FUKUOKA (Kyodo) -- Ozeki Hoshoryu reeled off another commanding victory Monday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament as the leading pack was whittled to three wrestlers.

The Mongolian star improved to 8-1 along with fellow ozeki Kotozakura and former sekiwake Takanosho after the other overnight leader, No. 15 maegashira Onokatsu, dropped onto the second rung alongside four other wrestlers on Day 9 at Fukuoka Kokusai Center.

Hoshoryu continued to look unbeatable with a belt grip as he used his signature overarm throw to quickly dispatch No. 4 maegashira Churanoumi (2-7) and secure a winning record for the 15-day tournament.

Kotozakura needed a little longer to beat his No. 4 maegashira opponent Oshoma (2-7) but still had barely any trouble on his way to a push down.

No. 6 maegashira Takanosho thrust down eighth-ranked maegashira Roga (4-5) to seal his first winning record since July.

Onokatsu dropped down a rung on the leaderboard after his slap-down loss to 10th-ranked maegashira Takarafuji left them both at 7-2 alongside new ozeki Onosato, former sekiwake Abi and surprise March tournament winner Takerufuji.

The 24-year-old Onosato, one of the favorites for the championship in the absence of injured yokozuna Terunofuji, was on the front foot from the outset in his force-out victory over komusubi Wakamotoharu (5-4).

No. 3 maegashira Abi (7-2) continued to look like a contender as he pushed out sekiwake Daieisho (5-4), while No. 16 maegashira Takerufuji, who made headlines winning his top-division debut tourney in March, stayed in the mix by slapping down No. 12 maegashira Sadanoumi (3-6).

Sekiwake Kirishima (3-6) narrowly avoided being shoved over the straw on his way to pushing out No. 3 maegashira Atamifuji (4-5) to a fifth straight loss.