Battle-worn wrestler Chiyotaikai said Wednesday he will retire from sumo in the wake of his third straight loss in the ongoing New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.

Chiyotaikai was demoted to sumo's third-highest rank of sekiwake for the current tournament after going 2-9 with four rest days in his 65th tournament as an ozeki in November.

The 33-year-old Kokonoe stable wrestler had said he would retire if he failed to get the 10 wins necessary to be promoted back to ozeki for the next tournament.

On Tuesday, Chiyotaikai was slammed onto his back in emphatic fashion by Kaio, giving the veteran ozeki his 808th win in the makuuchi division to take the top spot on the all-time list.

"Watching myself being toppled by Kaio a number of times on TV yesterday, I thought now is the time (to retire)," said Chiyotaikai. "I am glad my last bout was against Kaio."

Kaio's 808th win surpassed 807 wins recorded by former yokozuna great Chiyonofuji, now stablemaster Kokonoe.

Chiyotaikai made his professional debut at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November 1992 and was promoted to ozeki following his first career Emperor's Cup title in January 1999. He won just two more tournaments since then.

Plagued by injuries and various health problems in recent years, Chiyotaikai entered the previous Kyushu meet with his ozeki rank on the line for a record 14th time.

He will take on the sumo elder name Sanoyama as a counselor for junior wrestlers at the Kokonoe stable.