OSAKA -- Ozeki Kaio cruised to his 12th straight win over title pretender Tamanoshima on Thursday to hold onto the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament and edge one step closer to his second Emperor's Cup.
Yokozuna Takanohana, meanwhile, kept the pressure on Kaio, one step back at 11-1, with a hard-fought win over ozeki Miyabiyama to set up a suspenseful final three days at Osaka Prefectural Gym.
Kaio never looked in any trouble in his bout with Tamanoshima (9-3) and after swinging his opponent around the ring, effectively ended the 10th-ranked maegashira's title hopes by plowing him over the straw bales for the win.