TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Mongolian ozeki Hoshoryu earned his second Emperor's Cup and promotion to yokozuna Sunday by winning the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in a thrilling three-way championship playoff against rank-and-file wrestlers Kinbozan and Oho.

The 25-year-old nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu is set to become the sport's sole grand champion following the mid-tournament retirement of Terunofuji, with the Japan Sumo Association's Yokozuna Deliberation Council scheduled to meet Monday to give its approval to the promotion.

The 15-day tournament at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena needed a tiebreaker after No. 3 maegashira Oho defeated No. 14 maegashira Kinbozan, the sole overnight leader, leaving the pair deadlocked at 12-3.

Hoshoryu then booked his place in the playoff by forcing out beleaguered fellow ozeki Kotozakura (5-10) in the final regulation bout to also finish 12-3. The Mongolian technician had his initial throw attempt thwarted but quickly regrouped for an overpowering win.

Kotozakura, who also came into the tournament as a yokozuna promotion candidate after his championship in November, must contest the next meet as a demotion-threatened "kadoban" ozeki.

Hoshoryu blew away Kinbozan in the first playoff bout, getting an inside position with his opening charge and manhandling the maegashira out of the ring.

The second playoff match was a trickier affair, with Oho denying Hoshoryu his favored grip and locking into a stalemate before the ozeki wrenched the rank-and-filer off balance and toppled him with a frontal crush out to seal the title.

Hoshoryu, who won his previous top-division championship in July 2023, put himself in contention for yokozuna promotion with a 13-2 runner-up performance at the November meet won by Kotozakura.

"On the last day of the previous tournament, I promised myself that I would really get it done this time at the January tournament," said Hoshoryu, whose title bid looked shaky after back-to-back losses on the eighth and ninth days.

"This was a tournament for getting to yokozuna, but each day I wanted to stay focused and have the results follow. My stablemaster told me to have fun and to enjoy the bouts, and that was really encouraging."

The 27-year-old Kinbozan was aiming to become the first wrestler from Kazakhstan to win an elite makuuchi division championship. His unexpected title challenge included victories against ozeki Kotozakura and Onosato, who went on to finish 10-5 with an easy defeat of No. 4 maegashira Ura (7-8).

Oho, the 24-year-old grandson of former yokozuna Taiho, looks certain for his first promotion to the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna after narrowly missing out on his maiden Emperor's Cup.

"Hoshoryu came up with the best performance," Japan Sumo Association chief Hakkaku said. "I'm sure he felt pressure as an ozeki, but his mental strength made the difference."

"Oho did well, too. He's had his feet on the ground since several tournaments ago. He looks really focused."

Sekiwake Daieisho wrapped up a solid 11-4 performance by thrusting out komusubi Abi, whose 7-8 record will see him back among the rank-and-file at the next meet. Komusubi Wakatakakage (7-8) will also drop from sanyaku after getting slapped down by No. 6 maegashira Ichiyamamoto (8-7).

Ten-time Emperor's Cup winner Terunofuji dropped a bombshell by announcing his retirement on the sixth day after the latest tournament withdrawal of his injury-plagued career.