Official News Release

The fourth game of the 69th Osaka Osho Cup Osho Tournament seven-game match, where Hirose Akihito 8-Dan is challenging Watanabe Akira Osho, will be held in Hotel Kagetsuen in Hakone, Kanagawa prefecture on February 20 and 21.

Watanabe won the first and third games, while Hirose won the second game.
The result of the fourth game has become very important — will Watanabe “check the king” to defend his Osho title, or will Hirose get closer to grabbing the title?

This is the defending match for Watanabe, who came back as Osho for the third time last year.
For Hirose, this is his first challenge to the Osho title.

Watanabe and Hirose have played 29 official games so far, with Watanabe winning 17-12.

The seven-game match of the Osaka Osho Cup Osho Tournament will be broadcast live on The Mainichi, the Osho Tournament live reporting blog and the Japan Shogi Association’s broadcasting app for smartphones.

The games will also be broadcast live on Shogi Premium (*paid registration required).

The long gone 81Ou league is back!
As the veteran users of 81dojo know, 81Ou means the King of 81dojo.
You can find more information about the tournament on this page: 81Ou League
(you need to be logged in to apply)

Nishiyama Tomoka, the only female player in the Shoreikai 3-Dan League at the moment, won two games in the 66th 3-Dan league on February 16, 2020. As a result, she is now ranked 3rd in the league. Depending on the result of the two remaining games for the league, which are scheduled to take place on March 7, there is a possibility that Nishiyama will become the first-time ever female professional player in shogi history.

The second game of the 45th Kio Tournament five-game match, where Honda Kei 5-Dan is challenging Watanabe Akira Kio, was held at Utsunomiya Grand Hotel in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture on February 16. Honda beat Watanabe in 97 moves and gained his first win.

If Honda wins the match, he will be the Kio for the first time, and the Kio will be his first title.

The third game will take place at Niigata Grand Hotel in Niigata, Niigata prefecture on March 1.

The five-game match of the Kio Tournament will be broadcast live on Niconico Live, Abema TV, the Kio Tournament live reporting website and the Japan Shogi Association’s broadcasting app for smartphones.

Shogi Hub volunteers met for the first time in Shogi Cafe "Cobin" in Tokyo.
Our team had a chance to get to know each other face to face, and to share our passion for shogi promotion abroad. We hope to improve ShogiHub with our new ideas!

　Saito Shintaro 7-Dan, aged 26, has been promoted to 8-Dan by winning the game described below.

Date of promotion:

February 13, 2020

Game:

The 78th B1-class Meijin ranking tournament
(Opponent: Akutsu Chikara 8-Dan)

Promotion criteria met:

Being promoted to A-class in the Meijin ranking tournament

The third game of the 69th Osaka Osho Cup Osho Tournament seven-game match, where 8-Dan Hirose Akihito is challenging Osho Watanabe Akira, was held at Hotel Kagetsu in Otawara, Tochigi prefecture on February 8 and 9. Watanabe beat Hirose with 145 moves and gained his second win.

If Watanabe wins two more games and wins the match, he will hold the Osho title for the fourth time.

The fourth game will be held at Hotel Kagetsuen in Ashigarashimo, Kanagawa prefecture on February 20 and 21.

The seven-game match of the Osaka Osho Cup Osho Tournament will be broadcast live on The Mainichi, the Osho Tournament live reporting blog and the Japan Shogi Association’s broadcasting app for smartphones.
The games will also be broadcast live on Shogi Premium (*paid registration required).

The list below represents the top 10 shogi prize money and game fee leaders for 2019.

Top 10 Shogi Prize Money and Game Fee Leaders for 2019

From January 1 to December 31, 2019
*The prize and fees for 2018 are shown in brackets.

Rank	Player	Prize and Fees (Unit: ten thousand JPY)	Rank in 2018
1	Toyoshima Masayuki Ryuo, Meijin	7,157 (4,722)	4
2	Hirose Akihito 8-Dan	6,984 (2,802)	5
3	Watanabe Akira Kio, Osho, Kisei	6,514（5,119）	3
4	Nagase Takuya Eio, Oza	4,678 (1,382)	18
5	Habu Yoshiharu 9-Dan	3,999 (7,552)	1
6	Sato Amahiko 9-Dan	3,687 (5,999)	2
7	Kimura Kazuki Oi	3,209 (1,057)	27
8	Kubo Toshiaki 9-Dan	2,178 (2,598)	7
9	Fujii Souta 7-Dan	2,108 (2,031)	12
10	Saito Shintaro 7-Dan	1,868 (2,393)	8

Remarks:

• Ryuo and Meijin Toyoshima ranked No.1 for the first time.
• Satomi Kana Ladies Quadruple crown winner ranked first among all the female players.

The first game of the 45th Kio Tournament five-game match, where 5-Dan Honda Kei is challenging Kio Watanabe Akira, was held at Hokkoku Shimbun Kaikan in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture on February 1. Watanabe beat Honda with 95 moves and gained his first win.

If Watanabe wins the match, he will hold the Kio title for eight cosecutive terms.

The second game will take place at Utsunomiya Grand Hotel in Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture on February 16.

The five-game match of the Kio Tournament will be broadcast live on Niconico Live, Abema TV, the Kio Tournament live reporting website and the Japan Shogi Association’s broadcasting app for smartphones.

Translated by Kaoruko Sasaki0