Sports · Other Sports · 6 hrs ago
Hirose beats Ito to win the Oza shogi title
Akihito Hirose beat Takumi Ito in the final game of Japan’s Oza shogi title match on Tuesday in Kofu.
The match was a best-of-five contest, and Hirose won it 3-2.
The Oza is one of Japan’s eight major shogi titles.
Hirose, 39, last held a title in 2018, when he won the Ryuo, and this is his third title overall.
Ito failed to defend the Oza and now holds only the Eio title, according to the match coverage.
The result leaves three titleholders in shogi, down from four before the match.
No further match or next step was specified.
Akihito Hirose defeated title holder Takumi Ito in the fifth and deciding game to win the Oza shogi title.
Hirose won 121 moves into the game in Kofu, taking the best-of-five series 3-2.
The victory gives Hirose his first title since winning the Ryuo in 2018 and his third title overall.
Ito, who had won the Oza title from Sota Fujii the previous year, failed to defend it and was left with the Eio title.
- Who
- Challenger Akihito Hirose, 39, and Oza title holder Takumi Ito, 24 according to two reports. One report gives Ito’s age as 23.
- What
- Hirose won the fifth game and took the Oza title, winning the series 3-2.
- When
- October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan; one report names the venue as Tokiwa Hotel.
- Why
- Hirose won the deciding game after attacking and pulling ahead late. Ito said the series included many games in which his play was not good.
Akihito Hirose
Takumi Ito
Result
Akihito Hirose
Hirose won the fifth game in 121 moves and claimed the title, 3-2.
Takumi Ito
Ito lost the deciding game and failed to defend the title.
Assessment
Akihito Hirose
Hirose said he was glad to achieve a result despite feeling his ability still had room to improve.
Takumi Ito
Ito said the result was understandable given the quality of his play across the series and that he needed to improve.
Ito won the Oza title from Sota Fujii, according to the d Menu report.
Hirose and Ito played the fifth game of the 74th Oza title match in Kofu.
Hirose won in 121 moves, taking the series 3-2 and the title.
- Series
- 74th Oza title match, best of five
- Deciding game
- 121 moves
- Final score
- Hirose 3, Ito 2
- Venue
- Kofu; Tokiwa Hotel, according to d Menu News
- Hirose’s previous title
- Ryuo, won in 2018
- Ito’s remaining title
- Eio
3 sources
What people are saying
In recent years, I have not really been in a position to compete for titles. I still have some way to go in terms of ability, but I am glad to have achieved a result.
I think there were many games in the series where the quality of my play was not very good, so the result is unavoidable. I need to build up my strength a little more.