A suspected pro shogi player was released
from penalty of suspension from competition. A third party committee for
investigation of cheating in a title match, launched by Japan Shogi
Association, concluded that they could not find a hard evidence of Hiroyuki Miura
with ninth stage using computer software while he had been on a match.
Artificial intelligence made so great progress that even the professionals of
Japanese chess were dependant on advanced computer technology.
JSA issued a decision in October for Miura
to suspend his challenge against Ryuo title, which was held by Akira Watanabe,
raising a suspect of using software for shogi while he was leaving several
times during a match. Opponents of Miura had been feeling odd about his
behavior during matches for previous months and appealed that Miura’s moves of
piece were similar to the choices of software. JSA then started investigation
through third party organization.
The committee researched how Miura’s moves
were close to computer’s choices. As the result, matching ratio of Miura’s move
to software’s choice was not so high as that of other players. It also denied
an allegation of thirty minutes of leaving seat during a match. Investigation
on Miura’s smart phone or personal computers did not find any trace of cheating.
Miura has been arguing that he did nothing
wrong. “I am sorry for making my supporters worried about the scandal,” said
Miura in his press conference on Tuesday. “I hope the association to guarantee
resumption of my status before the scandal. Although some pro players had
suspect on me, I as a competitor hope to return to matches not affected by
sentiment,” added Miura.
The cunning scandal was proved to be made
with baseless suspect. However, if JSA leave the suspect and continue the title
match for Ryuo, credibility for one of the most popular professional board game
must have been seriously damaged. The committee realized that the suspension
from competition was inevitable. It is necessary for the association to regain
honor of Miura as soon as possible.
Computer technology on shogi is sophisticated
so fast. While Miura was on the top rank of pro shogi player, he lost in a
match against computer in 2013. Appalled by fast progress of computer, pro shogi
players are getting skeptical about human ability. Champion of a major title is
awarded tens of millions of yen. So, cunning will be serious problem hereafter.
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