What is the Ryuo Tournament

The Ryuo Tournament is held by Yomiuri Shimbun and the Japan Shogi Association. Of the eight major title matches in the shogi world, the Ryuo Tournament is considered to be of the highest standing. It is unique in that there are no dan-ranking or age requirements, and amateurs can also compete. The single winner of the elimination rounds goes on to face the “The Dragon King” title holder in a best-of-7 tournament, where winning four matches wins the title.
The Ryuo Tournament has also held 15 matches overseas in prior years, helping to contribute to the popularity of shogi both inside and outside of Japan.

Nomura’s sponsorship

The masters of shogi that compete in the Ryuo Tournament are always in search of the next move and build upon their rich experience and knowledge of the game. Nomura is proud to support the prestigious Ryuo Tournament, the players and the wider shogi industry.

The 37th Tournament

The 37th Ryuo Tournament began in December 2023. After ranking matches and tournament matches, the final best of 7 showdown was held between current Ryuo title holder Souta Fujii and and 8-dan Yuki Sasaki. The first five of seven matches saw a heated battle between Fujii and Sasaki, but Fujii retained his title after the sixth match. If Fujii successfully defends his title again to win for a fifth year, he will earn the title of Lifetime Ryuo.