Key Facts
• June 2024: Takumi Ito defeated Sota Fujii in the Eiou Championship, halting Fujii’s eight-title sweep.
• 2025: Ito successfully defended his title in a 3-2 match against Shintaro Saito.
• September 2025: Ito earned the right to challenge Fujii again in the Oza Championship.
• Ito admitted struggles in maintaining form after his 2024 victory, citing inconsistent results.
• In the 2025 title defense, Ito overcame a challenging final match to secure his first defense.
• Ito identified midgame balance as a key area for improvement, citing AI-driven complexities.
• Fujii has since defended all his titles, maintaining his dominance in professional shogi.
• Ito acknowledged Fujii’s continued strength and expressed excitement for their upcoming match.
• Born in 2002, Ito became a professional in 2020 and achieved the rank of eighth dan in 2025.
Summary
Takumi Ito, known as the man who defeated Sota Fujii, reflects on his journey since his 2024 victory in the Eiou Championship. Despite initial struggles, Ito successfully defended his title in 2025 and now prepares to challenge Fujii again in the Oza Championship. He candidly discussed his skill gap with Fujii, emphasizing the challenges of mastering midgame balance in modern AI-influenced shogi. While Ito remains critical of his own progress, he expressed excitement for the upcoming match, marking a rare moment of optimism. Fujii, meanwhile, continues to dominate the shogi world, defending all his titles. The Oza Championship promises to be a pivotal moment for both players.
