Japan’s youngest professional shogi player Sota Fujii defeated Yoshiharu Habu, holder of one of the most prestigious shogi titles, in their first official face-off in a semifinal tournament match Saturday. The 15-year-old Fujii, who became a shogi sensation by setting a record of 29 consecutive professional
Japan’s youngest professional shogi player Sota Fujii defeated Yoshiharu Habu, holder of one of the most prestigious shogi titles, in their first official face-off in a semifinal tournament match Saturday.
The 15-year-old Fujii, who became a shogi sensation by setting a record of 29 consecutive professional wins last year, claimed victory over Habu, 47, in the Asahi Cup tournament in Tokyo, coming closer to becoming the youngest champion of an official tournament.
Fujii will face the winner of a match between Toshiaki Kubo, who holds the second-highest rank of eighth « dan, » and Akihito Hirose, a ninth-dan player and Osho title holder, in the final being held later Saturday, aiming to win the tournament at 15 years and 6 months.
The current record of youngest win of a tournament organized by the Japan Shogi Association is held by Hifumi Kato, who won the « Roku Go Yon Dan » tournament, predecessor of the current Kio title, in 1955 at the age of 15 years and 10 months.
Fujii, in the second-lowest rank of fifth dan, and Habu, the winner of the prestigious Ryuo title and a ninth-dan player, have only previously met in two unofficial matches, with one win apiece.
Fujii earned a spot in the semifinal match after a win over Amahiko Sato, holder of the Meijin master title, the most prestigious along with the Ryuo title currently held by Habu, in a quarterfinal match on Jan.
