Yoshiharu Habu (Mainichi/Koichi Yamashita)

Leading shogi player Yoshiharu Habu lost his Ryuo title by giving up a best-of-seven series 3-4 to challenger Akito Hirose in a game held in the city of Shimonoseki in the western Japan prefecture of Yamaguchi on Dec. 21.

It is the first time for Habu, 48, to stand without a major shogi title in 27 years since he lost the Ryuo title in November 1990. Habu played in three title games this season, but was unable to mark a 100th major shogi title -- a feat achieved by no one so far.

For Hirose, 31, this is the second time to win a major title since his winning of the Oi tournament in 2010.

(Mainichi)