Osho (shogi)

Osho (shogi)

Ōshō (王将?) is one of the seven titles in Japanese professional shogi. The word means the King piece of shogi.

The challenger for the title is determined by three-step preliminary round that comprises 1st heat, 2nd heat and league competition. Seven members of the league are top four of previous year's league and only top three of 2nd heat. The player who wins the most in the league will becomes the challenger.

Championship match is held from January to March every year.

The player that wins four games out of seven first in the championship series will become the new Ōshō title holder. Until 1964, however, when three-win lead (3-0 or 4-1) occurred, then champion ( = new Ōshō title holder) was determined and games of the rest of series were handicap shogi where one of the champion's two lance was removed in advance.