Yokozuna Hakuho mowed down top-ranked maegashira Futeno on Tuesday to move into the winning column after a sticky start to the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
The Mongolian yokozuna, stunned on the opening day by Aminishiki, took a while to hit his stride in the day's finale at Fukuoka Kokusai Center but maintained his composure and rammed winless Futeno out to stay one win off the pace at 2-1.
Hakuho, who won his eighth career Emperor's Cup at the autumn meet in September, is the lone grand champion wrestling at the 15-day meet.