Sōta Fujii

Sōta Fujii (藤井 聡太, Fujii Sōta, born July 19, 2002 in Seto, Aichi) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is the current holder of the Kisei title. He is the youngest person[lower-alpha 1] to be awarded professional status by the Japan Shogi Association and one of only five players to become professional while still a junior high school student.

Sōta Fujii
Fujii in 2018
Native name藤井聡太
Born (2002-07-19) July 19, 2002
HometownSeto, Aichi
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusOctober 1, 2016(2016-10-01) (aged 14)
Badge Number307
Rank7-dan
TeacherMasataka Sugimoto (8-dan)
Current titles heldKisei
Major titles won1
Tournaments won3
Meijin classB2
Ryūō class3
Websites
JSA profile page

Since becoming a professional, Fujii has broken a number of professional shogi records including being the youngest player to win a professional shogi tournament, the youngest player to challenge for a major title and the youngest player to win a major title. He also won his first 29 games as a professional to set a new record for most consecutive games won.

Early life

Fujii was born in Seto, Aichi on July 19, 2002.[1] His mother was a homemaker and his father was a company employee. He learned shogi at age 5 after being given a shogi set by his grandmother and started out playing games with his grandfather. Eventually he became too strong for his grandfather, so he started taking formal lessons at a neighborhood shogi school. As an elementary school student first-grade student, he began playing games against junior high school and senior high school students to test his skill.[2]

Fujii's intense focus surprised his mother and his competitive spirit often led to crying outbursts when he lost. As a second-grade student, he got the opportunity to play a game against shogi professional Kōji Tanigawa as part of a simultaneous exhibition at a shogi event in Nagoya. Due to time limitations, Tanigawa offered Fujii a draw even though Fujii had a losing position. Upset by the offer, Fujii flipped the board and pieces, and then began crying until his mother came to take him away from the board.[2][3]

Fujii was seven years old when met his future professional shogi mentor Masataka Sugimoto 7-dan for the first time. Sugimoto was amazed by the "marvelous perspective" and "insight" Fujii showed at such a young age and says that he is "the personification of fighting spirit" who "takes the frustration of defeat and directs it at the next match".[2][4]

Shogi apprentice professional

Fujii officially entered the shogi professional apprentice school as a 10-year-old under the sponsorship of Sugimoto with the rank of 6-kyū in September 2012.[4] He became the youngest person ever to be promoted to 3-dan in October 2015 at the age of 13 years 2 months.[5] Fujii competed in the "59th 3-dan league" with other 3-dan ranked apprentices from April to September 2017 and finished in first place with a 13-5 record to win promotion to the rank of professional 4-dan.[6][7] He was only the eighth 3-dan player to be promoted to professional status after only one season in the "3-dan league" since 1987.[8] Fujii's promotion to full professional status by the JSA became official on October 1, 2017.[9]

Shogi professional

Fujii's debut game as a professional was on December 24, 2016, and he defeated 76-year-old Hifumi Katō. Katō was at the time the oldest active shogi professional, and the age gap of 62 years and 6 months between the two players broke the previous record of 58 years and 7 months set in 1986 when 15-year-old Yoshiharu Habu played 74-year-old Seiichi Kobori.[10][11]

On April 4, 2017, Fujii defeated Hiroshi Kobayashi to win his 11th straight game since turning professional and break the previous record of 10 jointly held by Yoshiyuki Matsumoto and Masakazu Kondō.[12][13]

Fujii won his 13th game in a row when he defeated Shōta Chida in the round one of the 67th NHK TV Shogi Tournament on April 17, 2017. The game result was posted the same day on the Japan Shogi Association's official website,[14] even though the game was not broadcast on NHK-E until May 14, 2017. This is something which was highly unusual because NHK tournament games are pre-recorded, and game results are not made public until the game is actually broadcast.[15]

Fujii became the fastest professional to reach 50 wins in official games on November 21, 2017, when he defeated Shingo Hirafuji. Fujii achieved his 50th win in his 56th official game in just ten months and twenty-nine days since his professional debut, surpassing the previous record held by Habu, who won his 50th game in his 66th game and took one year and two months.[16][17]

Fujii's first official game against a reigning major title holder came on January 14, 2018, when he defeated Meijin Amahiko Satō in the quarterfinals of the 11th Asahi Cup Open.[18]

On February 1, 2018, Fujii defeated Hirotaka Kajiura in a Meijin Class C2 game to improve his league record to 9 wins and no losses and ensure his promotion to Meijin Class C1 in April 2018. Fujii's promotion to Class C1 also meant his promotion to the rank of 5-dan, thus making him the first junior high school student to ever be awarded the rank.[19]

Fujii became the youngest player to win a professional shogi tournament on February 17, 2018, when he defeated Akihito Hirose in the final of the 11th Asahi Cup Open. Fujii advanced to the final by defeating the reigning Ryūō and Kisei title holder Yoshiharu Habu in the semi-finals held earlier that same day. Fujii's victory at age 15 years and 6 months broke the previous record of 15 years and 10 months set by Hifumi Katō in 1955. Fujii's victory also meant automatic promotion to the rank of 6-dan, thus making him the youngest player to ever be awarded such a rank by breaking the previous record (also held by Katō) of 16 years and 3 months.[20][21][22]

On March 15, 2018, Fujii defeated Tatsuya Sanmaidō to finish Class 2 play undefeated at 10 wins and no losses. Fujii became the first player in six years to finish Class 2 play undefeated. The victory was Fujii's 15th in a row, which made him the holder of the two longest consecutive winning streaks for the 2017 shogi season.[23] Fujii's victory was also his 60th victory overall in a single year which made him not only the 4th player ever to reach 60 wins, but also the youngest player ever to do so.[24][lower-alpha 2]

On March 28, 2018, Fujii played his final game as a junior high school student and of the 2017 shogi season when he faced Keita Inoue in a third round preliminary round game for the 68th Ōshō Tournament. The game was broadcast live by the Igo & Shogi Channel as part of its "Shogi Premium" service.[25] Inoue won the game in 137 moves, thus becoming the first player aged 50 or older to defeat Fujii in an official game. Inoue's victory also stopped Fujii's 16 game winning streak.[26] Fujii's winning streak began after a loss to on Takahiro Ōhashi on January 6, 2018, and included wins over the reigning Meijin title holder Satō, the reigning Ryūō title holder Habu, former Ōshō title holder Hirose, former Ryūō title holder Tetsurō Itodani as well as his first official game against his mentor Sugimoto.[27][28][29]

Fujii became the youngest player to be promoted to 7-dan when he defeated Kōhei Funae on May 18, 2018. Fujii's win in the championship game for Ryūō Class 5 meant that he achieved Ryōū ranking class promotion for two consecutive years, thus satisfying the promotion criteria for 7-dan. Fujii's record of reaching 7-dan at age 15 years 9 months broke the previous record of 17 years 3 months set by Hifumi Katō in 1957.[30][31]

In October 2018, Fujii won his second shogi championship when he defeated apprentice professional Wakamu Deguchi 3-dan 2 games to none to win the 49th Shinjin-Ō tournament. Fujii's victory made him the youngest player ever to win the tournament at 16 years and 2 months, breaking the 31-year-old record of 17 years and 0 months set by Toshiyuki Moriuchi in 1987.[32]

Fujii at age 16 became the youngest player to win 100 official games as a professional on December 12, 2018. Fujii's victory also made him the fastest (two years and two months since turning professional) to achieve such a result, and his winning percentage of .847 (100 wins and 18 losses) is also the highest of any player to have previously won 100 games.[33]

On January 8, 2019, Fujii defeated Eisaku Tomioka in Mejin Class C1 league play. The win was Fujii's 18 consecutive win in Meijin League play since debuting as a shogi professional which tied the record set by Makoto Nakahara 52 years earlier.[34] Fujii, however, was defeated by Seiya Kondō in his next league game on February 5, 2019, to end the winning streak.[35]

In February 2019, Fujii successfully defended his Asahi Cup title when he defeated Kiō title holder Akira Watanabe to win the 12th Asahi Cup Open tournament.[36]

In March 2020, Fujii became the first shogi professional to achieve a .800 winning percentage or greater for three consecutive years when he defeated Akira Inaba in challenger league play for the 61st Ōi tournament.[37][lower-alpha 3]

Fujii defeated Takuya Nagase on June 4, 2020, to earn the right to challenge Watanabe for the 91st Kisei title. Fujii's victory not only allowed him to be come the challenger for a major title for the first time, it also made him the youngest person ever (at the age 17 years, 10 months and 20 days) to challenge for a major title, breaking the record set 31 years earlier by Nobuyuki Yashiki by four days.[38] In title match against Watanabe, Fujii won the first two games before losing Game 3. He then won Game 4 to win the match 3 games to 1 and become—at the age of 17 years and 11 months—the youngest major title holder in professional shogi history.[39][40]

29-game winning streak

After defeating Katō to win his debut game, Fujii proceeded to win his next 28 official games before losing to Yūki Sasaki on July 2, 2017.[41][42][43][44] His 29 consecutive wins broke the previous record of 28 set by Hiroshi Kamiya in 1987.[45][46][47][48]

Opponents
GameDateOpponentNote
1December 24, 2016Hifumi Katō 9d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6). Fujii defeats 76-year-old Katō in his debut game as a professional.
2January 26, 2017Takahiro Toyokawa 7dKioh tournament (preliminary round)
3February 9, 2017Masahiko Urano 8d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6)
4February 23, 2017Masahiko Urano 8d67th NHK TV Shogi Tournament (preliminary round)[49]
5February 23, 2017Kensuke Kitahama 8d67th NHK TV Shogi Tournament (preliminary round)[49]
6February 23, 2017Yūgo Takeuchi 4d67th NHK TV Shogi Tournament (preliminary round)[49]
7March 1, 2017Kōzō Arimori 7dOsho tournament (preliminary round)
8March 10, 2017Takahiro Ōhashi 4dShinjin-O
9March 16, 2017Kazuharu Shoshi 7d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6)
10March 23, 2017Takahiro Ōhashi 4dKioh tournament (preliminary round)
11April 4, 2017Hiroshi Kobayashi 7dOsho tournament (preliminary round). Wins 11th straight game to set a new record for most consecutive wins since turning professional.
12April 13, 2017Yoshitaka Hoshino 4d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6)
13April 17, 2017Shota Chida 6d67th NHK TV Shogi Tournament (round 1)
14April 26, 2017Shingo Hirafuji 7dKioh tournament (preliminary round)
15May 1, 2017Kōta Kanai 6d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6)
16May 4, 2017Daiki Yokoyama (amateur)Shinjin-O tournament
17May 12, 2017Kazuhiro Nishikawa 6dOsho tournament (preliminary round)
18May 18, 2017Yugo Takeuchi 4dKakogawa Seiryu
19May 25, 2017Seiya Kondō 5d30th Ryūō tournament (group 6: championship game)
20June 2, 2017Shingo Sawada 6dKioh tournament (preliminary round: championship game)
21June 7, 2017Ryuuma Tonari 4dJōshū Yamada Cup
22June 7, 2017Satoru Sakaguchi 5dJōshū Yamada Cup
23June 7, 2017Hiroshi Miyamoto 5dJōshū Yamada Cup. Wins 23rd consecutive game to move into third-place for most consecutive victories in a row.[50]
24June 10, 2017Hirotaka Kajiura 4dEio tournament (preliminary round)
25June 10, 2017Ryuuma Tonari 4dEio tournament (preliminary round). Defeats Tonari for the second time in three days to move into sole second place for most consecutive wins in a row.[51]
26June 15, 2017Shōji Segawa 5dMeijin tournament (class C2)
27June 17, 2017Hayata Fujioka (amateur)Asahi Open
28June 21, 2017Shingo Sawada 6dOsho tournament (preliminary round). Defeats Sawada to tie Kamiya's record.
29June 26, 2017Yasuhiro Masuda 4dDefeats Masuda to set new record.

Impact

Fujii's winning streak was widely covered by Japanese media and also by overseas media outlets as well. His promotion to professional status and his subsequent success was viewed as helping the Japan Shogi Association recover from the scandal of the 29th Ryūō challenger controversy; a scandal which had ultimately led to the resignation of the JSA's president in January 2017, the removal of several directors in February 2017, and a general loss of public confidence.[52][53]

Fujii's streak not only helped the JSA recover from the aforementioned scandal, but also provided an economic boost as well. The streak led to increased sales of shogi books, and other merchandise, etc. as well as a general increase in shogi's popularity nationwide, particularly among young children. Local merchants in Fujii's hometown of Seto held commemorative sales to honor him for the streak and for his 15th birthday,[54] and it was estimated almost 7.4 million people watched the live webcast of Fujii's record-setting victory.[53] Sensu (folding hand fans) signed by Fujii were sold by the JSA in both Tokyo and Osaka in an unusual move since such a thing is typically only reserved for major title holders;[55] the fans, however, quickly sold out at both locations in less than an hour despite there being a limit set at one fan per person, with people lining up in advance to receive a numbered ticket to purchase a fan.[56] Some of the fans sold subsequently showed up on online auction websites where bids up to JPY 15,600 were observed despite the original sale price of about JPY 2,300.[57]

In December 2017, the JSA estimated that the over all impact of Fujii's streak on its advertizing revenue had been roughly 18.5 billion yen.[58]

Tsume Shogi Solving Competition

In March 2018, Fujii won the 15th Tsume Shogi Solving Competition, thus becoming the only person to win the competition four years in a row.[59] Fujii was the only participant, which included both amateur and professional shogi players, to finish with a perfect score of 100 points.[60] Fujii first won the competition in 2015 as a 12-year-old apprentice shogi professional 2-dan. He was the only participant to finish with a perfect score to become the youngest winner in the competition's history.[61]

Abema TV appearances

Fujii has been featured in several programs broadcast on the JSA's shogi channel of the Internet television station AbemaTV.

In March – April 2017, Fujii was featured in Sōta Fujii 4d The Blazing 7-game Match: New Generation Story in which he played seven games against top professionals selected by the JSA. The games were unofficial, which meant the results did not affect his official win-loss record, and his opponents were (in order) Yasuhiro Masuda, Takuya Nagase, Shintarō Saitō, Taichi Nakamura, Kōichi Fukaura, Yasumitsu Satō and Yoshiharu Habu. Fujii won all of the games except Game 2 against Nagase.[62][63][64][65][66]

Personal life

In October 2017, Fujii announced that it was his intention to enter senior high school after graduating from junior high school in the spring of 2018. Fujii said that he gave becoming a full-time shogi professional serious consideration but stated "I'd like to continue to progress and make every experience a positive one." Fujii decision was widely anticipated in Japan and was viewed favorably by fellow shogi professionals and some education critics. Fujii's decision to continue his education is the same one made by the other four shogi professionals who obtained professional status while still a junior high school student.[67]

On March 20, 2018, Fujii graduated from Nagoya University Affiliated Lower Secondary School located in Nagoya. As of April 2018, he is enrolled as a student at Nagoya University Affiliated Upper Secondary School.[68]

Promotion history

The promotion history of Fujii is as follows:[9]

  • 2012, September: 6-kyū
  • 2016, April: 3-dan 2
  • 2016, October 1: 4-dan
  • 2018, February 1: 5-dan
  • 2018, February 17: 6-dan
  • 2018, May 18: 7-dan

Titles and other championships

Fuji has appeared in two major title matches, and has won one major title.[69] He has also won three shogi non-title tournaments.[70]

Other championships
TournamentYearsNumber of times
Asahi Cup Open 2017-18 2
Shinjin-Ō 2018 1

Awards and honors

On March 13, 2018, the JSA announced that Fujii had been confirmed to be the winner of its Annual Shogi Awards for "Most Games Won", "Best Winning Percentage", "Most Game Played" and "Most Consecutive Games Won" for his results during the 2017 professional shogi season (April 1, 2017  – March 31, 2018). Fujii is the youngest player to win those four major awards in the same year and only the third shogi professional to accomplish the feat since 1967.[24][71][72][lower-alpha 4]　On April 2, 2018, the JSA announces that Fujii had been awarded the "Best New Player"、the "Special Award" and the "Game of the Year Special Prize" awards as well.[73]

In February 2018, Fujii received a special commendation from Aichi Prefecture for his victory in the 11th Aichi Cup Open and his other shogi accomplishments. Fujji is the youngest ever and only the sixth individual to have received said commendation.[74][75][lower-alpha 5] Fujii was awarded the Seto City's "Distinguished Citizen Award" in March 2018.[76][77][78]

Annual Shogi Awards
  • 45th Annual Shogi Awards (April 2017 – March 2018): Best New Player, Special Award, Best Winning Percentage, Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Most Consecutive Games Won, Game of the Year Special Prize
  • 46th Annual Shogi Awards (April 2018 – March 2019): Kōzō Masuda Award[79]
  • 47th Annual Shogi Awards: Most Games Won, Best Winning Percentage, Special Game of the Year[80]

Other awards
  • 2018: Seto City "Distinguished Citizen Award", Aichi Prefecture "Special Commendation"

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

Fujii has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings once since turning professional: 9th place with JPY 21,080,000 in earnings for 2019.[81][82]

Notes
  1. The Japan Shogi Association (JSA) has separate systems for "regular" professionals (or Seiki Kishi) and women's professionals (or Joryū Kishi). No women has yet to qualify for "regular" professional status, but youngest female to be promoted to women's professional status is Aya Fujita who was promoted when she was 11 years 6 months of age, which makes her the youngest person (male or female) to be awarded any type of professional status by the JSA.
  2. The other three players are Yoshiharu Habu (four times), Toshiyuki Moriuchi (once) and Kazuki Kimura (once).[24]
  3. Yoshiharu Habu and Makoto Nakahara won 80% or more of their games three times in their careers, but neither achieved such a result for more than two-years in a row.[37]
  4. These four awards are based upon player records in official games. Yoshiharu Habu accomplished the same feat four times (1989, 1990, 1993 and 2001) and Kunio Naitō did it once in 1969, under the previous system followed by the JSA.[71]
  5. Previous recipients were Morimichi Takagi, Midori Ito, Eiko Shishii, Ichiro Suzuki, Kinsan Ginsan and the Chunichi Dragons,[75]
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References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Fujii Sōta" 棋士データベース: 藤井聡太 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Sōta Fujii] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  2. "Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii known for fiery competitive spirit since kindergarten". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  3. "Tanigawa Kudan, Fujii Shōnen ni Hikiwake Teianshi, Nakareta Kako mo" 谷川九段, 藤井少年に引き分け提案し泣かれた過去も [Young Fujii cried after being offered a draw by Tanigawa 9d]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 15, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  4. "Fujii Yondan no Shishō "Machigainaku Tsuyokunaru Yokanatta" Shōgi・Sugimoto Nanadan Kataru" 藤井四段の師匠 ｢間違いなく強くなる予感あった」将棋・杉本七段語る [Sugimoto 7d on his pupil Fujii 4d: "I sensed that he would become a strong player"]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). May 30, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  5. Murase, Shinya (October 18, 2015). "Shōgi･Fujii Sōta san, Shijōsainenshō de Sandan ni Jūusansai Nikagetsu" 将棋・藤井聡太さん、史上最年少で三段に 13歳2カ月 [Sota Fujii becomes the youngest person ever promoted to 3-dan at 13 years 2 months]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  6. "Boy, 14, breaks record for youngest pro 'shogi' player". Japan Times. Jiji Press. September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on September 5, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  7. "Aichi student, 14, eager to follow in footsteps of early 'shogi' pros". Japan Times. Kyodo News. September 25, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  8. "Shōreikai Sandanrīgu Ikki Nuke Shōdansha" 奨励会三段リーグ1期抜け昇段者 (1987年度以降) [Players promoted from the 3-dan league after only one season (since 1987)] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 3, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Fujii Sōta Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 藤井聡太 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Sōta Fujii Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  10. "Japan's youngest pro shogi player beats its oldest top player in debut match". Japan Times. Kyodo News. December 25, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  11. Mogami, Satoshi; Yamamura, Hideki (December 24, 2017). "Saineshō･Fujii Yondan ga Sainenchō･Katō Kudan to Debyūsen" 最年少･藤井四段が最年長･加藤九段とデビュー戦 [Youngest professional Fujii 4d's opponent for debut game is oldest professional Katō 9d]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  12. "Shogi prodigy sets record with 11 straight wins since debut". Japan Times. Jiji Press. April 5, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  13. Niidoi, Hitoaki (April 5, 2017). "Japan's youngest shogi professional sets record with 11th straight win since debut". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  14. "Fujii Sōta Yondan, Debyū Renshō Kiroku Kōshin! Jūsan Rensho e" 藤井聡太四段, デビュー連勝記録更新! 13連勝へ [Sota Fujii 4d wins 13th consecutive game to set new record for most consecutive wins since debut game.] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 17, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  15. "Fujii Yondan ga Moriuchi Kudan Gekiha, Katō Hifumi-sen Irai Meijinkiri" 藤井四段が森内九段撃破, 加藤一二三戦以来名人斬り [Fujii 4d crushes Moriuchi Kudan to defeat first former-Meijin since his game against Hifumi Katō]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). September 3, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017. 藤井四段の1回戦となった千田翔太六段戦は5月14日に放送された。通常, 勝敗は放送終了まで公表されないが, 当時13連勝目がかかっていたため、特例として収録日の4月17日に結果を公表した。[Fujii's round one game against Shōta Chida was broadcast on May 14. Normally, NHK game results are not made public until the game is broadcast, but the result of Fujii's game against Chida was announced on April 17 (the day it was recorded) as a special exception to this practice because it was Fujii's 13th win in a row.]
  16. Niidoi, Hitoaki (November 22, 2017). "'Fujii fever' fires up again: Shogi prodigy hits 50 wins at record-breaking pace". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  17. Matsuura, Takashi (November 22, 2017). "Fujii Yondan Gojūshō ｢Setsu Moku no Sūji｣ Kangai Hyōgen" 藤井四段50勝 ｢節目(せつもく)の数字｣ 感慨表現 [Fujii 4d calls 50th win a "watershed number"]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  18. "Fujii Yondan, Meijin ni Shōri mo ｢Jitsuryoku Mada Mada｣ Jimoto de Kaikyo" 藤井四段 名人に勝利も｢実力まだまだ」地元で快挙 [Fujii 4d has successful homecoming, but says there's still room for improvement after beating the reigning Meijin]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Kyodo News. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  19. Maruyama, Susumu (February 1, 2018). "Fujii Yondan Chūgakusei Hatsu no Godan Jun'isen Kyūrenshō de Shōkyū" 藤井四段 中学生初の五段に昇段 順位戦9連勝で昇級 [Fujii 4-dan becomes the first ever junior high school student to achieve 5-dan, promoted in Meijin Class League play after winning 9 consecutive games.]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  20. "Fujii defeats Habu, rises to 6th dan". Japan Times. Jiji Press. February 17, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  21. Maruyama, Susumu; Yamamura, Hideki (February 17, 2018). "Fujii Godan ga Shijō Sainenshō Kisen Yūshō Rokudan Shōdan mo" 藤井五段が史上最年少棋戦優勝 六段昇段も [Fujii 5-dan becomes the youngest ever to win a professional shogi tournament and be promoted to 6-dan]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  22. Yoshikawa, Kei (February 17, 2018). "Fujii Sōta Godan, Shijō Sainensho de Yūshō & Rokudan Shōshin" 藤井聡太五段, 史上最年少で優勝&六段昇進 [Sota Fujii 5-dan, youngest ever to win tournmant and promotion to 6-dan]. Huffington Post Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  23. Yamamura, Hideki; Mogami, Satoshi (March 15, 2018). "Fujii Rokudan, Zenshō de Shōkyū...Rokunenburi C-kyū Nikumi Jun'isen" 藤井六段, 全勝で昇級....6年ぶり C級2組順位戦 [Fujii 6d first player in 6 years to finish Class C2 undefeated]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  24. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan no Kaishigeki...Shōgi Taishō Yonbumon Dokusen towa" 藤井六段の快進撃...将棋大賞4部門独占とは [Sōta Fujii 6d continues to impress. Dominates four Annual Shogi Award categories]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  25. "Sangatsu Nijūyōka (Suiyōbi) Inoue Keita Kudan vs Fujii Sōta Rokudan no Taikyoku wo Shōgi Puremiamu/Igo･Shōgi Channeru de Namachūkei" 3/28(水)井上慶太九段vs藤井聡太六段の対局を将棋プレミアム/囲碁･将棋チャンネルで生中継 [3/28 (Wed.) Keita Inoue 9d vs. Sota Fujii 6d will be broadcast live on the Igo & Shogi Channel's "Shogi Premium" service] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 26, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  26. Niidoi, Hitoaki (March 29, 2018). "Chūgakkō Saigo wa Kuroboshi Fujii Rokudan, Gojūdai Inoue Kudan ni" 中学最後は黒星 藤井六段, 50代井上九段に [Fujii 6d's last game as a junior high school student is a loss to 50-something Inoue 9d]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  27. "Nijūrenshō no Saigen Naruka!? Fujii Sōta Rokudan, Chōhaireberu no Jūni Renshōchū" 29連勝の再現なるか!? 藤井聡太六段, 超ハイレベルの12連勝中 [Will it be another 29-game winning streak!? Sōta Fujii 6d is currently on a 12-game winning streak and playing at a very high level.] (in Japanese). Abema News. February 24, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  28. Matsuura, Takashi (March 9, 2018). "Fujii Rokudan ｢Ongaeshi｣ Shishō Sugimoto Shichidan wo Hyakujūitte de Yaburu" 藤井六段 ｢恩返し｣ 師匠杉本七段を111手で破る [Fujii 6d defeats mentor Sugimoto 7d in 111 moves. Says he wanted to play well to replay him for everything Sugimotohas done for him.]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  29. "Fujii Rokudan, Itodani Hachidan Yaburi Jūrokurenshō Ōzasen Yosen" 藤井六段, 糸谷八段破り16連勝 王座戦予選 [Ōza tournament preliminaries: Fujii 6d defeats Itodani 8d for 16th consecutive win]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). March 22, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  30. Niidoi, Hitoaki (May 18, 2018). "Fujii Rokudan Shijō Sainenshō de Shichidan Shōdan Ryūōsen Renzoku Shōkyū de" 藤井六段 史上最年少で七段昇段 竜王戦連続昇級で [Fujii 6d becomes youngest ever 7d by being promoted in Ryūō class for consecutive years]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  31. "Shogi whiz Fujii becomes youngest promoted to seventh dan". The Japan Times. Jiji Press. May 19, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  32. Niidoi, Hiroaki (October 17, 2018). "Shogi whiz kid Fujii, 16, breaks 31-year record for youngest rookie of year". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  33. "Sota Fujii, 16, becomes youngest shogi player to reach 100 wins". Japan Times. Kyodo News. December 13, 2018. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  34. "Fujii Sōta Shichidan Jūhachirenshō Nakahara Jūrokusei Meijin no Kiroku Narabu" 藤井聡太七段18連勝 中原誠16世名人の記録並ぶ [Sōta Fujii wins 18th consecutive game to tie 16th Lifetime Meijin Nakahara's record]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). January 8, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  35. "Japanese chess prodigy Fujii's winning streak snapped". Mainichi Shimbun. February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  36. Maruyama, Susumu (February 16, 2019). "Rising shogi star Fujii wins Asahi Cup for 2nd straight year". Mainichi Shimbun. Translation of Maruyama's original Japanese article into English by Mainichi Shimbun staff writers. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  37. "Shōgi no Fujii Shichidan, Sannen Renzoku Shōritsu Hachiwari Habu Kudan wo Nuki Hatsu" 将棋の藤井七段, 3年連続勝率8割 羽生九段を抜き初 [Fujii 7-dan finishes with a .800 winning percentage for the third consecutive year to become the first player to do so, surpassing Habu 9-dan]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Kyodo News. March 24, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  38. "Kiseisen Fujii Sōta Shichidan Sainenshō de Taitorusen Sanjūichinenburi ni Kōshin e" 棋聖戦 藤井聡太七段 最年少でタイトル挑戦 31年ぶりに更新へ [Kisei Tournament: Sōta Fujii 7-dan to challenge for title to become the youngest challenger ever for a major title, breaking the previous record set 31 years ago]. NHK News Web (in Japanese). June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  39. "Japanese shogi prodigy Sota Fujii becomes youngest to win major title". Kyodo News. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  40. "Shogi prodigy Fujii wins his first major title". NHK World-Japan. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  41. "Fujii Yondan Nijūkyū Renshō! Kōshikisen Zenseiseki" 藤井四段29連勝！公式戦全成績 [Fujii 4d wins 29th game in a row! Game record for all official games]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 26, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  42. Murase, Shinya (July 3, 2017). "'Shogi' sensation Fujii finally loses after record 29 consecutive wins". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  43. Demetriou, Danielle (July 2, 2017). "Fourteen-year-old Japanese shogi prodigy ends historic winning streak". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  44. Kobayashi, Kakummi (July 2, 2017). "Record-setting winning streak of shogi prodigy Sota Fujii halted at 29 games". Japan Times. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  45. "Youngest 'shogi' pro Sota Fujii matches longest winning streak with 28th victory". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 21, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  46. "Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii wins record 29th straight match". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  47. "Japanese chess prodigy, 14, breaks 30-year winning streak record". Reuters. June 27, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  48. Howie, Michael (June 27, 2017). "Boy, 14, wins record-breaking 29 games of Japanese version of chess". Evening Standard. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  49. "Dai Rokujūnanakai NHKhaise Yosen Gokumi" 第67回NHK杯戦 予選 5組 [67th NHK Cup Preliminaries Group 5] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  50. "Shogi pro Sota Fujii, 14, extends record with 23rd win". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 7, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  51. "Shogi wonder Fujii wins 25th match in game's second-longest winning streak". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 10, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  52. McCurry, Justin (June 27, 2017). "Japan's love of shogi reignited thanks to 14-year-old record-breaker". The Guardian. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  53. "Despite loss, shogi prodigy Sota Fujii has revived the game's fortunes". Japan Times. Kyodo News. July 3, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  54. "Fujii Sōta Yondan Jūgosai no Tanjōbi ni Jimoto wa Sēru Kaisai" 藤井聡太四段15歳の誕生日に地元はセール開催 [Local merchants hold special sale to commemorate Sota Fujii 4-dan's 15th birthday]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  55. "Shijō Sainenshō, Fujii Kishi no Sensu ga Hatsubai" 史上最年少, 藤井棋士の扇子が発売 ｢四段｣ では異例 [Japanese hand fans commemorating youngest professional Fujii go on sale. Merchandise sold for a 4-dan professional is unusual]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). June 7, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  56. "Fujii Yondan no Sensu, Wazuka Ichijikan De Kanbai" 藤井四段の扇子, わずか1時間で完売 [Japanese hand fans commemorating Fujii Yondan completely sold out in about an hour]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). June 7, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  57. "Urekirechū no Fujii Sōta Yondan no Sensu ga Ōkushon ni…Mondaiten wa?" 売り切れ中の藤井聡太四段の扇子がオークションに…問題点は? [Sold out Japanese hand fans signed by Sōta Fujii showing up on online auction sites…Is this a problem?]. All About (in Japanese). June 9, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  58. "Shōgi･Fujii Sota Yondan ｢Nijūkyu Renshō｣ Toki no Kōkoku Kōka wa Yaku Hyaku Hachijūgo Oku En Nihon Shōgi Renmei ga Shisan" 将棋･藤井聡太四段 ｢29連勝｣ 時の広告効果は約185億円 日本将棋連盟が試算 [Japan Shogi Association estimates impact of Sota Fujii's 29-game winning streak on advertizing revenue to be about JPY 18,500,000,000]. Abema Times (in Japanese). December 2, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  59. "Fujii Rokudan ga Yonrenpa Tsume Shōgi Kaitō Senshuken" 藤井六段が4連覇 詰将棋解答選手権 [Fujii 6d wins Tsume Shogi Solving Competition for 4th consecutive year]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). March 27, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  60. "Fujii Rokudan ga "Tsume Shōgi Kaitō Senshuken" de Taikai Shijō Hatsu Yonrenpa" 藤井六段が ｢詰将棋解答選手権｣ で大会史上初4連覇 [Fujii 6d wins Tsume Shogi Solving Competition to becomes the first four-time winner]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). March 25, 2018. Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  61. Kashiwazaki, Kaiichiro (April 25, 2015). "Tsume Shōgi Senshuken, Sainenshō V Fujii Sōta Nidan Junisai" 詰将棋選手権, 最年少Ｖ 藤井聡太二段 12歳 [12-year-old Sota Fujii 2d wins Tsume Shogi Competition to become youngest winner in competition history]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Retrieved May 18, 2018.
  62. "Fujii Sōta Yondan Honoo no Nanaban Shōbu" 藤井聡太四段 炎の七番勝負 [Sōta Fujii 4d The Blazing 7-game Match] (in Japanese). Abema TV. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  63. Murase, Shinya (April 23, 2017). "Jūyonsai Fujii Yondan, Habu Sankan Yaburu, Shōgi no Hikōshiksen" 14歳藤井聡太四, 羽生三冠破る 将棋の非公式戦 [!4-year-old Fujii 4d defeats Habu 3-crown in unofficial game]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  64. Yamamura, Hideki (April 23, 2017). "Jūyonsai Fujii Yondan, Habu Sankan Yaburu Hikōshiksen" 14歳藤井四段, 羽生3冠破る 非公式戦 [14-year-old Fujii 4d beats Habu 3-crown in unofficial game]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  65. "Sainenshō Jūyonsai Fujii Yondan, Habu Sankan mo Yaburu!" 最年少14歳棋士･藤井四段, 羽生3冠も破る! [Youngest shogi professional 14-year-old Fujii 4d able to defeat even Habu 3-crown]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). April 23, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  66. "Habu ni Katta! Jūyonsai no Chūgakusei Kishi･Fujii Yondan, Kōshikisen Jūsan Renshō no Jitsuryoku Shōmei" 羽生に勝った! 14歳の中学生棋士･藤井四段, 公式戦13連勝の実力証明 [Even beats Habu! 14-year-old junior high school shogi professional Fujii 4d's 13-game winning streak in official games not a fluke]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). April 24, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  67. "Shogi prodigy Fujii opts for high school". Yomiuri Shimbun. October 26, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  68. Niidoi, Hitoaki (March 20, 2018). "Fujii Rokudan, Fushime Chūgakkō Sotsugyō ｢Saranaru Takami e｣" 藤井六段, 節目 中学卒業 ｢さらなる高みへ｣ [Fujii 6d reaches milestone by graduating from junior high school. Says he will continue to aim even higher.]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  69. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Fujii Sōta Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 藤井聡太 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Sōta Fujii Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  70. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Fujii Sōta Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 藤井聡太 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Sōta Fujii Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  71. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan, Shōgi Taishō Kiroku Yonbu Dokusen no Oshirase" 藤井聡太六段, 将棋大賞記録4部門独占のお知らせ [Sōta Fujii confirmed as winner four Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 13, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  72. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan, Shijō Sanninme no Yonbumon Dokusen Kakutei!｢Ureshiku Omoimasu｣" 藤井聡太六段, 史上3人目の4部門独占確定! ｢うれしく思います｣ [Sota Fujii 6d confirmed to be only the third shogi professional to dominate four categories! Says he's happy to have achieved such a result.]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). March 13, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  73. "Saiyūshūkishi Habu Yoshiharu Ryūō, Tokubetsushō ni Fujii Sōta Rokudan. Dai Yonjūgokai Shōgi Taishō Kimaru" 最優秀棋士賞に羽生善治竜王, 特別賞に藤井聡太六段. 第45回将棋大賞決まる [Shogi News: 45th Annual Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  74. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan e no Aichiken Tokubetsu Hyōshō" 藤井聡太六段への愛知県特別表彰について [Sōta Fujii 6d receives special commendation from Aichi Prefecture] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  75. "About Aichi Prefecture special commendation to the Fujii Sota 6th dan". Aichi Prefectural Government. February 26, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  76. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan, ｢Setoshimin Eiyoshō｣" 藤井聡太六段, ｢瀬戸市民栄誉賞｣ 表彰 [Sōta Fujii 6d receives "Seto Distinguised Citizen Award"] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 23, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  77. "Fujii Sōta Rokudan ni Setoshi ga Eiyoshō ｢Shōjinshitai｣ Ken mo Hyōshō" 藤井六段に瀬戸市が栄誉賞 ｢精進したい｣ 県も表彰 [Sōta Fujii 6d receive "Distinguished Citizen Award" from Seto City. Says he wants to continue to improve. Also receives award from Aichi Prefecture.]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Kyodo News. March 30, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  78. Tani, Yūki; Matsumura, Hidenori (March 31, 2018). "Fujii Sōta Rokudan, Setoshimin Eiyoshō ni Eigao ｢Shōjinshiteikitai｣" 藤井六段, 瀬戸市民栄誉賞に笑顔 ｢精進していきたい｣ [A smiling Sota Fuji 6d receives Seto City's "Distinguished Citizen Award". Says he wants to continue to devote himself to improving,]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  79. "Saiyūshūkishishō wa Toyoshima Nikan Fujii Shichidan wa ｢Myōshu｣ de Jushōlhanguage=ja" 最優秀棋士賞は豊島二冠 藤井七段は｢妙手｣で受賞 [Toyoshima 2-crown named "Player of the Year"; Fujii 7d wins award for "best move".]. Asahi Shimbun. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  80. "Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime" 将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目 [Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins “Player of the year” for the second time.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 1, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  81. "2019nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2019年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2019 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  82. "Fujii Shichidan ga Shōkin Besuto 10 Toyoshima Nikan, Hatsu no Ichii" 藤井七段が賞金ベスト10 豊島二冠, 初の1位 [Fujii 7-dan finishes in the Top 10 of the Prize Money List; Toyoshima 2-crown captures the top spot for the first time.]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Kyodo News. February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.

General references
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