Sota Fujii, 7-kan (right), and Masayuki Toyoshima, 9-dan, in the 71st Oza Tournament challenger-deciding game, at the Kansai Shogi Kaikan in Fukushima Ward, Osaka City, on the morning of April 4 (photo by Inui Emori) (Sankei Digital Inc.)

Sota Fujii 7-kan, challenger for the Oza Tournament begins / Shogi

The winner of the game would win the right to challenge Oza Takuya Nagase (30), and if Fujii wins, he would become the first player in history to win eight championships. At 8:38 a.m., Toyoshima 9-dan entered the game room, and Fujii 7-kan appeared at 43 a.m. At 9:00 a.m., the game started with Fujii's first move. The game was played in the Ai-kari style.

This was Fujii's only remaining title, Oza. This was his sixth attempt at the title, and his previous best finish was in the top four, so it was regarded as a tough challenge. Fujii's record against Toyoshima was 21 wins and 11 losses. The game is expected to end in the evening.

Source: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/81140802e4afbabcedc1676ca379763f2e223e31