In the Fukuoka Basho's biggest surprise in years, the ozeki, despite their largely poor standards of late, didn't perform too badly. The aging trio of Kaio, Chiyotaikai and Tochiazuma were all well within range of Asashoryu as far in as the mid-way point.

Kotooshu was lagging, having lost thrice by the end of the middle Sunday but a stronger showing later in the tournament pushed him up a notch to a decent 10-5; an identical record to that of Tochiazuma who could have -- should have perhaps -- pulled out after being injured in his Day 10 bout with former ozeki Dejima.

Sadly, normal Kaio week-two service resumed after the mid-way point, by which time the Fukuoka native had already secured his kachikoshi. Come the start of Day 9, he was still unbeaten, but in his final seven bouts, all against sanyaku men, he could only pick up two more scalps -- against Chiyotaikai and Kotomitsuki -- both men renowned for their own ability to collapse in the home stretch. Neither disappointed the form books in Kyushu, as they took a mere four from 14 possible wins between them on the back 7 to end side by side with 9-6 records.