TOKYO — Grand champion Hakuho threw down sekiwake Baruto on Monday to maintain his perfect record and share the lead with Mongolian Asashoryu at the New Year Sumo tournament.

In the day's final bout at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Hakuho, who saw his rival yokozuna win in a match just before him, unlocked Baruto's persistent clinching, ending a minutes-long deadlock at the ring center and smashed him down with a powerful overarm throw. The Estonian slipped to 7-2.

Hakuho improved to 9-0 and is tied with Asashoryu, who beat newly promoted ozeki Harumafuji.

Asashoryu overwhelmed his fellow Mongolian and shoved the ozeki out of the straw ridge. Harumafuji fell to 6-3 and is still short of a winning record to maintain his ozeki status.

In other major bouts, Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu bulldozed out No.4 maegashira Wakanosato to stay on the heels of the two leaders at 8-1. Wakanosato dipped to 4-5.

No. 12 maegashira Tochiozan was pushed out by lower-ranked Tamanoshima and suffered his first defeat, slipping to 8-1 and falling off the lead.