Musashimaru
stays a step ahead

NAGOYA, July 17 (Kyodo) -- Musashimaru and Chiyotaikai escaped sudden death and ozeki Kaio held on to stay a pace behind the unbeaten grand champion after notching a comfortable win at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Tuesday.

In the day's final bout, Musashimaru (10-0) stumbled off-balance after the charge and was almost pulled down to the dirt before grappling Mongolian Kyokushuzan (5-5) to send the No. 5 maegashira out of the ring in the nick of time for a hair-raising finish.

Chiyotaikai did a balancing act on the edge of the ring to stay in a three-way tie with Kaio and No. 7 maegashira Tamanoshima at 9-1 as they chase the yokozuna for the Emperor's Cup in the 15-day tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

Chiyotaikai shoved and thrust Tochinonada (3-7) off the charge but the No. 3 maegashira braced his legs, lunging forward before the ozeki used an overhand sweep to fling him from the ring.

Kaio(9-1) appeared unfazed by a loss in his previous bout, wasting no time to force out No. 5 maegashira Takanowaka (8-2).

The Tomozuna stable ozeki tucked in his head and barreled forward, muscling the maegashira over the edge of the raised ring in a matter of seconds.

Musoyama (7-3) was the victim of an upset when he faced sekiwake Kotomitsuki (4-6), who pinned the burly ozeki's arms up and then grabbed his mawashi from the right to yank him over the edge.

Ozeki Miyabiyama (5-5) still failed to demonstrate ozeki flare as he fell off balance off the charge but immediately regained control to send No. 4 Tosanoumi (4-6) over the edge.

Wakanosato (8-2) locked horns with the fiery Asashoryu (4-6) in a battle between komusubi, but the Mongolian was too much as he shoved the Naruto stable wrestler out for a comfortable win.

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Results

NAGOYA, July 17 (Kyodo) - Results of makuuchi division bouts Tuesday, the 10th day of the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament at Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium (+ denotes juryo division wrestler):

Won -- Technique -- Lost

+Takatoriki 6-4 -- hikiotoshi -- Oginishiki 6-4
+Kobo 7-3 -- katasukashi -- Asanowaka 2-8
Daizen 5-5 -- uwatedashinage -- Wakatsutomu 5-5
Kaiho 6-4 -- hikiotoshi -- Kyokutenho 5-5
Aminishiki 4-6 -- oshidashi -- Jumonji 3-7
Kitazakura 3-7 -- oshidashi -- Minatofuji 3-7
Tochinohana 6-4 -- hikiotoshi -- Tokitsuumi 7-3
Tamanoshima 9-1 -- yorikiri -- Kotoryu 6-4
Chiyotenzan 3-7 -- oshidashi -- Otsukasa 3-7
Kotonowaka 4-6 -- uwatenage -- Tamakasuga 3-7
Akinoshima 4-6 -- abisetaoshi -- Higonoumi 3-7
Toki 4-6 -- oshidashi -- Takanonami 2-8
Asashoryu 4-6 -- yorikiri -- Wakanosato 8-2
Tochiazuma 6-4 -- okuritaoshi -- Hayateumi 1-9
Kaio 9-1 -- yorikiri -- Takanowaka 8-2
Miyabiyama 5-5 -- yorikiri -- Tosanoumi 4-6
Kotomitsuki 4-6 -- yorikiri -- Musoyama 7-3
Chiyotaikai 9-1 -- tsukiotoshi -- Tochinonada 3-7
Musashimaru 10-0 -- oshidashi -- Kyokushuzan 5-5

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Wednesday's bouts

Minatofuji x - x +Hamanishiki
+Kobo x - x Oginishiki
Aminishiki 1 - 1 Daizen
Kotoryu 7 - 2 Tokitsuumi
Asanowaka 0 - 0 Kitazakura
Wakatsutomu 0 - 0 Chiyotenzan
Akinoshima 3 - 3 Kyokutenho
Kyokushuzan 5 - 5 Kaiho
Jumonji 0 - 3 Otsukasa
Tosanoumi 2 - 0 Tochinohana
Tamakasuga 6 - 8 Higonoumi
Tochinonada 4 - 9 Takanonami
Asashoryu 0 - 1 Hayateumi
Toki 1 - 1 Kotomitsuki
Tochiazuma 7 - 3 Kotonowaka
Kaio 1 - 0 Tamanoshima
Chiyotaikai 5 - 4 Miyabiyama
Takanowaka 0 - 6 Musoyama
Wakanosato 2 - 5 Musashimaru

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