In a closely contested match in the final round of the 84th Meijin B-class 2 group ranking, Yoshiharu Habu emerged victorious against Takeshi Fujii. Despite this win, Habu finished the season with a record of 7 wins and 3 losses, which was not enough to secure one of the three promotion spots back to B-class 1. Habu, a well-known figure in the Shogi community, has faced challenges after his departure from the Japan Shogi Association presidency last year, and this season’s strong performance indicates his competitive spirit, even though he could not regain his previous ranking.

The match took place in Shibuya, Tokyo, where both players engaged in a tense battle characterized by a back-and-forth strategy until Habu managed to break away in the endgame. Reflecting on the intense nature of the matches throughout the season, Habu mentioned feeling the pressure and the struggle during each game. The competition in the ranking battles is always intense, and this season has been particularly challenging for him and for Fujii, who unfortunately could not avoid relegation.

Habu's failure to return to B-class 1 highlights the competitive nature of Shogi and the difficulties experienced by players who have previously held higher rankings. His continued participation in these matches suggests he remains a prominent and respected player in the Shogi community, despite setbacks. For Fujii, the outcome means a need for reassessment and improvement as he looks to recover from relegation in future seasons.