Everyone says that he is a genius player once in 400 years. He has been breaking records since he became professional shogi player. As you know , He made a lot of new record. Before Kisei Title Series begin, Let`s review his record.
- The youngest professional shogi player : 14 years and 2 months
- Most consecutive win record: 29 wins
- The age of the first victory in the tournament: 14 years and 5 months
- The Fastest records of junior high school student shogi pro's achieving 50 win: 1 year 1 month
- The age of winning the first prize in official championship: 15 years and 6 months
- The age of promoting to 6-dan : 15 years and 6 months
- The age of promoting to 7-dan: 15 years and 9 months
- The age of challenger for Title Series: 17 years and 10 months
- The age of the first Title: 17 years and 11 months
- The age of Doubule crown : 18 years and 1 months
- The age of promoting to 8-dan : 18 years and 1 months
Because he had won consecutive victories since his debut in 2017, They broadcasted his achievement on TV program every day. Before he made his debut , shogi was not so popular among young people, especially women in Japan. Because of this trend, The number of women players are increasing little by little.
Because the state of emergency was issued in April 7th in 2020. A lot of shogi tournament, Title Series , events were postponed. Meijin Title Series usually begins in April, but it postponed on June. A lot of players and shogi funs were worried about when games would start , where Title series were held. They had not decided the schedule at that time.
I thought that most people felt anxiety or depression. But Mr.Fuji was reviewing his shogi style and studying by AI during this time.
There was a shogi program on Ameba TV on last April. Professional shogi players were playing shogi by Zoom. It was the world's first professional shogi game using ZOOM. I watched game-Fujii 7-dan(at that time ) VS Fukaura 9-dan, who got a championship in NHK Tournament in 2019. Fujii 7-dan beat Fukaura 9-dan. Amebar commentator Satou 9-dan said “ Fukaura9-dan seemed not to make mistake, once Fujii 7-dan got a chance, he became a priority little by little. Amazingly, Fujii 7-dan was improving in a short time.”
During pandemic in 2020, There were barriers for Mr. Fujii , Which are
- the first time in Title Series
- pressure for the Mass Media
- long time in which he could not play game in public
- the first time to wear Japanese clothes, (They usually wear Japanese clothes in Title Series)
- his first Title match player was the strongest player- Watanabe 3 crowns (at that time)
- Threatening phone call in Seto City hall Where Mr. Fujii lives.
Despite these barriers, He broke the youngest double crown record whose record was Habu9-dan`s 21 years and 11 months.
Kisei Title challenger is Watanabe Meijin, Who lost Kisei title last year. It is a revenge series for him. I am looking forward to seeing Kisei Title Series.