Official News Release

Kimura Kazuki 9-Dan, won his first title to surpass the record of the oldest Shogi player wining a major title for the first time.  At the 7th game of the 60th Ōi tournament held in Toshi Center Hotel in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo on 25th and 26th of September 2019, the challenger Kimura 9-Dan defeated the 59th title holder Toyoshima Masayuki Ōi, with the win‐loss record of 4 - 3.
As the result of this match, Kimura Ōi won his first title at the age of 46 and 3 months, and broke the record of the oldest Shogi player winning the first major title.

Kimura Ōi, Career statistics (as of September 26th, 2019)

Total of 1019 games*, 647 Wins and 371 Losses, 0.636 winning percentage (*Including one impasse at a title tournament match）

27th Gingasen Tournament final game Toyoshima Masayuki Meijin vs Watanabe Akira 3-Crown was broadcasted and Toyosima Meijin won the game and title.

The final game will be broadcasted again on 1st October (Tue) at Igo-Shogi Channel.

◆27th Gingasen Tournament chart

（From Gingasen Page）

On September 17th, Japan Shogi Association accepted application into "Professional Admission Test" from Shogo Orita, an amateur player of shogi. Orita won a match played on August 30th, which makes his score against professional players 10 wins and 2 losses, fulfilling the criteria to take the "Professional Admission Test". According to the provision below, the exam matches will take place once every month from November. The exam date and place of the 3rd match (and if happens those of 4th & 5th) will be determined later by arranging schedules of Orita and the examiners.

【Provisions of Professional Admission Test, set by Japan Shogi Association】

Exam Dates

Starts two months after the application is accepted, one match a month

Exam Site

”Tokyo Shogi Hall” or “Kansai Shogi Hall” in principle

Qualification

・Amateur player or Ladies pro player wishing to become a pro, who currently has been winning 10 or more
matches in professional official tournaments during his/her best performance span, AND has a winning rate of 0.650 or more
・Player who has a referral from a regular member (shogi professional) with 4-Dan or higher

Exam Details

Series of 5 matches against professional players (Five examiners will be selected from the newest 4-Dan players by player numbers)

　　*Thinking time of 3 hours
　　*The matches shall be subject to the official match rules of Japan Shogi Association
　　*Piece toss to decide the first mover (Sente) for the 1st match, then alternate the player at every match
　　*Winning 3 out of 5 earns an eligibility to enroll into the Free Class of Junisen
　　*Applicant who passed the trial will be 4-Dan as of April 1st or October 1st, whichever comes earlier

【Profile of Orita Shogo】

・Home Town: Osaka
・Born on October 28th, 1989
・Master: Moriyasu Masayuki 7-Dan
・Enrolled in Shoreikai with 6-Kyu in 2004 (as Moriyasu's pupil), withdrawn as 3-Dan in 2016

【Examiners and Match Dates】

	Examiner	Exam Date (starts at 10AM)	Exam Site
1	Kuroda Takayuki 4-Dan	November 25th (Monday)	Kansai Shogi Hall
2	Deguchi Wakamu 4-Dan	December 23rd (Monday)	Kansai Shogi Hall
3	Yamamoto Hiroshi 4-Dan	Undecided
4	Honda Kei 4-Dan	Undecided
5	Ikenaga Takashi 4-Dan	Undecided

　Due to the recent increasing inquiries to both Japan Shogi Association (JSA) and each sponsor of Shogi tournaments regarding use of Kifu (game records), JSA and sponsors had discussions and agreed as follows.

"Request Regarding Use of Kifu"
　Any Kifu generated during the tournaments held by JSA and sponsors are assets of these parties. Any unauthorized use of Kifu may compromise such assets. Should you wish to use Kifu (including their position diagrams) for any purposes beyond personal use, such as providing them for commercial purpose, please let us know in advance via the form below.

JSA and each tournament organizer will continuously discuss use of Kifu.

Click here to request use of Kifu inquiry form.

After the match, Tanigawa 9-Dan said, “I feel a profound sense of achievement to have tied and surpassed Mr. Kato’s record.” He also added, “Instead of looking at my next milestone, I’d rather seek the truth of shogi and enjoy going through the tough games against younger players.”

Hatakeyama Mamoru 7-Dan (50 years old) has been promoted to 8-Dan, winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

September 12th, 2019

Game

78th Meijin Tournament, Junisen B1 class
（opponent: Saito Shintaro Oza）

Ground of promotion

190 wins in official tournaments since becoming 7-Dan

Yokoyama Hiroaki 6-Dan (38 years old) has been promoted to 7-Dan, winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

September 11th, 2019

Game

78th Meijin Tournament, Junisen B2 class
（opponent: Kubota Yoshiyuki 7-Dan）

Ground of promotion

150 wins in official tournaments since becoming 6-Dan

Following Watanabe Kazushi, whose promotion to 4-Dan has been decided before, Ishikawa Yuta 3-Dan's promotion has also been decided on Saturday, September 7th, after playing the 19th game of the 65th Shoureikai 3-Dan League (April 2019 to September 2019). The final results were 16 wins 2 losses for Watanabe 3-Dan, 13 wins 5 loses for Ishikawa 3-Dan. They will become 4-Dan on October 1st, 2019. The 3rd player in the league was Koga Yusei 3-Dan, 13 wins 5 loses.

Watanabe Kazushi　 Professional Player ID　319

Date of birth

October 6th, 1994 (24 years old)

Hometown

Shinjuku, Tokyo

Pupil of

7-Dan Toyokawa Takahiro

Enrollment in Shoureikai

February 2008

Enrollment in 3-Dan League

October 2013 (from the 54th league)

Favorite strategy

Bishop Exchange

Hobby

Playing Basketball

Background of starting playing shogi

Learned from his father when he was 5 years old.

Comment

I am glad to finish the league with a victory. I will do my best.

Ishikawa Yuta　 Professional Player ID　320

Date of birth

November 11th, 1994 (24 years old)

Hometown

Kawagoe-cho Mie-gun, Mie

Pupil of

7-Dan Mori Nobuo

Enrollment in Shoureikai

September 2006

Enrollment in 3-Dan League

April 2013 (from the 53th league)

Favorite strategy

3rd-file rook

Hobby

Watching Japanese anime

Background of starting playing shogi

Watched his father and grandfather playing shogi when he was 6 years old.

Comment

I thought I missed my chance again when I lost the first game. I feel very lucky for my promotion.

Sanmaido Tatsuya 6-Dan (26 years old) has been promoted to 7-Dan, winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

September 4th, 2019

Game

32th Ryuou Ranking Tournament, 3rd Group, Advancing Player Deciding Match
(opponent: Namekata Hisashi 8-Dan）

Ground of promotion

Ryuou Ranking Tournament Consecutive Advancement

Kato Yuria Ladies 1-Kyu（16 years old）has been promoted to Ladies 1-Dan, winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

August 25th, 2019

Game

27th Oyama Meijin Cup, Kurashiki Tournament
（opponent: Idoh Chihiro Ladies 2-Dan）

Ground of promotion

Kurashiki Tournament Best 4