Overview
- Fujii won the two-day opener Thursday in 136 moves at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, defeating challenger Tetsuro Itodani.
- The win puts the six-title holder up 1–0 in the best-of-seven that awards the Meijin to the first player to reach four wins.
- The Meijin title match uses Japan’s longest time control, giving each player nine hours spread across two days.
- Itodani, making his first Meijin challenge, said he stayed resilient and was glad he could keep fighting to the end.
- Game 2 is scheduled for April 25–26 in Aomori City, with the series still in its early stages.