Fujii becomes youngest holder of two shogi titles

Aug 21, 2020 | News On Japan

Aug 21, 2020 (NHK) - Teenage shogi sensation Fujii Sota has become the youngest-ever holder of two major professional titles for the chess-like Japanese board game.

Fujii achieved the feat at the age of 18 years and one month by winning four straight matches in a best-of-seven series against 47-year-old Oi champion Kimura Kazuki. Fujii earned his first major title of Kisei last month.

The fourth match for the Oi title began in the western city of Fukuoka on Wednesday. Fujii absorbed an offensive by the title defender before making him concede defeat after the 80th move on Thursday.

The victory also promoted Fujii from the seventh to the eighth dan, the second-highest rank for shogi players.

The Japan Shogi Association says Fujii has broken a record that had stood for 28 years for the youngest holder of two of the eight major titles. It adds that he has also shattered a 62-year record for the youngest holder of the eighth dan.

Source: Kyodo

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