Japan Shogi Association cancels 2026 All-Star tournament

The Japan Shogi Association has announced that the ‘Shogi All-Star East-West Tournament’ will not be held in 2026. The association stated that the decision was made to comprehensively review the tournament's structure, management methods, and overall value to ensure it can continue and develop in a more attractive format in the future.

Established in 2021, the tournament was a semi-official event featuring a five-on-five team battle between players from the Tokyo and Kansai headquarters. It was notable for its fan-voting system and ultra-fast play style, with move times of less than 30 seconds per move.