TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Unheralded front-runner Kinbozan maintained his lead Wednesday at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament with a stunning upset against ozeki Onosato.

The No. 14 maegashira from Kazakhstan improved to 10-1, a win clear of his nearest rival, No. 3 maegashira Oho, on Day 11 of the 15-day meet at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Facing Onosato (7-4) for the first time in the elite makuuchi division, Kinbozan drove the two-time Emperor's Cup winner back with a thrusting attack to the neck and upper body before toppling him with a frontal thrust down.

"I had to stay focused to beat an ozeki opponent," said Kinbozan, who returned to makuuchi after winning the second-tier juryo championship in November. "I feel in pretty good shape. I want to win my first championship and will focus on continuing to fight the way I did today."

Oho (9-2) took sole possession of second place and strengthened his candidacy for a maiden promotion to the three sanyaku ranks below yokozuna by pushing out No. 12 maegashira Onokatsu (6-5).

Rank-and-file wrestlers Takerufuji and Chiyoshoma dropped from the second rung of the leaderboard at 8-3 after tasting defeat against high-ranking opponents.

Mongolian No. 5 maegashira Chiyoshoma (8-3) was crushed out after giving up an early belt grip to ozeki countryman Hoshoryu (8-3), who is hoping to become sumo's newest yokozuna in the wake of the mid-tournament retirement of sole grand champion Terunofuji.

No. 11 maegashira Takerufuji (8-3) also missed the chance to close the gap on Kinbozan as he was driven out by sekiwake Daieisho (7-4). No. 1 maegashira Kirishima joined Hoshoryu, Chiyoshoma and Takerufuji on the third rung of the leaderboard at 8-3 after crushing out No. 10 maegashira Tamawashi (6-5).

Kotozakura (5-6) moved closer to a winning record needed to avoid demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki status at the next meet by pushing out komusubi Wakatakakage (5-6).

Sekiwake Wakamotoharu (3-8), Wakatakakage's older brother, faces a drop from sanyaku after his thrust-out defeat to No. 6 maegashira Takayasu (7-4) left him with a losing record for the tournament.