Atamifuji Stays Perfect as Hoshoryu Suffers Third Straight Kyushu Defeat

FUKUOKA — Sekiwake Atamifuji remained the only unbeaten wrestler in sumo's top division on Thursday, improving to 5-0 on day five of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament as yokozuna Hoshoryu suffered a third straight defeat at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

The two results pulled the 15-day tournament in opposite directions. Atamifuji, calm and immovable at the top of the standings, is building a genuine title challenge in Fukuoka. Hoshoryu, by contrast, is fighting to rescue his tournament after a comeback from knee surgery unravelled for a third day in a row, leaving the grand champion at 2-3 and already three wins behind the leader.

Atamifuji stays perfect

Atamifuji stretched his winning streak by overcoming his fellow sekiwake Fujinokawa, who fell to 1-4. Fujinokawa made a crafty start, reaching in to grab the leader's left leg, but Atamifuji barred his opponent's right arm before claiming the win by frontal crush out, or yoritaoshi, driving Fujinokawa back across the straw bales.

The victory kept Atamifuji one win clear of a chasing group of three at 4-1, and with ten days still to run in a tournament that continues until 22 November, the sekiwake has put promotion to ozeki firmly into the conversation. A championship in Fukuoka, or a finish deep into double figures, would be the strongest statement of his career so far, and on this form he looks the wrestler to beat.

Hoshoryu's troubles deepen

Hoshoryu's afternoon started with intent but ended in familiar disappointment. The Mongolian-born grand champion, who missed September's Autumn tournament after right knee surgery in late July, produced an opening left-handed slap to the face of Fujiseiun, but to little effect. The No. 2 maegashira secured belt holds with both hands, and once on the back foot Hoshoryu showed little resistance before being forced out by yorikiri.

The defeat handed Fujiseiun his first kinboshi, the prized gold star awarded to a rank-and-file wrestler who beats a yokozuna, and ended a three-day losing run of his own. The 28-year-old from Kumamoto, now 2-3 himself, admitted the scale of the moment had barely registered. "It hasn't really sunk in yet," he said. "I want to savor it later... I had a good bout and managed to turn the tide for the tournament."

It was the third kinboshi conceded by Hoshoryu in as many days. Fujiryoga beat him on day three, Ura on day four, and Fujiseiun on day five, a sequence that has turned a promising comeback into a test of endurance. The knee that kept him out of the Autumn tournament remains the obvious concern, and every bout now carries a question about how much more it can take. He is scheduled to face Takayasu in the closing bout on day six, with no sign that he intends to withdraw.

The chasing pack

Behind Atamifuji, the title race is crowded. Yokozuna Onosato moved to 4-1 by beating the trickster Ura, who dropped to 1-4, with a quick slap down, or hatakikomi, that sent the No. 2 maegashira to the sandy surface. Onosato won his first Emperor's Cup in a year in September, and he remains the most likely challenger if the leader slips.

Ozeki Kotozakura also reached 4-1, recording a fourth straight win by stopping No. 3 maegashira Takayasu, now 1-4, from advancing before forcing out the former ozeki. Kotozakura's only championship in the top-tier makuuchi division came at this very tournament two years ago, and he will take confidence from returning to the scene of that triumph.

Ozeki Kirishima joined them on 4-1 after outlasting former ozeki Asanoyama, now 1-4, in a gripping encounter, his late pulling right overarm throw sending the No. 1 maegashira off balance on the way to a force-out win.

Ukrainian star Aonishiki improved to 3-2, holding on to his left underarm grip against Hakunofuji, now 2-3, before flooring the No. 3 maegashira with a powerful throw. In the battle of the komusubi, Yoshinofuji recovered his position at the edge and forced out Churanoumi, leaving both men at 3-2 and 1-4 respectively.

Eight maegashira, including the up-and-coming Fujiryoga at No. 1, have also improved to 4-1. Fujiryoga, who handed Hoshoryu his first defeat of the tournament on day three, beat Takerufuji, now 2-3, by frontal crush out, and his meeting with Kirishima on day six will be one of the bouts of the tournament so far.

What comes next

Day six, on Friday, brings a set of bouts that could reshape the leaderboard. Hoshoryu meets Takayasu in the final bout of the day, Onosato faces Hakunofuji, Kirishima takes on Fujiryoga, Aonishiki meets Churanoumi, Kotozakura fights Yoshinofuji, Atamifuji faces Asanoyama, and Fujinokawa meets Ura.

In the second-tier juryo division, Wakatakakage and Tamashoho remain undefeated and continue to set the pace. But the story of this tournament is being written at the top, where Atamifuji stands alone at 5-0, three proven contenders sit one win behind him, and a wounded yokozuna is running out of room for error.