From: Pieter Stouten EMBL BITNET> Date: 11 may 1990 Subject: The professional Shogi scene: title match game in Europe ! Hi Shogi fans, 17 subscribers already to the list. Now we only need some interesting postings. Please ask whatever you want to know. Since most of us are beginners, I would expect lots of questions. Suggestions as to what should appear on this list are welcome too, of course. As you may know Shogi is very big in Japan. Millions of people play it, Shogi is broadcasted (sometimes live) on television every sunday and more than 100 professionals make a good living on Shogi. All professional tournaments are sponsored. In many cases by newspapers, who then have the right to publish game scores. Most final title match games are played behind closed doors and the gamescores (sometimes even the results) are kept secret until the newspaper appears. The tournament with the biggest status is the Meijin tournament organized by the Nihon Shogi Renmei (NSR, Japanese Shogi Association). It is sort of competition as in soccer or baseball. Professionals go through several leagues or divisions (at most one division a year) until they reach A-class. The winner of the A-class competition has the right to challange the Meijin (= champion). Since two years there is another major tournament with much money to earn. Although it lacks the status of the Meijin tournament, the Ryu O (=Dragon King) tournament is simply more important because the amount of money to be won is larger. Last weekend I talked with the Mr. Kiyoshi Ohnogi, representative of NSR, who deals with all Shogi matters outside Japan. He was here to discuss a very big event that Yomiuri (the sponsor of the Ryu O tournament) plans in Europe. Until now every year a westerner was invited to take part in the Amateur Ryu O tournament (all costs of course paid by Yomiuri). The first time it was the European champion Stephen Lamb (3-dan), the second time they invited the American Champion (and international Chess master) Larry Kaufman, who is the strongest western player outside Japan. This year, however, they go further and the article below (from Mr. Ohnogi) excatly describes what they plan to do (I added the parts enclosed in square brackets). For European Shogi this can really be the big boost we are waiting for. I know most subscribers to SHOGI-L are Americans, but I hope you are interested nonetheless. Bye, Pieter Stouten bitnet: stouten@embl --------------------------------------------------------------------------- " T h e 3 r d R y u - O T i t l e M a t c h " Dear my shogi friends, I take pleasure in announcing to you Yomiuri Newspaper Company and Japan Shogi Federation will hold the 1st. game of the Ryu-o Title Matches in Frankfurt on Oct. 19 and 20 1990, which is very famous for the biggest prize, Y 30,000,000 [roughly $230,000]. The present title holder is Yoshiharu Habu, who is the most famous professional in Japan for his great activity recent years, and a challenger mwould be fixed in September. We all welcome you, all European people, very much and provide you for many attractions: 1. Simultanious games 2. Friendship games with Japanese players 3. Attendance at title match game 4. Signature with Japanese calligraphy by famous professionals. This game would be on a telecast via satellite by NHK. I bet this must bring you a great fascinatimg time. The venue is Intercontinental Hotel in Frankfurt, West Germany. In addition to the wonderful news, I would like you to inform another. It is "T h e c a n d i d a t e t o u r n a m e n t f o r 4 t h A m a t e u r R y u - O". As you know, it was Mr. Lamb, the former European champion, who had entered the 2nd Amateur Ryu-O Tournament as one of the representatives from Europe. Then, we have been planning to elect one player for next year at that tournament. Of course, as it is not only for strong players but also for beginners, we will provide for every players. Its date will be the same as Ryu-O Title Match. Let's enjoy shogi and make a wonderful memories together! Sincerely, Kiyoshi Ohnogi --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [After consulting the European Shogi Associations, the dates of the amateur tournament were changed to the weekend of 20th and 21st October 1990. Furthermore, to the information provided by Mr. Ohnogi I can add that in principle all costs for the participants of the amateur Ryu O tournament are covered by Yomiuri. Probably, buses will run from France, Holland and Belgium. For English players a less time consuming means of transport is under investigation. All Europeans, not belonging to one of those countries, but interested to take part can contact me. Non-Europeans who would like enter the tournament can also contact me, but there is no guarantee that they can play. / PS]