Tomoka Nishiyama earns right to become shogi’s first female kishi player
Nishiyama, 31, who holds four titles in the joryu kishi system for women, could become the first female to compete in the top open system.
Tomoka Nishiyama, a 31-year-old shogi player, has become the first woman eligible to join the game's main professional ranks, known as kishi. Nishiyama achieved this milestone by winning her fifth Hakurei title, the most prestigious championship in women's professional shogi. She defeated Kana Fukuma in the best-of-seven series 4-1 in Kanazawa, central Japan.
Nishiyama expressed uncertainty about her immediate plans to join the ranks, stating that she needs to consult others and consider the matter carefully. Shogi, a traditional board game similar to chess, has separate professional systems for kishi and joryu kishi, or women's players. Last year, the Japan Shogi Association introduced a new rule allowing a female professional player to qualify for the kishi ranks by winning the Hakurei title five times.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Mainichi's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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