Ozeki Tochiazuma upset grand champion Asashoryu on Sunday to win the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Tochiazuma came in low at the face-off in the final bout at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, and put the Mongolian yokozuna on the defensive from the outset.
The burly ozeki refused to yield and took control of the bout with a right-hand shove to the neck of his opponent that forced Asashoryu to the edge of the ring, where he became a sitting duck for one final shove.
The victory gave Tochiazuma a record of 13-2 while Asashoryu finished with at 12-3.
It was Tochiazuma's second Emperor's Cup overall, and his first in almost two years. Fans showered the raised ring with seat cushions to celebrate the victory.
"It was a long time between wins and there were some tough days," said Tochiazuma. "I want to thank all my fans for supporting during this time."
It was a disappointing loss for Asashoryu, who won the Autumn tourney and was gunning for his fifth title overall. His only losses before Sunday were against ozeki Kaio and top maegashira Tochinonada.
It was also a tournament in which grand champion Musashimaru was forced to retire after taking four losses in the first week of competition.
The Hawaiian grand champion, who missed all or parts of the past six tournaments, just couldn't bounce back from a wrist injury that hampered him for almost two years.
Tochiazuma's win could kick start his campaign for promotion to the sport's highest rank, but the pint-sized ozeki wasn't about to make any bold predictions.
"I'm not thinking about that right now," said Tochiazuma. "My goal is just to come out for the New Year's tournament and do my best."
Tochiazuma held the lead for much of the tournament, but losses on the 11th and 13th days left him tied with Asashoryu.
In other major bouts, Kaio gave his local fans a thrill when he outlasted fellow ozeki Chiyotaikai (10-5) in a hard-fought bout that left both wrestlers drained and sprawling on the dirt surface. After exchanging a series of slaps and thrusts, Kaio eventually prevailed when Chiyotaikai lost his footing at the center of the ring.
Kaio, who collapsed to the dirt surface after it was all over, finished with 10-5 record, much better than the 8-7 he needed to maintain his ozeki status.
No. 2 maegashira Tosanoumi bulldozed top maegashira Tochinonada (8-7) over to finish with a respectable 10-5 record and pick up the Outstanding Performance award.
Earlier Sunday, Kokkai won the juryo division with a 14-1 record, virtually assuring himself promotion to the elite makuuchi division for the next tournament.
Kokkai, who is from Georgia, would be the first European to reach the sport's elite division.
"If I'm promoted, I plan to just keep fighting my own brand of sumo," said the 23-year-old.
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