Sota Fujii, the Meijin, wins the title of 'Eisei Kisei' after winning the title five times in a row, becoming the youngest person to receive the title at 21 years and 11 months old.

The third game of the 96th Hulic Cup Kisei title match was held at Kamegakurin Banshoji Temple in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, where Kisei-title holder Sota Fujii defeated challenger Takayuki Yamazaki, 8th dan, and successfully defended his title with a record of 3 wins and 0 losses. This marks Fujii's fifth title, and he has now achieved the condition of 'holding the title for a total of five terms,' earning him the title of Eternal Kisei.

Kisei match broadcast site

Hulic Cup Kisei Match Live Plus: Fujii defends his title, earning the title of Eternal Kisei with five consecutive victories
https://kifulog.shogi.or.jp/kisei/2024/07/post-b3d3.html

With Fujii at 2 wins and Yamazaki 8-dan at 0, the third game was a battle of double-edged openings. Both players had their own arguments, and it was a battle that could have gone either way, but in the final stages, Fujii widened his lead, left plenty of time to think things through, and finally pushed through strongly.

With this, Fujii has won the title for the fifth time since attaining it in 2020, having successfully defended it four times, fulfilling the condition for the permanent title of 'Eisei Kisei,' which requires holding the title for a total of five terms.

Five players have previously won the title of Eternal Kisei: the late 15th Meijin Oyama Yasuharu, the 16th Meijin Nakahara Makoto, the late Eternal Kisei Yonenaga Kunio, 9th dan Habu Yoshiharu, and 9th dan Sato Yasumitsu. Fujii is the sixth.

This is the first time that Fujii has won the title of Eternal Master. At 21 years and 11 months old, he also breaks the record for the youngest ever Eternal Master, held by 16th Meijin Nakahara, who achieved this title at 23 years and 11 months old in August 1971.

In the Osu shopping district, a banner was hung to congratulate Sota Fujii on his achievement of becoming the youngest ever 'Eisei Kisei' (Eternal Kisei). pic.twitter.com/UeBUU5wZjq

— Kamegakurin Banshoji Temple (@banshoji_nagoya) July 1, 2024

Fujii, the seven-crown champion, will then face off against 9-dan player Watanabe Akira in the best-of-seven games for the 65th Itoen Oi Ocha Cup title match, which begins on July 6, 2024.