Ryūō#Tournament structure

Image:Shogi rook p.jpg

The basic meaning of ryūō is a "promoted rook". It can move as both a rook (hisha 飛車) and a silver (ginshō 銀将) during a turn and is one of the two most powerful pieces in shogi.

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The tournament consists of six class tournaments and one ladder-format challenger tournament. All currently active professional shogi players as well as qualifying women's professionals, apprentice professionals and amateurs are assigned to one of six classes. There are roughly 16 players each in Class 1 to Class 3, 32 players in Class 4 and Class 5, and then all remaining players are assigned to Class 6. The top players in these class tournaments (the top five players from Class 1, the top two from Class 2, and the top player from Class 3, Class 4, Class 5 and Class 6) are then seeded into the challenger tournament. The two players advancing to the final of the challenger tournament play a three-game match to determine the overall winner. In the title match, the first player to win four out of seven championship games becomes the new titleholder.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ryuuou/rules.html|script-title=ja:竜王戦: 竜王ランキング戦･決勝トーナメントについて|title=Ryūōsen: Ryūō Rankigu Kesshō Tōnamento ni Tsuite|language=ja|trans-title=Ryūō Tournament: About the Ryūō Ranking Leagues and Challenger Tournament|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 14, 2017}}

File:Ryuosen honsen 19.png | Current challenger tournament bracketing (from 2006)

File:Ryuosen honsen.png | Previous challenger tournament structure 1989–2005

The Ryūō is a continuation of the earlier Tenth Dan (十段戦 jū-dan sen) title tournament. The Tenth Dan (1962–1987) itself is a continuation of the Ninth Dan (九段戦, 1956–1961) and the earlier 全日本選手権戦 (1948–1955) tournaments, which were also sponsored by the same Yomiuri Shimbun. The 全日本選手権 tournament became a title tournament in 1950, where the title was known as the Ninth Dan (九段) title. (At this time, the highest dan rank in shogi was 8-dan unlike the current ranking system.) Considering this lineage, the Ryūō is second historical title and the longest running title tournament apart from the Meijin title.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/column/2017/09/post_233.html|last=Sagasaki|first=Shūji|script-title=ja:優勝賞金4320万円, アマチュアでも参加できる ｢竜王戦｣ の仕組みとは?|title=Yūshō Shōkin Yonsensanbyakunijūmanen, Amachua demo Sankadekiru ｢Ryūōsen｣ no Shikumi towa?|language=ja|trans-title=A winner's prize of 43,200,000 yen and amateurs can participate: what is the format of the Ryūō tournament?|date=September 7, 2017|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=November 15, 2021}}

"Lifetime Ryūō" (Eisei Ryūō) is the title awarded to a player who wins the championship five times in a row or seven times in total. Active players may qualify for this title, but it is only officially awarded upon their retirement or death.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp/faq/index.html#kisen|title=Purokisen no Kitei ni Kansuru Goshitsumon - Q: Eisei Shōgō no Kitei wa Dō Natteiru no Deshōka|script-title=ja:プロ棋戦の規定に関するご質問 — Q:永世称号の規定はどうなっているのでしょうか。|language=ja|trans-title=Questions Regarding Professional Shogi— Q: What are the requirements for lifetime titles?|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=June 19, 2025}}

Only two players have qualified for the Lifetime Ryūō title: Akira Watanabe and Yoshiharu Habu. Watanabe qualified for the title by winning his fifth championship in a row in 2008 (he has also won the title eleven times),{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp/topics/news/2008/12/post_80.html|title=Watanabe Akira Ryūō no Kyōdō Kisha Kaiken|script-title=ja:渡辺明竜王の共同記者会見|language=ja|trans-title=Akira Watanabe Ryūō, Kyodo News Press Conference|date=December 19, 2008|access-date=August 7, 2014|website=Japan Shogi Association}} whereas Habu qualified by winning his 7th title overall in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2017/12/post_1622.html|script-title=ja:羽生善治が竜王位を奪回し, 史上初の｢永世七冠｣の資格を獲得|title=Habu Yoshiharu Ōi ga Ryūōi wo Dakkaishi, Shijōhatsu no ｢Eisei Nanakan｣ no Shikaku wo Kakutoku|language=ja|trans-title=Ōi title holder Yoshiharu Habu recaptures Ryūō title and becomes the first "Lifetime 7-crown" in history|date=December 5, 2017|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 5, 2017}} Both players will be officially designated Lifetime Ryūō upon retirement or death.

The number in parentheses represents the cumulative times the player had won the title to date.

• Most titles overall: Akira Watanabe, 11
• Most consecutive titles: Akira Watanabe, 9 in a row (2004–2012)
• Most times recapturing title: Yoshiharu Habu, 4{{efn|Habu lost the title for first time in 1990, but won it back in 1992. He lost the title again in 1993, only to recapture it for the second time in 1994. He lost title for the third time in 1996, but recaptured it again five years later in 2001. He lost the title in 2003, but recaptured it for a fourth time in 2017.}}
• Longest period between titles: Yoshiharu Habu, 15 years (2003–2017)
• Oldest person to win title: Yoshiharu Habu, 47 years and 2 months
• Youngest person to win title: Yoshiharu Habu, 19 years and 2 months.{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Kei|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2017/12/05/yoshiharu-habu-legend_a_23297098/|script-title=ja:羽生善治が竜王戦で勝利 史上初 ｢永世七冠」に|title=Habu Yoshiharu ga Ryūōsen de Shori, Shijohatsu ｢Eisei Nanakan」ni|language=ja|trans-title=Youshiharu Habu captures Ryūō title to become first "Lifetime 7-crown" in shogi history|date=December 5, 2017|website=Huffington Post Japan|access-date=January 17, 2018}}

The first game of each of the following Ryūō title matches was played outside of Japan.{{cite web|url=http://kifulog.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/2014/10/post-15bb.html|title=Kaigai Taikyoku no Reikishi|script-title=ja:海外対局の歴史|language=ja|trans-title=History of major title match games held overseas|date=October 17, 2014|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun and Japan Shogi Association|access-date=October 22, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://live.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/#nanaban_summary|title=Dai Nijūnanaki Ryūōsen Nanaban Shōbu|script-title=ja:第27期竜王戦七番勝負|language=ja|trans-title= 27th Ryūō 7-game Match|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun and Japan Shogi Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022082747/http://live.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/|archive-date=October 22, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2016}}

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Hiroyuki Miura won the three-game challenger playoff match for the 29th Ryūō tournament by defeating Tadahisa Maruyama two games to one in early September 2016. Three days before Miura was to begin play against reigning Ryūō Akira Watanabe, however, the Japan Shogi Association (JSA) announced that Maruyama was replacing Miura as the challenger. The official reason given by the JSA had to do with Miura failing to follow proper procedure in requesting to be allowed to withdraw from the match, but there also had been suspicions raised about Miura's recent frequent leaving of his seat during official shogi games. Suspicions had been raised that he was doing so to consult shogi software or an app installed on a smartphone. Miura denied the accusations at a meeting of the JSA managing directors on October 11, and said he was withdrawing from the upcoming title match because he could not play shogi under such circumstances. The JSA said that Miura failed to submit an official notification of withdrawal by the required deadline on October 12 and as a result Miura was suspended from official game play until December 31, 2016.{{cite news|last1=Murase|first1=Shinya|last2=Fukumatsu|first2=Shinji|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610130055.html|title=Top 'shogi' player suspected of cheating pulls out of title match|date=October 13, 2016|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=October 17, 2016}}{{cite news|author=|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20161013/p2a/00m/0na/017000c|title=Top shogi player banned amid cheating allegations|date=October 13, 2016|newspaper=Mainichi Shinbun|access-date=October 17, 2016}}

The JSA subsequently established an independent investigative panel at the end of October 2016 to determine whether Miura had actually done anything wrong and to evaluate the appropriateness of its response to the allegations.{{cite web|author=|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2016/10/post_1456.html|script-title=ja:第三者調査委員会設置のお知らせ|title=Daisansha Chōsaiinkai Sechi no Ochirase|language=ja|trans-title=Establishment of a third-party investigative panel|date=October 27, 2016|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=January 11, 2016}}{{cite news|author=|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20161022/p2a/00m/0na/020000c|title=Shogi association to set up investigative team to look into cheating allegations|date=October 22, 2016|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=January 11, 2017}} The panel held a press conference on December 26, 2016 to announce its findings. The panel found there was insufficient evidence to support the accusations of cheating made against Miura and that the claim that he had excessively left his seat during official games was false. Regarding the action taken by the JSA, the panel stated that it believed that the JSA response was appropriate given the circumstances since it had no real option other than to act the way it did.{{cite news|author=|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201612270031.html|title=Inquiry clears top 'shogi' player Hiroyuki Miura of cheating|date=December 27, 2016|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=January 11, 2017}} In response to the panel's report, both the JSA and Miura held separate press conferences. JSA president Koji Tanigawa apologized to Miura and announced he was being allowed to return to active status in January. Tanigawa also stated that he and three other executives of the JSA would have their salaries cut by 30% for a period of three months.{{cite news|author=|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/29/national/shogi-body-chief-reinstates-top-player-apologizes-false-cheating-charge#.WHW6LlOLREY|title=Chief of 'shogi' body reinstates top player, apologizes over cheating charge|date=December 29, 2016|newspaper=Japan Times|agency=Kyodo News|access-date=January 11, 2017}} Miura criticized the JSA in his press conference and stated that "he wonders why the association banned him from participating in the Ryu-oh championship match since there was no evidence of wrongdoing" and that "he wants things to be settled as soon as possible and that he will try hard to get back to his winning ways".{{cite news|author=|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20161227_23/|title=Shogi player cleared, criticizes association|date=December 27, 2016|website=NHK World|access-date=January 11, 2017}}

On January 18, 2017, Tanigawa announced that he was resigning as JSA president to assume responsibility for the JSA's handling of the matter.{{cite news|last1=Yamamura|first1=Hideki|last2=Mogami|first2=Satoshi|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170118/p2a/00m/0na/013000c|title=Head of shogi association resigns after top player cleared of cheating|date=January 18, 2017|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=January 18, 2017}} The following day, the resignations of Tanigawa and Akira Shima, the director in charge of the JSA's handling of the Miura allegations, were accepted at an emergency meeting of the JSA's board of directors.{{cite news|last=Yamamura|first=Hideki|url=http://mainichi.jp/articles/20170119/k00/00e/040/216000c|script-title=ja:谷川会長と島理事の辞任承認 臨時理事会|title=Tanigawa Kaichō to Shima Riji no Jinin Shōnin Rinji Rijikai|trans-title=Resignations of President Tanigawa and Director Shima accepted at emergency board of directors meeting|language=ja|date=January 19, 2017|newspaper=Mainchi Shimbun|access-date=January 19, 2017}}

On February 27, 2017, another emergency meeting of JSA professionals was held in response to a petition signed by 28 current and former professionals asking that the JSA remove five board members involved in the handling of the controversy. The meeting took place via teleconferencing at JSA offices in Tokyo and Osaka, and a vote was held to determine whether the five should be asked to step down. Out of the 234 voting members of the JSA, 216 votes (including 64 by written proxy) were cast and a majority voted for the dismissal of three of the five: Teruichi Aono, Daisuke Nakagawa and Daisuke Katagami.{{cite news|author=|url=http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170228/p2a/00m/0na/008000c|title=3 shogi board members sacked over mishandling of software 'cheating' scandal|date=February 28, 2017|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=March 3, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Murase|first=Shinya|url=http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASK2W560SK2WUCVL01R.html|script-title=ja:将棋連盟の理事3人を解任 ソフト不正騒動の対応問題視|title=Shōgi Renmei no Riji Sannin wo Kainin Sofuto Fusei Sōdō no Taiō Mondai Kaishiin|language=ja|trans-title=Three Japan Shogi Association directors dismissed for problems related to the handling of the issue of inappropriate software use|date=February 27, 2017|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=February 28, 2017}}

On May 24, 2017, Miura and new JSA president Yasumitsu Satō held a joint press conference to announce that a settlement had been reached to resolve any outstanding issues between the two sides. Both sides acknowledged their acceptance of the findings in the independent investigative panel's report and expressed their desire to move on from the matter. It was also announced that the JSA agreed to pay Miura an undisclosed financial settlement to compensate him for not only lost game fees, but also for the mental anguish and damage caused to his reputation. Miura also announced that he met with Ryūō title holder Watanabe prior to the press conference and that he accepted Watanabe's apology for his role in the controversy.{{cite news|last1=Yamamura|first1=Hideki|last2=Maruyama|first2=Susumu|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170525/k00/00m/040/017000c|script-title=ja:三浦九段と和解 ソフト問題で|title=Miura Kudan to Wakai Sofuto Mondai de|language=ja|trans-title=Settlement reached with Miura 9-dan over software cheating problem|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|date=May 24, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2017}}{{cite news|last=Yoshikawa|first=Kei|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.jp/2017/05/24/miura-shogi_n_16779528.html|script-title=ja:三浦弘行九段と将棋連盟が｢将棋ソフト不正疑惑｣で和解, 慰謝料は非公表(会見詳報)|title=Miura Kudan to Shōgi Renmai ga "Shōgi Sofuto Fusei Giwaku" de Wakai Isharyō wa Hikōkai (Kaiken Shōhō)|language=ja|trans-title=Miura 9-dan and JSA reach settlement over "shogi software in appropriate use suspicion", amount of financial compensation undisclosed (press conference details)|date=May 24, 2017|newspaper=Huffington Post Japan|access-date=May 26, 2017}}

Below is a list of professional players grouped by their class for the 38th Ryūō league (2024{{ndash}}2025) including their dan ranking.{{cite web|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp/player/|script-title=ja:棋士データベース|title=Kishi Dētābēsu|trans-title=Player database|language=ja|website=Japan Shogi Association| access-date=December 13, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ryuuou/|script-title=ja:竜王戦|title=Ryūōsen|language=ja|trans-title=Ryūō tournament|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=December 13, 2024}} In addition to the regular professional players, four women's professionals, two apprentice professional 3-dans, and four amateur players also were assigned to Class 6.{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/ryuuou/38/6hon.html|script-title=ja:第38期竜王戦 [6組] ランキング戦|title=Dai Sanjūnhakki Ryūōsen [Rokkumi] Rankingusen|language=ja|trans-title=38th Ryūō tournament: Class 6 ranking tournament|year=2024|website=Japan Shogi Association|access-date= December 13, 2024}} Women's professional ranks are denoted by a "W" before a player's dan ranking.

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{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.shogi.or.jp/kisen/ryuuou/index.html Ryūō Tournament: Japan Shogi Association] {{in lang|ja}}
• [http://live.shogi.or.jp/ryuou/ Ryūō Tournament website] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Shogi title tournaments}}

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Category:Shogi tournaments