The 19th Asahi Cup Shogi Open Tournament featured a commentary event where Sato Akihiko, a 9-dan, and Abe Kenjiro, a 7-dan, shared insights following their defeats in the semifinals. The commentary session is a tradition in the Asahi Cup, allowing the losers to engage with the audience and provide analysis. The two seasoned players, known for their engaging dialogue, enriched the atmosphere with their thorough examination of the final match's strategies.

During their analysis, Sato reflected on the match's opening moves, suggesting that the game would likely unfold with a cautious and strategic approach for some time. Abe brought up the dynamics of the game, questioning whether Sato thought the player with the first move was at an advantage. Their conversation touched upon the challenges players face in pre-match preparation, emphasizing the intricacies of making strategic decisions in high-pressure situations. Both players acknowledged the significance of how players prepare before a match, especially given the competitive nature of contemporary shogi.

The discussion shifted to the current state of shogi, focusing on how pre-match research can be a decisive factor in a game. Abe shared his perspective that in longer time-control games, the quality of prior research could largely determine the outcome, possibly claiming that preparation influences up to 70% of official rankings in shogi. This highlights the evolving strategies within the game and the increasing emphasis on preparatory research and analysis among elite players.