Japan's Youngest Shogi Prodigy Sets New Record With 29th Straight Win

TOKYO, Japan- June 26: Japan's youngest professional shogi player, 14-year-old Sota Fujii, set the all-time record for most consecutive wins on Monday, continuing a winning streak that has reignited public interest in the traditional board game. Fujii, a junior high school student, defeated fellow fourth-dan player Yasuhiro Masuda, 19, in first round of the prestigious Ryuo Championship finals at the Shogi Kaikan hall in Tokyo, staying unbeaten in 29 official matches since his pro debut match in December. His first win of the streak came against the oldest top-ranked player, Hifumi Kato. "I cannot believe (this accomplishment) myself. I was very lucky," Fujii said, retaining his calm demeanor after Monday's historic game that lasted over 11 hours while shogi fans and others followed every move online, on TV and elsewhere. "I somehow held out," he also said. Fujii just last Wednesday registered his 28th win against 25-year-old Shingo Sawada, a sixth dan, to tie the previous all-time winning streak. With the record on the line in Monday's match, Fujii and Masuda faced off in hopes of going on to challenge Ryuo title holder Akira Watanabe, 33. The Ryuo title is one of the eight contested by professional shogi players. The winner of the Ryuo tournament final takes home the largest prize purse of the year, around 43.2 million yen ($390,000) plus anything earned from winning previous matches.