HEROZ Shogi AI 'Hyocho' Wins 36th World Computer Shogi Championship, 'dlshogi' Places 3rd
At the '36th World Computer Shogi Championship,' HEROZ AI engineer Yuhei Omori's Shogi AI 'Hyocho' won first place, and Kaoru Kawashima's 'dlshogi' secured third. This achievement at the world's top computer Shogi tournament once again proves the company's high AI technological capabilities.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 01:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 16:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 8, 2026 at 18:18 (1h 46m after Collected)
We are pleased to announce that 'Hyocho,' a Shogi AI developed by HEROZ AI engineer Yuhei Omori, won the '36th World Computer Shogi Championship' held from May 3rd to May 5th, 2026, and 'dlshogi,' developed by HEROZ AI engineer Kaoru Kawashima, placed 3rd. With two Shogi AIs achieving top positions in the world's most prestigious computer Shogi tournament, the company's high AI technological capabilities have been once again demonstrated.
■ What is the World Computer Shogi Championship?
This is a Shogi championship held annually by the Computer Shogi Association with the aim of improving the performance of Shogi software.
▶ Official tournament website
https://drhoshiken.com/wcsc/36/
▶ 36th World Computer Shogi Championship
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6G-_5DVHq64ASw6PWUePlk6xIERm8ob5
■ About the results of this tournament
・Winner 'Hyocho'
'Hyocho' is a Shogi AI that HEROZ AI engineer Omori has continuously researched and developed. In this tournament, which saw the participation of top-class developers and researchers in Japan, it defeated numerous strong programs to achieve a splendid victory. By applying AI technologies, including deep learning, to Shogi, a highly intellectual game, and learning from vast amounts of game data, 'Hyocho' has achieved advanced judgment capabilities and reading accuracy.
・3rd Place 'dlshogi'
'dlshogi' is a Shogi AI that HEROZ AI engineer Kaoru Kawashima (pen name: Tadao Yamaoka) has continuously researched and developed. As a pioneering program that authentically applied deep learning to Shogi AI, it has attracted attention from AI researchers both domestically and internationally. In this tournament, it also demonstrated stable strength, achieving a 3rd place finish.
The fact that two different AIs took 1st and 3rd place in this tournament is not just a competitive achievement; it is also a testament to the advanced technical capabilities in AI learning, inference, and judgment that HEROZ has accumulated over many years through its research and development in Shogi AI.
■ Winner's Comment
This time, the Shogi software 'Hyocho' won the 36th World Computer Shogi Championship.
In recent computer Shogi tournaments, the tendency for the first player to have an advantage has been strong overall, but this time, that trend felt even more pronounced. In such circumstances, I am very pleased to have won through tough matches and achieved victory.
I will continue to strive for the development of Shogi AI. Furthermore, beyond just pursuing strength, I will further develop initiatives such as game commentary and situation verbalization using LLM, contributing to improving the viewing experience and promoting Shogi. (Yuhei Omori, HEROZ AI Engineer)
■ 3rd Place Comment
In the 36th World Computer Shogi Championship, dlshogi placed 3rd.
Although we narrowly missed the championship by 0.5 wins, we achieved the highest rank for a Shogi AI that uses only a deep learning model.
The model and joseki used in the tournament will be provided on 'Kishin Analytics' in the future. We hope you will find it useful for Shogi research and other purposes. (Kaoru Kawashima, HEROZ AI Engineer)
■ About 'Kishin Analytics'
'Kishin Analytics' was launched in May 2022 to allow easy access to the latest Shogi AI research. It is a Shogi AI analysis system aimed at both casual Shogi fans and professionals. The models used in this tournament are also scheduled to be implemented soon.
In addition, 'Kishin Analytics' is linked to game records within 'Shogi Wars,' provided by HEROZ, allowing for analysis by Hyocho and dlshogi through 'Kishin Analytics' with a single button click from 'Shogi Wars.'
■ About 'Shogi Wars'
A Shogi battle platform provided by HEROZ, officially recognized by the Japan Shogi Association, with over 8 million cumulative members and 1.15 billion cumulative games played.
A collaboration event with the manga 'The God in Front of My Eyes' is currently running from May 1st to May 29th.
Event page ▶ https://shogiwars.heroz.jp/topics/69e0fc925c5ebbf7a8a19df5
※Company names, product/service names (including logos, etc.) mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective rights holders.
■ About 'HEROZ Corporation'
HEROZ Corporation is an AI company aiming to create services that surprise the world. Centered on proprietary AI born from Shogi AI research and development, including deep learning, etc.
■ What is the World Computer Shogi Championship?
This is a Shogi championship held annually by the Computer Shogi Association with the aim of improving the performance of Shogi software.
▶ Official tournament website
https://drhoshiken.com/wcsc/36/
▶ 36th World Computer Shogi Championship
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6G-_5DVHq64ASw6PWUePlk6xIERm8ob5
■ About the results of this tournament
・Winner 'Hyocho'
'Hyocho' is a Shogi AI that HEROZ AI engineer Omori has continuously researched and developed. In this tournament, which saw the participation of top-class developers and researchers in Japan, it defeated numerous strong programs to achieve a splendid victory. By applying AI technologies, including deep learning, to Shogi, a highly intellectual game, and learning from vast amounts of game data, 'Hyocho' has achieved advanced judgment capabilities and reading accuracy.
・3rd Place 'dlshogi'
'dlshogi' is a Shogi AI that HEROZ AI engineer Kaoru Kawashima (pen name: Tadao Yamaoka) has continuously researched and developed. As a pioneering program that authentically applied deep learning to Shogi AI, it has attracted attention from AI researchers both domestically and internationally. In this tournament, it also demonstrated stable strength, achieving a 3rd place finish.
The fact that two different AIs took 1st and 3rd place in this tournament is not just a competitive achievement; it is also a testament to the advanced technical capabilities in AI learning, inference, and judgment that HEROZ has accumulated over many years through its research and development in Shogi AI.
■ Winner's Comment
This time, the Shogi software 'Hyocho' won the 36th World Computer Shogi Championship.
In recent computer Shogi tournaments, the tendency for the first player to have an advantage has been strong overall, but this time, that trend felt even more pronounced. In such circumstances, I am very pleased to have won through tough matches and achieved victory.
I will continue to strive for the development of Shogi AI. Furthermore, beyond just pursuing strength, I will further develop initiatives such as game commentary and situation verbalization using LLM, contributing to improving the viewing experience and promoting Shogi. (Yuhei Omori, HEROZ AI Engineer)
■ 3rd Place Comment
In the 36th World Computer Shogi Championship, dlshogi placed 3rd.
Although we narrowly missed the championship by 0.5 wins, we achieved the highest rank for a Shogi AI that uses only a deep learning model.
The model and joseki used in the tournament will be provided on 'Kishin Analytics' in the future. We hope you will find it useful for Shogi research and other purposes. (Kaoru Kawashima, HEROZ AI Engineer)
■ About 'Kishin Analytics'
'Kishin Analytics' was launched in May 2022 to allow easy access to the latest Shogi AI research. It is a Shogi AI analysis system aimed at both casual Shogi fans and professionals. The models used in this tournament are also scheduled to be implemented soon.
In addition, 'Kishin Analytics' is linked to game records within 'Shogi Wars,' provided by HEROZ, allowing for analysis by Hyocho and dlshogi through 'Kishin Analytics' with a single button click from 'Shogi Wars.'
■ About 'Shogi Wars'
A Shogi battle platform provided by HEROZ, officially recognized by the Japan Shogi Association, with over 8 million cumulative members and 1.15 billion cumulative games played.
A collaboration event with the manga 'The God in Front of My Eyes' is currently running from May 1st to May 29th.
Event page ▶ https://shogiwars.heroz.jp/topics/69e0fc925c5ebbf7a8a19df5
※Company names, product/service names (including logos, etc.) mentioned are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective rights holders.
■ About 'HEROZ Corporation'
HEROZ Corporation is an AI company aiming to create services that surprise the world. Centered on proprietary AI born from Shogi AI research and development, including deep learning, etc.