The 82nd Meijin title match, Game 1 (Meijin Sota Fujii vs. 9-dan Masayuki Toyoshima)

The first game of the 82nd Meijin title match, in which Meijin Sota Fujii is being challenged by 9-dan Toyoshima Masayuki, kicked off on April 10th and 11th (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. On April 11th, I was able to cover the second day of the heated Meijin title match.

Meijin Fujii Sota's great comeback that will go down in the history of shogi
A student journalist's view of the pressure of the Meijin tournament

The Meijin title match is played over two days, with each player having nine hours to play each game. The first player to win four games wins the title of Meijin.

Fujii Meijin has monopolized all eight major titles in shogi, making him the pinnacle of the shogi world with an unprecedented eight crowns. Meanwhile, Toyoshima 9-dan is one of the most representative players in the world of shogi, having previously held the Ryuo and Meijin titles, two of the most prestigious titles in the world, at the same time. He has won 11 official matches against Fujii Meijin to date, making him the player with the most wins. What kind of game records will emerge from the seven-game match between these two?

The game started with a creative move by Toyoshima 9-dan. He deviated from the standard pattern and entered an unprecedented and unknown situation on the 21st move. Neither player gave in, and the first day ended with the situation evenly matched, and the second day began.

The heated battle continued on the second day, and night fell with the situation still evenly matched. Neither player backed down, and a fierce, fierce battle was unfolding. As the players in the waiting room considered the outcome of the match, they heard the words "Best Game Award," which is given to the best game of the year. As the game progressed, Toyoshima 9-dan's counter exploded. In the players' opinion in the waiting room, Toyoshima 9-dan was in the lead. The match was decided. However, the drama was just beginning.

On the 122nd move, Toyoshima 9-dan had a move that would have blocked Fujii Meijin's king's escape route and brought him closer to victory. However, Toyoshima 9-dan chose a different move. Suddenly, screams erupted from the players in the review room. This move was a fatal mistake that would have resulted in a loss. The scary thing about shogi is that a single mistake can turn the game around. Fujii Meijin did not miss Toyoshima 9-dan's mistake and cornered him. This was a major reversal for Fujii Meijin, and Toyoshima 9-dan resigned.

In a post-match interview, Fujii, who won the first match, said, "I think I was under pressure for a long period of time, so I want to reflect on that and carry it over to the next game." Toyoshima, who lost, reflected, "I had a little bit of time, so I should have thought it through more," and regretted playing the 122nd move without any time to think about it, which led to his loss. Regarding the second game, which will be held on the 23rd and 24th, he stated his determination to "prepare thoroughly and take on the challenge." Toyoshima, who is aiming to regain his Meijin title against Fujii, who holds all eight major titles, will defend his Meijin title and further solidify his eight titles. Or will Toyoshima take the Meijin title and break Fujii's reign as the only player with eight titles? Don't take your eyes off this nail-biting seven-game series.

■ Impressions from the interview

This interview was a dream come true. As a big shogi fan who regularly reads shogi books and visits the Shogi Hall and shogi events, being able to cover a title match in the match room was an unreal and incredibly rewarding experience. I felt the tense atmosphere of a title match and the pressure of a Meijin match up close. The scary and fascinating thing about shogi is that a single mistake can reverse the outcome of a match. Through this game, where Meijin Fujii made a dramatic comeback in the final stage, I was able to once again experience the charm of shogi, where you never know what will happen until the very end.

It was also very interesting to see the players and teachers discussing the game in the review room. In contrast to the tense atmosphere in the game room, it was very impressive to see the players and teachers discussing the game in a friendly atmosphere. It was an interview that allowed me to experience the various charms of shogi from every angle.

Interview: Yoshikazu Kamei, third-year student at Chuo University

Photo courtesy of the Japan Shogi Association