Ten'ai's opponent in the first round was Midori Yubaguchi, a Ladies Professional 3-dan. I had only ever spotted her at various scattered events. Holding the rank of Ladies 3-dan serves as definitive proof that she has secured a respectable string of victories in official Shogi matches.
「Master Ōki, how is Miss Ten'ai's game looking? Is she doing alright!?」 (Akira)
「Calm down, the match hasn't even started yet. The information on her opponent should be in that guidebook you're holding.」 (Ōki)
Acting as Ten'ai's guardian at the venue, Akira-san rapidly flipped through the thick book until she found the right page. Since a publishing house sponsors the Mynavi Women's Open, it is natural for them to sell player directories at the event site, and she had evidently bought one. ...My own interview was likely published in there as well, so I avoided looking directly at it to spare myself the embarrassment.
「...Midori Yubaguchi, Ladies Professional 3-dan. Thirty-four years old, hailing from Yamanashi Prefecture. It says here she is a classic Static Rook (Ibisha) player, proficient in the Yagura, Bishop Exchange, and Side Pawn Capture strategies.」 (Akira)
「Ah, so she plays Static Rook. That suggests she possesses a solid foundation in the game.」 (Ōki)
(Female Shogi players of this generation tend to favor the Ranging Rook (Furibisha). For her to stick to the Static Rook amidst them implies she has genuine skill and authentic talent.) (Ai)
(Since the vast majority of opponents rely on the Ranging Rook, a player who adheres to the Static Rook is highly likely to become adept at open battles against it. Did she fail to qualify for the Mynavi previously simply due to bad luck?) (Ōki)
「It is now 10:00 AM. Please begin the match.」 (Umpires)
「「Let's have a good game!」」 (Ten'ai and Midori)
Ten o'clock struck, and the confrontation began. After the piece toss (furigoma) determined the order of play, Ten'ai was assigned the role of the second player (Gote). I seem to recall that in the original novel, she would verbally provoke her professional opponent at the start, yet she didn't do that this time. However, she is clearly provoking her through her style of play itself.
She opened with the "Bishop-Head Pawn" (Kakutofu) strategy while playing as the second player (Gote). Executing this tactic as the first player is already considered a surprise attack, but deploying it as the second player transforms the board into a far more chaotic and random battlefield. While surprise attacks are highly effective in tournaments with short time limits, Ten'ai boldly launched one from the defensive position.
Yubaguchi-san responded to the provocation of this "Bishop-Head Pawn" played from behind. She chose to initiate combat by pushing her pawn to the 2-5 square. Ten'ai took the pawn, Yubaguchi recaptured with the Rook, and at that moment, Ten'ai forced a Bishop exchange and jumped her Knight to attack. This move directly threatened the Rook, sending the match into a chaotic spiral where both sides held Bishops and Rooks as pieces in hand (mochigoma), ready to drop them at any time.
Playing Shogi when both sides possess major pieces in hand is exactly like two people standing with guns pointed at each other's heads. However, the deciding factor between their fates here would be the difference in time consumed.
Yubaguchi-san likely lacked extensive knowledge of the "Bishop-Head Pawn" tactic when played by the second player. I doubt many female professionals have studied this specific position deeply, which explained why she was now lost in thought, draining her clock. In contrast, Ten'ai frequently selected this combat formation in online Shogi matches.
Naturally, a vast and obvious disparity in familiarity with this fighting style existed, allowing Ten'ai to play through this opening phase at lightning speed, without a moment's hesitation.
(She is inherently a fast player, but her play right now is instantaneous.) (Ai)
(Ten'ai's instant play also stems from the fact that her opponent is taking so long. While the opponent thinks, Ten'ai can consider her next move in complete comfort.) (Ōki)
When facing an unfamiliar surprise attack, one must think with extreme caution to select the appropriate defense; a wrong choice leads to instant collapse. However, one cannot afford to spend too much time thinking. Yubaguchi-san undoubtedly understood this reality, yet her time steadily dwindled. She eventually entered the "30-second countdown" (byoyomi) while still in the middle game—the very stage where she needed time the most.
Ten'ai held the advantage. To make matters worse, Yubaguchi began struggling with time pressure, leading her to commit a string of consecutive errors; she even overlooked an immediate mate (Tsumi) threatening her King. Ten'ai sighed, then initiated the finishing sequence, choosing the most difficult and shortest path to end the game among the available options.
(I believe that match showcased Ten'ai's strength in a way that induced utter despair in her opponent. Regardless, that is the first win. Clearing the "Challenge Match" requires four consecutive victories, so three remain.) (Ōki)
『...Isn't the opponent too weak? She left in tears without even holding a "post-game review" (Kansousen); it seems her spirit was completely broken.』 (Ai)
(Don't say that. She simply couldn't cope with a surprise attack strategy. She ran out of time, botched her defense, and suffered a crushing defeat against an elementary school amateur—that is all that happened.) (Ōki)
(Ai also won her first match, but Keika-san lost her opening round. Her opponent was Horaku-san, wasn't it? True to her name—reminiscent of earthenware explosives—her playstyle is "all or nothing." ...Is it possible these matchups mirror the events of the "original novel"? Well, since a lottery determines the bracket, and assuming the participants haven't changed, it stands to reason the outcomes wouldn't change either.) (Ōki)
『The second-round opponent is weak, too. That bald man at the "Gokigen Bath" plays Shogi leagues better than her.』 (Ai)
(That man is an Amateur 5-dan. You must consider the "Oishi Gyousho" Dojo an exceptional outlier. ...However, if this is the general standard, there is no need to worry.) (Ōki)
(This tournament is known for streaming key matches online, and Kuzuryu was invited to provide commentary for the fourth round. That idiot—despite holding the title of "Ryu" (Dragon)—showed up at a Shogi tournament without a disguise, causing quite a stir upon arrival. Incidentally, since I am currently in the midst of contending for the "Kitei" (Shogi Emperor) title, no one expects me to be in a place like this to begin with.) (Ōki)
『It is extremely reckless for you to be here, especially since the third game of the "Kitei" title match takes place tomorrow on Awaji Island.』 (Ai)
(But if there is no traffic, I should arrive in time for the pre-game reception (Zenyasai) at 6:00 PM, right? From Kobe, I can catch a ride in the Yashajin family car.) (Ōki)
『Even so, nothing is guaranteed. That is a very tight schedule—truly cutting it close.』 (Ai)
The flight from Haneda Airport to Kobe takes about an hour and a half. Frankly, I am operating on a razor-thin schedule, but I believe I can just barely stay long enough to witness the achievement of four consecutive victories.
The fourth round began at 1:30 PM. Ten'ai's opponent was Kayo Shinden, a Ladies Professional 3-dan. She appears to be a former title challenger, but she is not an opponent Ten'ai would lose to while playing Sente (First Player). As expected, in the midst of exchanging attacks, Shinden lost a Silver General early on and began a steady march toward inevitable defeat.
Meanwhile, Kuzuryu, who had been summoned for commentary, was chattering on the live stream, saying things like, "The elementary school girls are in top form!" As for Ai's match, she played in a manner that guaranteed a decisive victory without taking any risks. I am unsure whether this was due to the weakness of her opponent or because the balance of power between her and Ten'ai has shifted.
『Will Kuzuryu's perverted comments really fly? He is hardly offering any actual technical commentary.』 (Ai)
(The internet forums are on fire, so it is likely fine. I finally understand how he managed to top a thousand discussion threads in just two years.) (Ōki)
『Even right now, he is more popular than you, Master. The title "Loli King" wasn't earned for nothing.』 (Ai)
(I doubt I will ever surpass those numbers. He stirs up controversy and sets the internet ablaze on a regular basis.) (Ōki)
After Kuzuryu—that Scum Dragon—shouted, "Elementary school girls are the best!", Ai simply found an immediate mate and clinched the victory. He likely didn't scream those exact words, but Kogo-san deserves credit for broadcasting and framing it that way to the entire world in real-time.
Following Ai's victory, Ten'ai secured her win without issue, meaning both girls achieved four consecutive victories. Ten'ai, however, seemed annoyed by her opponent's desperate resistance. She began attempting to "capture every piece"—a humiliation tactic—which forced Kayo Shinden to recognize the situation and resign. I witnessed a "Non-Promoting Rook"—deliberately refusing promotion to mock the opponent—for the first time in ages; it seems her nasty streak is incurable. Kayo Shinden's spirit was likely crushed as well.
Photo sessions and interviews for the block winners will follow, but it is time for me to head to the "Kitei" (Shogi Emperor) match. I will offer a quick "congratulations" to Ten'ai, then board a plane from Haneda Airport. My destination is the Hotel New Awaji on Awaji Island.
....
There are +40 chapters currently advanced on Patreon.
...
Your Power stones and reviews would
be helpful✌️💎
Bonus Chapter for every 1 review and 20 PS