Yokozuna Hakuho and ozeki Kotoshogiku remained neck-and-neck in the race for the year's last Emperor's Cup as the two heavyweights stayed perfect through eight days at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday.
Hakuho never broke a sweat as he sent No. 3 maegashira Gagamaru rolling to win by sukuinage, while Kotoshogiku beat Kakuryu (6-2) in the day's penultimate match at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Sekiwake Kisenosato, seventh-ranked maegashira Takekaze and No. 9 Wakakoyu all kept up with the leaders with 7-1 records.