Who is the current world shogi champion?

BRY2K

I believe it is Gekisashi. Computer program Gekisashi beat Shimizugami. The time limit was 1 hour with 1 minute byoyomi. Gekisashi was sente. Shimizugami Toru was the Amateur Meijin. Gekisashi is world computer champion. The game was 149 moves. The game was played November 8, 2008 at the Game Programming orkshop. (The moves are atwww.computer-shogi.org/kifu/gpw2008/vs_shimizugami.sjis.csa ) This is the first time an amateur champion was beaten by a computer in a 1 hour game. http://groups.google.com/group/shogi-l/msg/2507f9545677ce5d Jan 25 09, 12:57 PM

grolich

Actually despite the previous reply, there's a huge strength gap between the top amateur players and the top professional players, so beating the top amateur player, while a great achievement, does not represent the strongest player. In recent years, Toshiyuki Moriuchi and Yoshiharu Habu have been fighting for the (professional) meijin title. They are probably the 2 top players today. Although Shogi programs will perhaps reach top professional level in the future, they are not yet there. May 12 12, 11:10 AM