SUMO/Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament: And then there were 2 ...

The lead at the halfway mark narrowed to grand champions Hakuho and defending title-holder Asashoryu at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday as rank-and-filer Yoshikaze fell to his first loss.

Hakuho pegged sekiwake Kakuryu with a slap with his left then worked a belt hold to throw his compatriot to the dirt. It was textbook win--the yokozuna never had to take a step backward, and was driving all the way.

Asashoryu, meanwhile, plowed No. 3 maegashira Tochiozan into a fast retreat and twisted him all the way around before dumping him unceremoniously to the ground with an "okuri-nage," or rear throw down. The yokozuna was completely unchallenged in the bout.

Fellow-Mongolian Harumafuji jumped in quickly but went too deep against sekiwake Baruto and was vulnerable to an arm lock, which the Estonian used to whip him around and out. Baruto stepped right on the edge as he finished the Mongolian off, but the judges ruled that he won nevertheless.

Both are 4-4.

"I was afraid they were going to rule I stepped out," Baruto said. "I tried to get inside but couldn't."

Fighting their 53rd bout against each other, veterans Kaio and Chiyotaikai faced off and Kaio was overwhelmingly superior. The 37-year-old Kaio, 5-3, grabbed Chiyotaikai's left arm as he tried to unleash his thrusts and pushed him off balance and over the edge. He leads Chiyotaikai 33-20.

Chiyotaikai--who has yet to face the yokozuna duo-- can only afford to lose one more bout. Any more than that and he will drop rank.

Kotooshu lumbered to a win over No. 2 maegashira Tokitenku of Mongolia. Both wrestlers traded thrusts and failed to get inside for a belt hold. The Bulgarian ozeki, who is 7-1, his only loss to Aminishiki, had more power and held out until Tokitenku slipped and touched his hand down.

Moving forward nicely, Kotomitsuki absorbed a two-handed thrust at his chest by No. 4 maegashira Hokutoriki and didn't slow down as he drilled ahead for the victory, his fifth. Hokutoriki is 4-4.

Kotomitsuki is something of a shadow warrior--he hasn't had much time in the spotlight, but he is a formidable competitor.

In the battle of the komusubi, who both had a tough first week, Kisenosato got a far better face-off and bulled Goeido out without facing much resistance. Kisenosato came out hard to the right and then grabbed a hold with his left to cement the deal.

It was his third win, while Goeido has six losses. As komusubi, they start off the tournament facing the top opposition, taking on the yokozuna and ozeki, so both may start improving now that they have the hardest bouts behind them.

Ending his best run ever, No. 9 maegashira Yoshikaze (7-1) was twisted to the dirt by No. 5 maegashira Toyonoshima (6-2), who was on the defensive most of the way but did a deft job of keeping the junior maegashira off his belt and had better arm work when it counted.

Russia's Aran, at No. 8 maegashira, continues to struggle. He was taken out by Kakizoe for his sixth loss, his only wins thus far coming against former ozeki Miyabiyama and Mongolia's Kyokutenho.(IHT/Asahi: November 23,2009)