Key Facts
• November 12: Ryuo Title Match Game 4 held at Kyoto Racecourse.
• Challenger Yuki Sasaki (31) sealed his 85th move at 6:00 PM.
• Match resumes November 13 at 9:00 AM with sealed move revealed.
• Venue: “Kiku no Ma” VIP room, marking the racecourse’s 100th anniversary.
• Sota Fujii (23) leads the series 3-0, aiming for his 5th consecutive title.
• Victory grants Fujii the “Eternal Ryuo” title, third in history after Akira Watanabe and Yoshiharu Habu.
• Sasaki played first, initiating a Rook Exchange opening.
• Both players have approximately 4 hours 25 minutes of time remaining.
• Match is a two-day format with 8 hours per player.
• Commentary highlighted Sasaki’s potential timing for an all-out attack.
Summary
The fourth game of the 38th Ryuo Title Match between reigning champion Sota Fujii and challenger Yuki Sasaki took place at Kyoto Racecourse, commemorating its 100th anniversary. Sasaki sealed his 85th move at 6:00 PM, with the match set to resume the following morning. Fujii, leading the series 3-0, is one win away from securing his fifth consecutive title and the prestigious “Eternal Ryuo” designation. The game, played in a two-day format with 8 hours per player, saw a Rook Exchange opening and a tense progression. Both players have nearly equal time remaining, and the outcome hinges on Sasaki’s strategic timing for an offensive move. The match has drawn significant attention as Fujii aims to join the ranks of Akira Watanabe and Yoshiharu Habu in achieving this historic milestone.
