<坂本记者樋口薰走遍将棋世界>
As a traditional summer event in the shogi world, the 7th game of the 65th Itoen Oi Chaki Championship (hosted by Tokyo Shimbun) is approaching its climax. The third match (July 30-31) took place in Tokushima City, where Fujii Aoi (22 years old) from the Seven Crown Team played as the challenger on the second day after a game lasting 3 hours and 10 minutes. Initially, Akira Watanabe (9th Dan, 40 years old) appeared to be in control, but unexpected drama unfolded. We will report on this fierce battle that many described as “an exceptional game.”
◆I noticed the tactics that Kyudan Watanabe prepared…
“How much did you think about it?” Witness Kobayashi Kenji (9th Dan, 67) expressed surprise. After the lunch break on the first day, Fujii’s deep contemplation lasted over two and a half hours, the longest he’s ever taken, yet he did not make the next move. Following three hours of thought, he took another ten minutes before finally making his next move.
Just 50 minutes after the match commenced at 9 a.m., the king began to think. This occurred after Watanabe Kyudan made a significant move, establishing a fighting style dubbed “corner river,” which is a specialty of Fujii Ooi. Initially viewed as “within expected range,” this approach of nine steps impacting each other morphed as Fujii Ooi perceived deeper implications. He gradually realized that an approach that does not align with the opponent’s moves results in a substantial disadvantage for the first player. This reflected the strategy devised by Watanabe Kyudan, known for being a “strategy expert.”
◆One difficulty after another… Daikichi Fujii cleverly overcame them
“If you employ tricks to gain an advantage, it doesn’t really matter. Even without them, you can make Fujii Daikichi use up time. It’s a two-phase strategy,” Kobayashi explained. Fujii Daikichi countered Watanabe Jiudan’s “tactics” with sharp “reading,” and the first day of the game ended in a near tie. However, the gap in remaining time was considerable, slowing the pace of the game down.
The following afternoon, Watanabe (9th Dan) threatened to alter the direction of the game, entering the final stage. The horse was approaching the ball head, suggesting that the first player was in a desperate situation. However, Fujii’s subsequent performance was thrilling.
First, he sacrificed the rook, eliminating the horse, and after overcoming one trial, another arose. From the second move onward, the rook and kōsha faced successive attacks, and the first move seemed poised for capture. Yet, an acrobatic defense emerged. If the second move was to entrap, the first move had to shift the kōsha, allowing the first move to dodge the ball, but creating a “reverse king step,” turning the second move into the king. Sensing the trap, Watanabe Kūdan commenced the first move via a different route.
Despite his valiant efforts, 9th Dan Akira Watanabe lost at Tokushima City Amusement Park.
◆ “The batting speed is the same as Shohei Ohtani’s”
At this juncture, he hit the corner and the gold ball, forcing the first ball to assume a position without receiving any. Watanabe Kyudan appeared victorious but was puzzled by a move on the board. That was “▲4 Five Silver Right” = Figure =, where silver was thrown with the foot. Astonished by this subtle move, Watanabe Kyudan held his head in disbelief. Fujii Wang then threw another silver, striking both the rook and the corner. This maneuver effectively secured the safety of his ball. Ultimately, he achieved a reversal victory through an elegant procedure, with only one piece remaining.
Intermediate Map
“When did Prince Fujii discern this complex winning strategy?” Kobayashi Kyudan inquired, perplexed. “It’s comparable to the batting speed of baseball player Shohei Ohtani. Conventional wisdom does not apply to reading Ohtani Fujii.”
◆Watanabe Kudan lightens the mood with local food
After the first game was redirected, Kudan Watanabe experienced a heartbreaking reversal in the final round. At the large commentary venue he attended immediately after the game, he humorously expressed his true feelings, stating, “I don’t know why these things keep happening,” which amused the audience. During the impression game, he continued to grumble, “I never anticipated there would be such exceptional skills.” However, that night, after indulging in the local specialty of Tokushima ramen he expressed a desire to try before the game, he seemed to shift his perspective.
The ‘Shikoku Trio’ enlivened the entire commentary session. The witness, 9th Dan Kenji Kobayashi (center), hails from Kagawa Prefecture, the deputy witness, 7th Dan Saburo Takeichi (right), is from Tokushima Prefecture, and the female 2nd Dan observer, Saori Shima, is from Yusuien City, Tokushima Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture.
On the other hand, Prince Fujii, who recorded 2 wins and 1 loss, expressed his disappointment, stating, “Though I finally discovered a method to win, the outcome was a tragedy.” ‘It is true that the battles thus far have been dominated by Watanabe Kyudan in the early and middle phases. I remain uncertain about how this No. 7 match will conclude. Please stay tuned.
* YouTube of Tokyo Shimbun and Chunichi Shimbun“Shogi Channel” provides access to the championship players’ press conferences and impression videos.
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After the interviewThis series typically does not utilize game records or symbols, but due to the artistic nature of this content, I have included images. Prince Fujii’s fighting style in the final stage was commendable, but upon realizing his defeat, Watanabe Kyudan chose to lose gracefully, opting not to alter his planned resignation. This is a beautiful record of the game created by two masters.
Tokushima scrambles for the throneThis year, in recognition of the 80th anniversary of the local Tokushima Shimbun, the event, typically held at the 5th station, was moved to the 3rd station. The game unfolded in an unusual atmosphere, filled with chants and calls of “Yattsaa” echoing through the city, alongside the preparations for the Bon Festival “Awa Odori.” The venue was the traditional restaurant “Isuien” in Tokushima City, favored by players for its Japanese garden view from the game room and its exquisite cuisine.
坂本记者樋口薰走遍将棋世界
As a traditional summer event in the shogi world, the 7th game of the 65th Itoen Oi Chaki Championship (hosted by Tokyo Shimbun) is about to reach its climax. The third game (July 30-31) held in Tokushima City, Fujii Aoi (22 years old) = Seven Crown Team on the first day and the challenger on the second day played a game lasting 3 hours and 10 minutes. When Akira Watanabe 9th Dan (40 years old) was considered to have the upper hand, drama was waiting. We will report on this fierce battle that everyone said was “a great game”.
◆I noticed the tactics that Kyudan Watanabe prepared…
Fujii Sota, who won the bid consecutively and won a great victory, won the throne of Tokushima City Water Garden
“How much did you think about it?” Witness Kobayashi Kenji 9th Dan (67) showed a surprised expression on his face. After the lunch break on the first day, Fujii’s meditation on the throne lasted more than two and a half hours, the longest time he had ever done, but he still did not move at all. After three hours of consideration, another ten minutes passed before he finally made the next move.
Just 50 minutes after the start of the match at 9 a.m., the king began to think. This is the situation where the last player, Watanabe Kyudan, walked out 7 suji in the 30th move. The fighting style is “corner river”, which is Fujii Ooi’s specialty. There is a similar example of this mechanism, which is the form of nine steps hitting each other, which was initially considered “within the expected range”. However, Fujii Ooi said that as he read deeper, he gradually realized that “the form that does not match the opponent’s steps is a huge loss for the first player”. This is exactly the strategy formulated by Watanabe Kyudan, who is known as the “strategy expert”.
◆One difficulty after another… Daikichi Fujii cleverly overcame them
“If you use tricks to gain an advantage, it doesn’t matter. Even if you don’t, you can make Fujii Daikichi buy time. It’s a two-stage strategy,” Kobayashi explained. Fujii Daikichi used “reading” to counter Watanabe Jiudan’s “tactics”, and the first day of the game ended in an almost tie. But the remaining time gap was huge, and the pace of the game slowed down.
The next afternoon, Watanabe 9th Dan threatened to change the car, and the game entered the final stage. The horse was approaching the ball head, and it seemed that the first player was in a desperate situation. However, Fujii’s performance after that was very exciting.
First the Rook was sacrificed and the Horse was eliminated, but after one tribulation, another tribulation occurred. From the second move on, the Rook and Kōsha were attacked successively, and the first move seemed to be captured. However, there was an acrobatic reception. If the second move was to get stuck, the first move had to move the Kōsha, and although the first move would escape the ball, a “reverse king step” would occur, in which the second move would become the king. Sensing the trap, Watanabe Kūdan started the first move with a different procedure.
Although 9th dan Akira Watanabe fought hard, he lost at Tokushima City Amusement Park.
◆ “The batting speed is the same as Shohei Otani’s”
This time, I hit the corner and the gold ball, and forced the first ball to a position without receiving it. Watanabe Kyudan was sure to win, but there was a mystery on the board. That was “▲4 Five Silver Right” = Figure =, throwing silver with the foot. Seeing this imperceptible move, Watanabe Kyudan held his head with both hands. Fujii Wang then threw another silver, hitting the rook and the corner. In this way, I successfully secured the safety of my ball. In the end, they won the reversal victory through the magical procedure, with only one piece left.
Intermediate Map
“When did Prince Fujii read this difficult winning procedure?” Kobayashi Kyudan asked puzzledly. “It’s the same batting speed as baseball player Shohei Ohtani. Conventional common sense does not apply to reading Ohtani Fujii.”
◆Watanabe Kudan changes your mood with local food
After the first game was redirected, Kudan Watanabe suffered a tragic reversal in the final round. At the large commentary venue he went to immediately after the game, he jokingly revealed his true feelings, saying, “I don’t know why things always happen like this,” which excited the audience. Even in the impression game, he kept complaining, “I didn’t expect there would be such great skills.” However, that night, after tasting the local delicacy Tokushima ramen that he said he wanted to try before the game, he seemed to change his mind.
The “Shikoku Trio” made the entire commentary session lively. The witness, 9th dan Kenji Kobayashi (center), is from Kagawa Prefecture, the deputy witness, 7th dan Saburo Takeichi (right), is from Tokushima Prefecture, and the female 2nd dan observer, Saori Shima, is from Yusuien City, Tokushima Prefecture, Kochi Prefecture.
On the other hand, Prince Fujii, who had a record of 2 wins and 1 loss, expressed regret, saying, “Although I finally found a way to win, the result was a dilemma.” It is true that the battle so far is still dominated by Watanabe Kyudan in the early and middle stages. I don’t know how this No. 7 match will turn out yet. Please stay tuned.
Tokushima scrambles for the throne Usually held at the 5th station, this year it was moved to the 3rd station to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the local Tokushima Shimbun. The game was held in an unusual setting, with chants and noises of “Yattsaa” echoing throughout the city, and preparations for the Bon Festival “Awa Odori” in full swing. The venue was the traditional restaurant “Isuien” in Tokushima City, which is popular among players for its Japanese garden that can be seen from the game room and its exquisite cuisine.
