Mongolian ozeki Hakuho took the sole possession of the lead Monday with a decisive win over fellow ozeki Tochiazuma at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.
Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, meanwhile, scalped another victim in the form of sekiwake Kotoshogiku, staying one off the pace in pack of six wrestlers chasing Hakuho as the final week of action heats up at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
Hakuho was quicker out of the crouch, getting a right-handed underhand grip on Tochiazuma's mawashi before muscling him out to improve to 8-1.
Tochiazuma lost his second straight for a 7-2 mark and is still a win away from easing his relegation worries.