Photo/Illutration Kana Satomi achieves her seventh consecutive win against male players after she defeats Wakamu Deguchi, a 6-dan player, at Kansai Shogi hall in Osaka on June 24. (Keiji Sato)

Top female shogi player Kana Satomi is attempting to make history by becoming the first woman to crack the male-dominated professional ranks.  

Satomi, 30, will be the first female player to undertake the professional transfer examination. If successful, she would become the first female professional shogi player.

The Japan Shogi Association Kansai headquarters, to which she belongs, announced her decision on June 28.

In a statement, the four-title holder expressed her gratitude to her supporters and fans, saying, “I submitted the application for the professional transfer exam. I’ll do my best, so I want you to see how it goes.”

Satomi won a match against a male shogi player on May 27. Her latest achievement marked 10 wins and four losses in official tournaments that are mainly contested by male players. She qualified as a high-achieving female player.

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Kana Satomi, four major title holder, at Kansai Shogi hall in Osaka on May 27 (Keiji Sato)

She was the first woman to meet the requirement for taking the pro transfer examination of 10 or more wins in official tournaments and a winning percentage of 65 percent or more.

In principle, female shogi players compete only against other female shogi players.

If they pass the examination, they can participate in both female shogi tournaments and the official shogi tournament, according to the Japan Shogi Federation regulations. 

A best-of-five tournament will commence in two months. If Satomi wins three matches, which will be played at a pace of once a month, she will enter into a category of “free class” player who can participate in tournaments other than ranking tournaments.

Achieving this means she passes the exam. 

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