then sending the No. 4 maegashira sprawling out of the ring from behind.
Also at the sekiwake rank, Tochiazuma (1-1) bounced back from an upset loss the previous day and rammed out Daizen (0-2).
In earlier bouts, komusubi Takatoriki was pulled to the ring's surface by Tamakasuga (2-0) for his second loss, already equaling the total number of losses he incurred while winning the spring tourney in March with a 13-2 record.
Mongolia's Kyokutenho (2-0), wrestling at No. 6 maegashira, twisted down Shikishima (1-1) as he danced away from the hard-charging No. 10 maegashira along the straw ridge.
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