Shogi prodigy Sota Fujii advanced to the rank of seventh dan on May 17, becoming at 15 the youngest professional player of the traditional board game to reach the rank.
He gained his promotion by beating 31-year-old sixth-dan player Kohei Funae in a semifinal match in a group round of the prestigious Ryuo title championship.
The previous youngest player to reach seventh dan was Hifumi Kato, who was promoted in 1957 at age 17. Now 78, Kato is a ninth-dan player. (Kyodo)
将棋の藤井聡太六段が5月18日、竜王戦ランキング戦準決勝で船江恒平六段を破り、規定により七段に昇格した。史上最年少での七段昇格となる。
The Japan Times ST: June 1, 2018