Prodigy Renews Shogi History

The prodigy does not know how to lose. Fourteen-year-old professional shogi player, Sota Fujii, marked new record with twenty-nine consecutive wins in official games. He kept on winning from his debut game with the oldest legend last December. While shogi fans in Japan are stunned with historical achievement of young genius, Fujii realizes his sweep as simply good lucks.

Born in Seto city, Aichi, in 2002, Fujii started enjoying shogi games in a school for shogi players. After a victory in a national tournament for elementary school kids, Fujii entered Kansai Shogi Encouragement Association in 2012, which trains players to professional level. In his age of fourteen years and two months, Fujii obtained 4^th level last October, making himself the youngest pro-shogi player ever.

His debut match was with the oldest pro, Hifumi Kato, 77 years old in the 9^th level. While the tactics for pieces was preferable for Kato, Fujii had studied well about the pattern of previous games in which Kato had lost. Kato evaluated Fujii as having his own style in which he would not lose. “Compared to past mid-school age players, Fuji is better at making tactics,” told Kato.

In an unofficial match with Yoshiharu Habu, the champion of shogi with three titles, Fujii won with steadiness both in offence and defense. In April, he renewed the record of consecutive wins from debut match, which had been eleven. He reached the record of consecutive wins in June 21^st, which was built by Hiroshi Kamiya, on 8^th level now, in 1997. “It is a good thing for shogi community that a genius overtook a record that was marked by an ordinary person with lucks,” said Kamiya.

During the remarkable advance, Fujii kept on growing as a pro shogi player. While young players are often weak in the early stages, skilled pro players recognize that Fujii is steady from the starting, finding no weak point in his games. He actually suffered from five defeats in the 3^rd level league. “I think he keeps on getting strong everyday,” told President of Japan Shogi Federation, Yasumitsu Sato.

Everything Fujii does attracts Japanese people. The same model of a blue backpack he always uses is sold out. His fans make a long line to buy the items he uses, such as folding fan. Young people order the same menu as Fujii requests for delivery, say noodle or lunch combo, during his match, hoping good fortune. As long as Fujii accumulates wins, Japan Shogi Federation can enjoy its popularity, collecting close watch on the drama of a young boy defeating adults.