Shogi prodigy Fujii becomes youngest player to reach 100 wins

TOKYO -- Rising shogi star Sota Fujii, 16, achieved yet another record on Dec. 12 by securing his 100th win in an official game in Tokyo, becoming the youngest player to reach the landmark in the shortest time period of just two years and two months since his pro debut.

The 7th-dan Fujii overcame the previous record held by Yoshiharu Habu, the current 48-year-old Ryuo title holder who secured his 100th victory when he was 17 years and 6 months old some two years and three months after beginning his professional career.

In the Dec. 12 game, Fujii overwhelmed Kenjiro Abe, 29, of the same rank in the 27th Ginga tournament organized by Igo and Shogi Channel Inc. at the Shogi Kaikan building.

Fujii's win-loss ratio of 100 to 18, or 84.7 percent, is also the highest in history, surpassing the previous record held by Makoto Nakahara, 71, the 16th lifetime meijin or master, of 100 to 21, or 82.6 percent.

Fujii became a pro shogi player on Oct. 1, 2016, and has racked up multiple records, including 29 successive wins since his debut.

(Japanese original by Hideki Yamamura, Cultural News Department)