Ozeki Chiyotaikai clinched his second championship on the final day of the Nagoya Basho as sekiwake Asashoryu lost his third bout to Wakanosato, thereby forfeiting his chance to compete in a playoff with Chiyo.
It was moot, anyway, as Chiyotaikai went on to easily defeat yokozuna Musashimaru. Chiyotaikai's 14-1 performance was the best record in his career to date and his first yusho since January 1999, when he defeated then yokozuna Wakanohana in a playoff while still ranked at sekiwake.
Chiyotaikai, 26, has been ranked at ozeki for 21 tournaments, since March 1999, but has had an erratic record. This January, Chiyotaikai lost a 13-2 playoff to fellow ozeki Tochiazuma. In March he slipped to a losing 7-8 record, only to bounce back in May with an 11-4 mark. Chiyo will likely be promoted to yokozuna if he wins the yusho again in September with 13 or more wins.
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