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Akira Watanabe (shogi)

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Akira Watanabe
Watanabe in 2022
Native name渡辺明
Born (1984-04-23) April 23, 1984 (age 40)
HometownKatsushika
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2000(2000-04-01) (aged 15)
Badge Number235
Rank9-dan
TeacherKazuharu Shoshi (7-dan)
Lifetime titles
Major titles won31
Tournaments won11
Meijin classA
Ryūō class1
Websites
JSA profile page
Official website

Akira Watanabe (渡辺 明, Watanabe Akira, born April 23, 1984) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former holder of the Meijin, Kisei, Ōshō, Ōza, Kiō and Ryūō titles. He is also a Lifetime Kiō and a Lifetime Ryūō title holder.

Early life

[edit]

Watanabe was born on April 23, 1984, in Katsushika, Tokyo.[1] He learned how to play shogi from his father, who was an amateur 5-dan ranked player.[2][3] He won the Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja] in 1994 as a fourth-grade student at Hokizuka Elementary School.[4] He was the first fourth-grade winner in the history of the tournament.[3]

That same year Watanabe took the entrance exam for the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school. Part of his test was a game against future women's professional Sayuri Takebe, who was member of the apprentice school at the time. The entire game was played at an extremely fast pace, with Watanabe winning in less than two minutes.[3] Watanabe passed the entrance exam and entered the apprentice school as a 6-kyū protegee of shogi professional Kazuharu Shoshi.[1]

Shogi professional

[edit]

Watanabe was promoted to the rank of professional 4-dan on April 1, 2000, at the age of 15 after winning the 26th 3-dan league (October 1999 to March 2000) with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses, thus becoming the fourth junior high school student after Hifumi Katō, Kōji Tanigawa and Yoshiharu Habu to become a shogi professional.[5]

Watanabe made his first appearance in a major title match in October 2003 when he challenged Habu for the Ōza title. Watanabe led the match 2 games to 1 before Habu won the last two games to defend his title.[6] Even though he lost the match, Watanabe was called "The man who made Habu shake" (羽生を震えさせた男, habu wo furuesaseta otoko) because Habu's hand visibly shook when making the winning move during the deciding fifth game.[2][3]

In December 2004, Watanabe won his first major title when he defeated the defending Ryūō title holder Toshiyuki Moriuchi 4 games to 3. Moriuchi was also the reigning Meijin and Ōshō title holder at the time. Watanabe was 20 years 8 months old at the time, thus making him the third youngest major title holder ever.[2][7]

In 2005, Watanabe defended his Ryūō title for the first time when he defeated challenger Kazuki Kimura 4 games to 0. As a result, Watanabe became the youngest person ever to be promoted to the rank of 9-dan at the age of twenty-one years and seven months.[3]

In March 2007, Watanabe defeated computer shogi program Bonanza to win the first JSA-sanctioned game between a computer shogi program and a top shogi professional. Bonanza was the reigning World Computer Shogi Champion, while Watanabe was the reigning Ryūō title holder.[8]

Watanabe became the first person to qualify for the Lifetime Ryūō title in December 2008 after winning the title for the fifth consecutive time. He defeated Habu (the reigning Meijin, Ōza, Ōshō, and Kisei title holder) 4 games to 3 to win the 21st Ryūō title match. Habu won the first three games, but Watanabe came back to win the final four to defend his title, and become the first player ever to win a 7-game major title match after losing the first three games. The match was billed as the "Winner Becomes the First Lifetime Ryūō Match" because a win by Habu would have been his seventh Ryūō title overall, thus making him the first Lifetime Ryūō.[9][10][11]

In 2011, Watanabe challenged Toshiaki Kubo for the 36th Kiō title, but lost the match 3 games to 1.[12] Two years later in 2013, Watanabe challenged Masataka Gōda for the 38th Kio title. Watanabe defeated Gōda to not only win his first Kiō title, but also to become only the eighth player in history to become a "3-crown": a player who simultaneously holds three major titles.[13] Watanabe successfully defended his Kiō title in 2014 against Hiroyuki Miura,[14] in 2015 against Habu,[15] in 2016 against Amahiko Satō[16] and in 2017 against Shōta Chida.[17] Watanabe's victory over Chida was his fifth consecutive over all, making him only the second player ever to qualify for the Lifetime Kiō title.[18]

In 2012–2013, Watanabe won the 62nd Ōshō Challenger League tournament with a record of 6 wins and 0 losses to advance to the title match against Yasumitsu Satō.[19] In the title match, Watanabe defeated Satō 4 games to 1 to win the Ōshō title for the first time.[20] The following year, Watanabe faced challenger Habu in the 63rd Ōshō title match, and successfully defended his title by the score of 4 games to 3.[21] Watanabe, however, was unable to defend his title for a second consecutive year when he lost the 64th Ōshō title in seven games to challenger Gōda.[22]

In November 2018, Watanabe defeated Tatsuya Sugai to win the 39th JT Nihon Series [ja]. It was Watanabe's second time winning the tournament: he won the 35th JT Nihon Series in 2014.[23] The following month he defeated Tetsurō Itodani in single game playoff to earn the right to challenge Kubo for the 68th Ōshō title.[24] Although Watanabe, Itodani and Akihito Hirose all finished the 68th Ōshō Challenger League tournament with records of 4 wins and 2 losses, only the two highest seeded players advance to a playoff per tournament rules in the event of a tie.[25] In January 2019, Watanabe became the 55th shogi professional to reach 600 career wins,[26] and in February 2019, he recaptured the Ōshō title for the 3rd time overall and the first time in five years by defeating defending champion Kubo 4 games to none.[27]

In June – July 2019, Watanabe was the challenger to Masayuki Toyoshima in the 90th Kisei title match. Toyoshima won the first game of the match, but Watanabe came back to win the next three games and capture the Kisei title for the first time. With the victory, Watanabe returned to being a 3-crown title holder.[28]

In November 2019, Watanabe defeated Hirose in the finals of the 40th JT Nihon Series to repeat as tournament champion and win the tournament's five million Japanese yen first prize.[29][30]

Watanabe successfully defended his Kiō title in January–March 2020 by defeating Kei Honda 3 games to 1 to win the 45th Kiō title match.[31]

In January – March 2020, Watanabe and Hirose met once again in the 69th Ōshō title match. Watanabe was trailing 3 games to 2 after five games, but won the next two games to defend his Ōshō title.[32]

In June – July 2020, Watanabe defended his Kisei title against Sōta Fujii, but lost the match 3 games to 1.[33] In June – August 2020, Watanabe successfully challenged for the 78th Meijin title, defeating defending Meijin title holder Toyoshima 4 games to 2 to win the Meijin title for the first time.[34]

Watanabe successfully defended his Ōshō title on March 14, 2021, by defeating challenger Takuya Nagase 4 games to 2 to win the 70th Ōshō title.[35] A few days later on March 17, Watanabe successfully defended his Kiō title by defeating challenger Itodani 3 games to 1 to win the 46th Kiō title.[36] The victory over Itodani gave Watanable his 28th major title overall and moved him into sole 4th place on list of all-time major title winners.[36] In April–June 2021, Watanabe successfully defended his Meijin title by defeating challenger Shintarō Saitō 4 games to 1 in the 79th Meijin title match.[37]

In June – July 2021, Watanabe and Fujii met for the second consecutive year in Kisei title, with Watababe being the challenger this time. Watanabe's challenge was unsuccessful and he lost the match 3 games to none.[38] The defeat also was the first time in a major titles match that Watanabe was unable to win a single game.[39]

Watanabe and Fujii began the year 2022 by facing each other yet again in the 71st Ōshō title match (January – February 2022), but Fujii won the match 4 games to none to take Watanabe's Ōshō title.[40] Watanabe was more successful in defending his Kiō title and defeated challenger Nagase 3 games to 1 to win the 47th Kiō title match in March 2022.[41] In April–May 2022, Watanabe won his third consecutive Meijin title by defeating challenger Saitō 4 games to 1 for the second year in a row in the 80th Meijin title match.[42]

Watanabe faced Fujii in the 48th Kiō title match (February–March 2023), but was unable to win the title for the eleventh consecutive time, losing the match 3 games to 1.[43] The two faced each other in the 81st Meijin title match (April–June 2023) and once again Watanabe was unable to defend his title, losing his Meijin title to Fujii 4 games to 1.[44]

In July 2024, Watanabe once again met Fujii in a major title match: this time as the challenger for the 65th Ōi title (July – August 2024); however, he lost the match 4 games to 1.[45]

Promotion history

[edit]

The promotion history for Watanabe is as follows:[46]

  • 6-kyū: 1994
  • 1-dan: 1997
  • 4-dan: April 1, 2000
  • 5-dan: April 1, 2003
  • 6-dan: October 1, 2004
  • 7-dan: October 1, 2005
  • 8-dan: November 17, 2005
  • 9-dan: November 30, 2005

Titles and other championships

[edit]

Watanabe has appeared in major title matches a total of 45 times and has won 31 major titles. He has won the Ryūō title eleven times and the Kiō ten times, thus qualifying for the Lifetime Ryūō and Lifetime Kiō titles. He has also won the Ōshō five times, the Meijin title three times, and the Ōza and Kisei titles once each.[47] In addition to major titles, Watanabe has won 11 other shogi championships during his career.[48]

Major titles

[edit]
Title Years Number of times overall
Ryūō 2004–12, 2015–16 11
Meijin 2020–22 3
Kiō 2012–21 10
Ōshō 2012–13, 2018–20 5
Ōza 2011 1
Kisei 2019 1

Other championships

[edit]
Tournament Years Number of times
Ginga-sen [ja] 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014 4
NHK Cup 2012 1
*Daiwa Securities Strongest Player Cup [ja] 2008 1
Asahi Cup Open [ja] 2012 1
JT Nihon Series [ja] 2014, 2018–19 3
Shinjin-Oh [ja] 2005 1

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Awards and honors

[edit]

Watanabe has received a number of Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards throughout his career. He has received the "Best New Player" award (2002), the "Player of the Year" award (2012 and 2019[49]), the "Excellent Player" award (2005, 2008, 2010–11, 2015, 2018,[50] 2020, 2022 and 2023[51]), the "Game of the Year" award (2008, 2011–12, 2015, 2018 and 2020), the "Fighting-spirit" award (2003 and 2006), the "Most Games Won" award (2005), the "Most Games Played" award (2010), The "Most Consecutive Games Won" award (2019) and the "Distinguished Service" award (2004).[52]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

[edit]

Watanabe has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] each year since 2004, and in the "Top 3" eighteen of those times. He was the top money winner in 2013, 2017 and 2021.

Year Amount Rank
2004 ¥24,420,000 6th[53]
2005 ¥61,940,000 3rd[54]
2006 ¥56,540,000 4th[54]
2007 ¥80,320,000 2nd[55]
2008 ¥62,520,000 2nd[56]
2009 ¥56,050,000 2nd[57]
2010 ¥62,400,000 2nd[58]
2011 ¥83,650,000 2nd[59]
2012 ¥71,970,000 2nd[60]
2013 ¥102,550,000 1st[61]
2014 ¥66,840,000 3rd[62]
2015 ¥45,770,000 3rd[63]
2016 ¥73,900,000 2nd[64]
2017 ¥75,340,000 1st[65]
2018 ¥51,190,000 3rd[66]
2019 ¥65,140,000 3rd[67]
2020 ¥80,430,000 2nd[68]
2021 ¥81,940,000 1st[69][70]
2022 ¥70,630,000 2nd[71][72]
2023 ¥45,620,000 2nd[73]

Personal life

[edit]

In May 2004, Watanabe married Megumi Ina and the couple's eldest was born during the summer that same year. Ina is the younger sister of shogi professional Yūsuke Ina and is also a comic book author. The couple met when Ina was an apprentice female shogi professional and became friends due to their shared interest in tsumeshogi.[74][75][76]

Watanabe is a fan of horse racing as well as professional soccer, even traveling to overseas venues to attend games. He obtained a Class 4 soccer referee license because of his son's interest the game and has served as head referee at some elementary school games.[74][77][78] Watanabe also started the Japan Shogi Association's futsal club.[79]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Kishi Dētabēsu: Watanabe Akira" 棋士データベース: 渡辺明 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Akira Watanabe] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Shin-Ryūō ni Hatachi no Watanabe Rokudan Sanbanme no Nenshō Kiroku" 新竜王に20歳の渡辺六段 3番目の年少記録 [New Ryuo 20-year-old Watanabe 6-dan, 3rd youngest ever to win a major title]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). December 28, 2014. Archived from the original on December 29, 2004. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 70. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved November 3, 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen Rekidai Yūshōsha Ichiran" 小学生将棋名人戦 歴代優勝者一覧 [Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: List of Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  5. ^ Shōgi Taitorusen Sanjūnenshi 1998-2013 将棋タイトル戦30年史 1998~2013年編 [30 Year History of Shogi Major Title Matches: Years 1998-2013] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 87. ISBN 978-4-8399-5097-2. Retrieved November 2, 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Dai Gojuikki Ōzasen" 第51期王座戦 [51st Oza Title Match] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  7. ^ "Taitoru Kakutoku no Neshō Kiroku" タイトル獲得の年少記録 [All-time Youngest Major Title Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. December 2004. Archived from the original on January 12, 2005. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Computer no match for the king of 'shogi'". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. March 22, 2007. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Dai Nijūikki Ryūōsen ... Watanabe Ryūō, Bōei. "Eisei Ryūō" no Shikaku wo Kakutoku" 第21期竜王戦 ... 渡辺竜王, 防衛。「永世竜王」の資格を獲得。 [21st Ryūō Tournament ... Watanabe Ryūō defends title. Qualifies for "Lifetime Ryūō" title.] (in Japanese). Igo & Shogi Channel. December 19, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  10. ^ "Dai Nijūikki Ryūōsen: Nanaban Shōbū" 第21期竜王戦:七番勝負 [21st Ryūō Title Match] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Habu Nikan ga Ryūō Chōsensha ni "Eisei Nakakan" Mezasu" 羽生二冠が竜王挑戦者に 「永世七冠」 目指す [Habu 2-crown becomes challenger for Ryūō title, aims to become the first "Lifetime 7-crown"]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). September 8, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017. 羽生二冠は2008年, 渡辺竜王を相手に「勝った方が初代永世竜王」というシリーズを戦い, 開幕3連勝を飾りながら4連敗で喫した [Habu 2-crown was also the challenger to Watanabe Ryūō in 2008 in a match which was billed as the "Winner becomes the First Lifetime Ryūō" match. Habu won the first three games, but lost the next four.]
  12. ^ "Kubo Kiō ga Sanrenpa, Watanabe Ryūō Kudasu, Shōgi・Dai Sanjūroku Kiōsen" 久保棋王が3連覇, 渡辺竜王下す 将棋・第36期棋王戦 [36th Kiō Match: Kubo Kiō defeats Watanabe Ryūō to hold title for 3rd consecutive year.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). March 18, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  13. ^ "Watanabe Ōshō ga Shijō Hachininme Sankan! Kiōi Dasshu, Sangatsu dake de Nikan" 渡辺王将が史上8人目3冠! 棋王位奪取, 3月だけで2冠 [Watanabe Ōshō captures the Kiō title to become only the 8th professional ever to simultaneously hold 3 or more major titles! Captures two major titles in March alone]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). March 25, 2013. Archived from the original on March 29, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "Watanabe Kiō ga Hatsubōei, Sanrenshō de Miura Kudan Kudasu: Kiōsen" 渡辺棋王が初防衛, 3連勝で三浦九段下す 棋王戦 [Watanabe Kiō successfully defends title for the first time. Defeats Miura 9-dan by winning 3 straight games.]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). March 16, 2014. Archived from the original on March 16, 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  15. ^ "Kiōsen, Watanabe ga Sanrenshō de Sanrenpa, Habu Yonkan o Attō" 棋王戦, 渡辺が3連勝で3連覇 羽生4冠を圧倒 [Watanabe crushes Habu 4-crown by winning three games in a row to hold Kiō title for the third consecutive year.]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  16. ^ "Kiōsen, Watanabe Kiō ga Yonrenpa" 棋王戦, 渡辺棋王が4連覇 [Watanabe wins Kiō for 4th consecutive year]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 21, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  17. ^ Yamamura, Hideki (March 27, 2017). "Watanabe Gorenpa, Eisei Kiō ni Ryuō to Nikan Iji" 渡辺5連覇, 永世棋王に 竜王と2冠維持 [Watanabe wins fifth in a row to become a Lifetime Kiō and continues to simultaneously hold two major titles]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  18. ^ "Watanabe Gorenpa, Eisei Kiō Habu ni Tsuzuki Futarime" 渡辺5連覇, 永世棋王 羽生に続き2人目 [Watanabe Wins for 5th consencutive time to become the second Lifetime Kiō (the first was Yoshiharu Habu)]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). March 28, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  19. ^ "Dai Rokujūniki Ōshōsen Chōsensha Kettei Rīgusen" 第62期王将戦 挑戦者決定リーグ戦 [62nd Ōshō Challenger League] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  20. ^ "Dai Gokyoku, Watanabe Ryūō ga Ōshō Hatsudasshu, Nikan ni" 第5局, 渡辺竜王が王将初奪取, 2冠に [Watanabe Ryu-oh wins Game 5 to capture Ōshō title for the first time and become a 2-crown]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 7, 2013. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  21. ^ Fukamatsu, Shinji (March 27, 2014). "Watanabe Ōshō ga Hatsubōei Shogi Ōshōsen, Habu Sankan Shirizokeru" 渡辺王将が初防衛 将棋王将戦, 羽生三冠退ける [Shogi Ōshō Match: Watanabe Ōshō defends title for first time, defeats Habu 3-crown]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  22. ^ "Ōshōsen, Gōda Kudan ga Saishūkyoku Sesshi Hatsu Dasshu" 王将戦, 郷田九段が最終局制し初奪取 [Ōshō Match: Goda 9 dan wins final game to capture title for the first time]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 27, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  23. ^ "Watanabe Kiō ga Nidome no Yūshō JT Puro Kōshikisen" 渡辺棋王が2度目の優勝 JTプロ公式戦 [Watanabe Kiō wins JT Nihon Series for second time]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kyodo News. November 18, 2018. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  24. ^ "Watanabe Kiō, Kubo Toshiaki Ōshō e no Chōsenken Kakutoku" 渡辺明棋王, 久保利明王将への挑戦権獲得 [Watanabe Kiō to challenge Toshiaki Kubo Ōshō for title]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). December 3, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  25. ^ "Watanabe―Itodani de Chōsensha Ketteisen Shōgi・Ōshō" 渡辺―糸谷で挑戦者決定戦 将棋・王将戦 [Ōshō challenger playoff: Watanabe vs. Itodani]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). November 29, 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  26. ^ "Watanabe Akira Kiō, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tassei" 渡辺明棋王, 600勝 (将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Akira Watanabe Kiō wins 600th official game] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. January 9, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  27. ^ "Watanabe Yonrenshō de Shin Ōshō ni Gokiburi Tsūsan Sankime no Fukui Kubo wa Mukan ni" 渡辺4連勝で新王将に 5期ぶり通算3期目の復位 久保は無冠に [Watanabe wins Ōshō title 4-0 to recapture title for the 3rd time and first time in 5 years; Kubo loses his only major title]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). February 25, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  28. ^ Murakami, Kōji (July 9, 2019). "Watanabe Akira Nikan ga Toyoshima Kisei ni Shōri Taitoru Dasshu, Sankan ni" 渡辺明二冠が豊島棋聖に勝利 タイトル奪取, 三冠に [Akira Watanabe 2-crown defeats Kisei title holder Toyoshima to capture Kisei title and become a 3-crown]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  29. ^ "Watanabe JT Hai Hasha ga Nirenpa Shōgi no JT Hai" 渡辺JT杯覇者が2連覇 将棋のJT杯 [Watanabe wins JT Cup for second year in a row]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  30. ^ "Watanabe Sankan ga V Ni JT Nihon Shirīzu" 渡辺3冠がV2 JT杯日本シリーズ [Watanabe 3-crown repeats as JT Nihon Series champion]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  31. ^ "Kiōsen, Watanabe Akira Sankan ga Hachirenpa...Honda Godan Yaburi Sanshō Ippai de Bōei" 棋王戦, 渡辺明三冠が8連覇...本田奎五段破り3勝1敗で防衛 [Akira Watanabe 3-crown defeats Honda 5-dan to defend title and win the Kiō title for the eighth consecutive time]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  32. ^ Yamamura, Hideki (March 26, 2020). "Sokojikara, Nebari, Kōka na Seme Ōshō Bōei no Watanabe Shigatsu kara Zensho de Chōsen Kimeta Meijinsen e Hazumi ni" 底力, 粘り, 果敢な攻め 王将防衛の渡辺 4月から全勝で挑戦決めた名人戦へ弾みに [Digging deep and showing resourceful, effective attacking, Watanabe defends his Ōshō to pick up some momentum as he challenges for the Meijin title starting this April]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  33. ^ "Japanese shogi prodigy Sota Fujii becomes youngest to win major title". Kyodo News. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  34. ^ "Watanabe Ōshō ga Hatsu no Meijin-i Dashu 「Jikkan wa Nai」 Jiko Saita Tai Sankan ni Fukki" 渡辺明王将が初の名人位奪取 「実感はない」 自己最多タイ3冠に復帰 [Watanabe Ōshō captures first Meijin title and says "it doesn't seem real"; returns to 3-crown status to tie his personal best.]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  35. ^ "Ōshōsen, Watanabe ga Sanrenpa Shōgi" 王将戦, 渡辺が3連覇 将棋 [Watanabe wins Ōshō for third consecutive time.]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Kyodo News. March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  36. ^ a b Murakami, Kōji (March 17, 2021). "Shōgi・Watanabe Akira Kiō ga Kyūrenpa Taitoru Kautoku Rekidai Tandoku Yon'i" 将棋・渡辺明棋王が9連覇 タイトル獲得歴代単独4位に [Akira Watanabe Kiō successfully defends his Kiō title for ninth consecutive time; moves into sole 4th place on the list of all-time major title winners.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved March 18, 2021.
  37. ^ Yamamura, Hideki (May 29, 2021). "Watanabe Akira Meijin ga Hatsu Bōei Yonshō Ippai de Saitō Shintarō Hachidan Kudasu" 渡辺明名人が初防衛 4勝1敗で斎藤慎太郎八段降す [Akira Watanabe Meijin successful in first Meijin title defense; defeats Shintarō Saitō 4 games to 1]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  38. ^ "Fujii Nikan ga Kisei Hatsu Bōei Sanrenshō de Sainenshō Kiroku Kōshin―Jūhassai, Hatsu no Kudan ni" 藤井二冠が棋聖初防衛 3連勝で最年少記録更新―18歳, 初の九段に [Fujii 2-crown successful in first title defense of Kisei title; wins match 3–0 to become the youngest person (and the first 18-year-old) to be promoted to the rank of 9-dan]. Jiji Press (in Japanese). July 3, 2021. Archived from the original on July 3, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
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  66. ^ "Habu Yoshiharu Kudan ga Ninenburi Ichi'i Nisenjūhachinen Kakutoku Shōkin・Taikyokuryō Besuto Jū" 羽生善治九段が2年ぶり1位 2018年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2018 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10: Yoshiharu Habu 9d reclaims top position after two years] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
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