Photo/Illutration Ozeki Takakeisho slaps down Atamifuji to the dohyo in a playoff at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament held at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sept. 24. (Ikuro Aiba)

Ozeki Takakeisho clinched his fourth career title with a come-from-behind victory over rank-and-file Atamifuji in a playoff at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo on Sept. 24.

Takakeisho, 27, slapped down Atamifuji, maegashira No. 15, to the dohyo on the final day at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Takakeisho entered Day 15 with 10 wins and 4 losses, trailing one win behind Atamifuji.

After Atamifuji lost to Asanoyama, who once climbed to the second-highest rank of ozeki, Takakeisho defeated sekiwake Daieisho and tied with Atamifuji.

Takakeisho last won his championship at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in January.

He has often been sidelined from tournaments due to injuries. He faced losing his ozeki rank if he failed to win eight or more bouts in this tournament.

Atamifuji turned 21 on Sept. 3 and would have become the fourth-youngest wrestler to take his first championship had he prevailed in the playoff.

He takes his ring name from his native city of Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture.

He made his professional debut in the 2020 November tournament while he was still a high school student.

When Day 14 ended, Daieisho, along with rank-and-filers Takayasu and Hokuseiho, was tied with Takakeisho with a 10-4 record, and they all had a chance to win the tournament after Atamifuji lost.

But Takayasu lost to ozeki Kirishima and Hokuseiho was defeated by ozeki Hoshoryu on the final day.

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