Ozeki Chiyotaikai was all business in a demolition of sekiwake Asasekiryu to stay in sole possession of the lead after notching his eighth victory at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.
Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho, meanwhile, bounced back from a defeat to Ama a day earlier, toppling Toyonoshima to stay in a group of five wrestlers trailing Chiyotaikai with 7-2 records as the Kyushu meet enters the final stretch.
Ozeki Kotomitsuki and rank-and-filers Wakanosato, Dejima and Baruto also posted their seventh wins.
Chiyotaikai, who rebounded from a loss to Dejima on Sunday, unleashed a salvo of his trademark thrusts, blasting Asasekiryu over the edge in a matter of seconds at Fukuoka Kokusai Center. Asasekiryu fell to a 3-6 record.