Sumo Shinozeki Aonishiki wins second championship in playoff

New ozeki Aonishiki won back-to-back championships Sunday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament by defeating fourth-ranked maegashira Atamifuji in a tie-breaking playoff. The 21-year-old Ukrainian dynamo, who won November's Kyushu tournament at the third-highest rank of sekiwake, became the first ozeki debutant to lift the Emperor's Cup since Hakuho in May 2006 and the ninth in the sport's history. He finished the scheduled portion of the 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan deadlocked with Atamifuji at 12-3 after the pair entered the final day in a two-way tie for the lead. Atamifuji was first to secure his place atop the leaderboard by forcing out 16th-ranked maegashira Oshoumi (10-5) and eliminating him from the title race, along with the rest of the chasing pack of yokozuna Onosato, sekiwake Kirishima, and 12th-ranked maegashira Abi. Aonishiki forced the tiebreaker as he bounced back from his Day 14 loss to Onosato with a convincing win against fellow ozeki Kotozakura (8-7), hoisting the bigger man over the edge after seizing the momentum with a low-angle attack. In the tiebreaking bout, Atamifuji took the early initiative and bulldozed Aonishiki back toward the edge. But despite giving up 55 kilograms to his giant opponent, the Ukrainian held firm in his preferred low fighting position before sealing victory with a headlock throw.

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mdchachi said:

I'm not convinced Atamifuji touched the ground at 13:06.

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