Nishiyama becomes 1st woman eligible for shogi's main pro ranks

Shogi player Tomoka Nishiyama on Saturday became the first woman eligible to join the game's main professional "kishi" ranks, which are open to both men and women.The 31-year-old qualified for the ranks Saturday by winning her fifth Hakurei title, the most prestigious championship in women's professional shogi.Nishiyama defeated 34-year-old Kana Fukuma in Game 5 in Kanazawa, central Japan, to win the best-of-seven series 4-1.Asked if she would exercise her right to join the ranks, Nishiyama said, "Since I have been trying to focus just on the game, I can't come up with an answer right away.…READ FULL ARTICLE