Mongolian yokozuna Hakuho took a big step toward claiming his 14th Emperor's Cup with a hard-fought win over veteran ozeki Kaio at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Wednesday.
Hakuho made it 11 wins out of 11 at the 15-day Tokyo meet, while losses by Estonian ozeki Baruto and two rank-and-filer wrestlers left Russian maegashira Aran alone in second place with a 9-2 record.
Hakuho was locked in a mid-ring stalemate with Kaio but bided his time before guiding him to the sandy surface with a beltless arm throw in the day's finale at Ryogoku Kokugikan, extending his winning streak to 28 bouts.
The rock-solid lone yokozuna will take on Baruto on Thursday. Baruto has beaten Hakuho only once — at the New Year basho four months ago — in their 13 meetings.
Kaio dropped to 6-5 and remained three wins away from 1,000 for his career.
Harumafuji dealt a fresh blow to fellow ozeki Baruto's bid to become the second European wrestler after Bulgarian Kotooshu to win a title, sending the man mountain sprawling with an underarm throw to leave both men at 8-3.
Baruto had fallen to Kotooshu a day earlier.
Tenth-ranked Aran got both hands on Kyokutenho's (6-5) belt before flipping him out of the ring to remain two wins behind Hakuho.
Ozeki Kotomitsuki (7-4) forced out Hakuba (8-3) after throwing the fifth-ranked Mongolian maegashira off-balance with a hard thrust to the neck.
No. 15 maegashira Shimotori was bundled out to a third loss by eighth-ranked Toyohibiki (5-6).
