Takumi Ito, 7th dan, wins the Eio tournament and takes the title from Sota Fujii, 8-crown holder

In the fifth game of the 9th Eio title match, one of the eight major title matches in shogi, which began on April 7, 2024, challenger Takumi Ito (7-dan) defeated Eio Sota Fujii (4-dan) to seize the title. This was Ito's first title, and at the same time, it was the first title loss for Sota Fujii (8-crown title holder), who has held all eight major titles.

9th Eiou Tournament | Fujiya Co., Ltd.

Eiou Battle Broadcast Site
http://live.shogi.or.jp/eiou/

The 9th Eio tournament saw eight-time champion Fujii Souta challenged by the same generation Ito Takumi, 7th dan. Fujii Eio won the first game, but Ito won the second and third games. Fujii Eio was forced into a corner but won the fourth game, and the match was decided by two wins each. The fifth game was held at the Tokiwa Hotel in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

The format of the game is the same as in games 1 to 4, with a bishop exchange.

Eiou match live blog: The style of the match is bishop exchange
https://kifulog.shogi.or.jp/eiou/2024/06/post-e51c.html

In the middle game, Fujii Eiou used his signature move of sacrificing his rook, and the battle turned slightly in his favour.

Eiou match broadcast blog: From patience to aggression
https://kifulog.shogi.or.jp/eiou/2024/06/post-9912.html

However, the situation reversed when Ito 7-dan approached Fujii Eio's king. Fujii Eio used up his time and found himself in a difficult position.

Eiou match broadcast blog: Eiou Fujii plays one-minute shogi
https://kifulog.shogi.or.jp/eiou/2024/06/post-b03e.html

Seventh-dan Ito made no mistakes even in the final stage and snatched victory.

This was Ito's third title challenge and his first victory.

Meanwhile, Fujii Eiou has been successful in winning and defending title matches since taking the title from Watanabe Akira in July 2020, but this was his first loss in his 23rd match. Fujii Eiou took the throne in October 2023 to become an eight-crown champion, but this will be his first drop to seven crowns in nine months.

The qualifying rounds for the 10th Eio Tournament, which will determine the right to challenge the new Eio Ito, have begun based on rank.

Meanwhile, in terms of Fujii's other title matches in 2024, he defeated the challenger of 9-dan Toyoshima Masayuki in the Meijin title match with a score of 4 wins and 1 loss, while in the Kisei title match he faced the challenge of 8-dan Yamazaki Takayuki with a score of 2 wins and 0 losses, and he will face the challenge of 9-dan Watanabe Akira in the Oi title match.