Last undefeated rikishi loses on Day 7

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Was this grab legal? The judges said yes. (screenshot)

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FUKUOKA, JAPAN – The last undefeated rikishi in November’s sumo basho is now gone, providing a tight race atop the tournament leaderboard.

Takakeisho became the first komisubi to begin a tournament with a 6-0 record since 1993, but could not get a seventh straight November win, falling by hatakikomi to Mitakeumi.

A sekiwake, Mitakeumi came into his bout with Takakeisho with a 3-3 record and immediately took initiative, pushing Takakeisho to the edge of the dohyo.

Takakeisho slipped to the left, and Mitakeumi’s momentum almost sent him flying, but the two re-engaged and Mitakeumi eventually emerged victorious after asserting a strong downward thrust onto Takakeisho’s upper neck.

The judges held a mono-ii to confirm that Mitakeumi did not grab the top knot of Takakeisho’s hair, which is illegal, but confirmed that the thrust only touched the bottom portion of Takakeisho’s hair and not the top knot.

Takakeisho now joins a pair of maegashira, Onosho and Daiesho, in the tournament lead at 6-1. Onosho had a convincing oshidashi victory against the Mongolian Arawashi while Daiesho grabbed his sixth straight win against Abi, also through oshidashi.

Behind the three leaders, five rikishi are still in the hunt at 5-2.

About this Author

Andrew Sylvia

Assistant EditorManchester Ink Link

Born and raised in the Granite State, Andrew Sylvia has written approximately 10,000 pieces over his career for outlets across Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. On top of that, he's a licensed notary and licensed to sell property, casualty and life insurance, he's been a USSF trained youth soccer and futsal referee for the past six years and he can name over 60 national flags in under 60 seconds according to that flag game app he has on his phone, which makes sense because he also has a bachelor's degree in geography (like Michael Jordan). He can also type over 100 words a minute on a good day.