Mongolian Hakuho defeated compatriot Ama on Monday to remain tied for the lead with Miyabiyama and Chiyotaikai at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.
Ozeki Kaio shoves No. 4 maegashira Takekaze out of the ring on Monday at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.
After a prolonged faceoff at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Ama dodged to his side in an attempt to fool Hakuho, who is making his ozeki debut.
But Hakuho read his opponent perfectly, got a hand on the back of Ama's belt and ushered the scrappy komusubi out of the ring to improve to 8-1. Ama continues to struggle in his komusubi debut and fell to 1-8.
In other major bouts, ozeki Chiyotaikai bounced back from Sunday's loss to Asasekiryu, forcing out veteran Wakanosato with a series of arms thrusts.
Chiyotaikai improved to 8-1 while second-ranked Wakanosato fell to an unflattering 2-7.
With grand champion Asashoryu of Mongolia sitting out the tournament with an injured elbow, the race for the Emperor's Cup is wide open.
Sekiwake Miyabiyama kept pace and improved to 8-1 when he deployed a barrage of arm thrusts to send fourth-ranked maegashira Tokitenku over the straw ridge. Tokitenku dropped to 3-6.
Ozeki Kaio posted his seventh straight win when he used an arm throw to send winless fourth-ranked Takekaze sprawling to the dirt surface. Kaio stands at 7-2 along with three others.
Bulgarian Kotooshu (6-3) notched an easy win when Russian Roho (3-6) stumbled at the faceoff and fell to the dirt surface in a matter of seconds.