Karolina Fortin

Karolina Fortin (née Styczyńska (Polish: [stɨˈtʂɨj̃ska]), Japanese: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカ; born June 17, 1991) is a retired Polish women's professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 1-dan. She is the first non-Japanese to be awarded professional status by the Japan Shogi Association.[1][2][3][4]

Karolina Fortin
Styczyńska at the World Open Shogi Championship in 2013
Maiden nameStyczyńska
Born (1991-06-17) June 17, 1991
HometownWarsaw
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2017(2017-04-01) (aged 25)
Badge NumberW-59
RankWomen's 1-dan
RetiredMarch 31, 2023(2023-03-31) (aged 31)
TeacherDaisuke Katagami (7-dan)
Career record36–50 (.419)
Websites
JSA profile page
https://shogiismylife.wordpress.com/

Shogi

Amateur

Styczyńska started playing shogi as a teenager after seeing the game depicted in an issue of the Japanese manga Naruto. She learned the rules of the game on the Internet, then began studying on her own using online materials and videos.[3][4][5]

She began playing online games at a website called 81Dojo, where her strong play was eventually noticed by women's professional Madoka Kitao. Kitao was impressed by Styczyńska's ability and invited her to come to Japan for a two-week trip to study shogi in 2011. After arriving in Tokyo, Styczyńska was given a test at the headquarters of the Japan Shogi Association and awarded the rank of amateur 4-dan.[6][7]

Styczyńska was invited to participate as the tournament's non-Japanese representative in Tokyo in the preliminary round of the 2nd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament on May 19, 2012. Although she did not advance beyond the preliminary round, she became the first non-Japanese female amateur to defeat a women's professional in an official game.[8][9][10]

She was again selected to be the non-Japanese representative for the 3rd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament held in May 2013. As in the previous year, she was unable to advance beyond the preliminary round, but was able to defeat a women's professional for the second time.[11][12]

Major tournament results
Styczyńska and trophy with Madoka Kitao
Year Level Tournament Place References
2009 Amateur European Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		 15th [13]
2010 Amateur European Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		 5th [14]
2011 Amateur European Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		 11th [15]
2013 Amateur European Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		 4th [16]
2013 Amateur 26th Japan Amateur Ryu-oh Tournament Preliminary round [17]
2014 Amateur European Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		 1st [18]

Training group member

In June 2013, Styczyńska became the first non-Japanese female to be accepted into one of the Japan Shogi Association's training groups. Her test consisted of eight games against members of various training groups and she finished with an overall record of three wins and five losses. Based upon this result and the strength of her opponents, the JSA accepted her into the C2 training group.[19][17] Her participation in the C2 group was delayed until the following October to allow her to graduate from college back in Poland.[20] On October 1, she officially began play in the C2 training group.[21]

Professional

Styczyńska was promoted to the C1 training group in June 2015, which qualified her to be awarded the provisional women's professional rank of 3-kyū.[22] She submitted an official request to receive the rank and her promotion became official on October 1, 2015.[23][24] Following a win against Minami Sadamasu in a preliminary game of the 44th Women’s Meijin tournament in Tokyo she was promoted to 2-kyū on February 20, 2017, thus becoming the first non-Japanese to be awarded full professional status.[1][2][3][4]

Styczyńska's first win as a professional came on March 16, 2017; it was her second official game since becoming a professional.[25] She was promoted to women's professional 1-kyū on April 1, 2017, for winning seven or more official games during the shogi year April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017.[26] On April 1, 2021, she was promoted to the rank of women's professional 1-dan for achieving the required number of wins (eight or more) need to earn promotion to 1-dan during the 2020–2021 shogi year.[27]

On August 11, 2021, the JSA announced on its official website that Styczyńska had been granted an official leave of absence from August 11, 2021, until March 31, 2022. The JSA's announcement only stated that the leave was being granted for personal reasons.[28] Styczyńska tweeted later that same day that she "will be taking a break and coming back abroad" and would be "leaving at the end of this month", but gave no further details;[29] Chunichi News, however, tweeted something as well that the reason Styczyńska's decided to take official leave was due to concerns about not being able to return home to see her family due to COVID-19 making international travel difficult.[30]

Fortin's retirement as a women's professional shogi player was announced by the JSA on April 3, 2023. The JSA stated she had submitted her retirement papers and they were officially processed on March 31, 2023.[31] In a blog post published on the same day, Fortin stated she had decided to remain in Europe for family reasons and thus would not be returning to Japan to continue her career as a women's professional shogi player.[32][33] Fortin stated that she would continue her efforts to teach and promote shogi outside of Japan.[33] Fortin's record as a women's professional was 36 wins and 50 losses for a winning percentage of 0.4186.[34]

Promotion history

Styczyńska's promotion history is as follows:[35]

  • 3-kyū: October 1, 2015
  • 2-kyū: February 20, 2017
  • 1: 1-kyū: April 1, 2017
  • 1-dan: April 1, 2021
  • Retired: March 31, 2023

Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.

Media appearances

Styczyńska was one of three opponents chosen to play exhibition games against 62nd NHK Cup champion Akira Watanabe on NHK-E's 2014 New Year's Shogi Special.[36]　

She also served as assistant commentator for Dwango's Niconico English web broadcast of Game 2 of the 2nd Eiō Championship in December 2016.[37]

On March 28, 2017, Styczyńska appeared on Nippon TV's Genki no Apuri program. She was interviewed about her reasons for starting to play shogi and the preparation she undertook to becoming a shogi professional as well as the difficulties she faced getting used to sitting seiza-style during professional games.[38][39]

In April 2018, Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced that they had agreed to sponsor Styczyńska and use her in a promotional campaign for the company's CalorieMate products. Part of the campaign included a web anime about Styczyńska's experience in becoming a professional shogi player titled Go, Karolina (Japanese: すすめ, カロリーナ, Hepburn: Susume, Karolīna) which was directed by Mateusz Urbanowicz and produced by Studio Colorido. Three versions of the web anime were officially released in June 2018.[40][41][42]

Personal life

Styczyńska enrolled in Yamanashi Gakuin University in Kōfu, Yamanashi Prefecture after moving to Japan in 2013.[3][43] In March 2018, she finished her master's thesis and graduated. She lived in Kōfu during her time as a student, but moved to Tokyo after graduating.[44][40] Her hobbies are computers, manga, and music.[2]

Styczyńska was named a goodwill ambassador for the city of Kōfu in March 2016.[45][46][47]

On September 12, 2022, the JSA posted on its official website that Styczyńska had gotten married in August 2022 and would now be active professionally under her married name "Fortin".[48] After getting married, Fortin and her husband based themselves out of Switzerland.[32]

References
  1. "Polish woman becomes 1st non-Japanese shogi pro". NHK World. February 20, 2017. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  2. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka Joryū Sankyū ga Joryu Nikyū ni Shōkyū" 将棋ニュース: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカ女流3級が女流2級に昇級 [Shogi News: Karolina Stycnska women's 3 kyu promoted to 2 kyu] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  3. "Polish woman becomes first foreign female pro 'shogi' player in Japan". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  4. Murase, Shinya (February 21, 2017). "Polish woman, 25, becomes first foreign 'shogi' professional". Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  5. Du, Lisa (June 29, 2015). "Japan Shogi Association to Train Foreign Woman for First Time". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  6. "Polish woman breathes fresh air into traditional world of shogi". Features. Mainichi Shimbun. Kyodo News. March 17, 2012. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  7. Osawa, Yuji (December 25, 2015). "Japanese Chess Goes Global". Japan in Depth. NHK World. Archived from the original on April 29, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  8. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Dainiki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen Ichijiyosen Kaigaishōtaisenshu ni Karorīna Sutechensuka-san ga Shutsujō" 将棋ニュース: 第2期リコー杯女流王座戦1次予選海外招待選手にカロリーナ・ステチェンスカさんが出場 [Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska invited to participate in 2nd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 21, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  9. "The Internet army: Foreign shogi players raise their games online". Asahi Shimbun. August 30, 2012. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  10. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Dainiki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen Karorīna Sutechensyka-san Joryūkishi ni Shōri" 将棋ニュース: 第2期リコー杯女流王座戦, カロリーナ・ステチェンスカさん, 女流棋士に勝利 [Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska defeats woman professional at 2nd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 19, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  11. "Kaigaishōtai no Ama Ichijiyosendomari Shōgi Joryū Ōzasen" 海外招待のアマ 1次予選止まり 将棋・女流王座戦 [Non-Japanese amateur fails to advance past preliminary round]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 21, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  12. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Daisanki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen, Karorīna Sutechensyka-san, Joryūkishi ni Nishōme" 将棋ニュース: 第3期リコー杯女流王座戦, カロリーナ・ステチェンスカさん, 女流棋士に２勝目 [Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska defeats woman professional for second time at 3rd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 18, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  13. "European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2009". Federation of European Shogi Associations. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  14. "European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2010". Federation of European Shogi Associations. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  15. "European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2011". Federation of European Shogi Associations. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  16. "European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2013". Federation of European Shogi Associations. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  17. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san no Kenshūkai Jukenkekka, C2 Kurasu Gōkaku" 将棋ニュース:カロリーナ・ステチェンスカさんの研修会受験結果 通算3勝5敗で, C2クラス合格 [Karolina Styczyńska training group test result: overall record of three wins and five losses, accepted in to class C2] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 24, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  18. "European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2014". Federation of European Shogi Associations. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
  19. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san no Kenshūkai Jukenkekka, Ikkaime wa Isshō Sanpai" 将棋ニュース: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカさんの研修会受験結果 1回目は1勝3敗 [Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska training group test result: first attempt, one win and three loses] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 27, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  20. "Pole first woman to join pro 'shogi' training course". The Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 25, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  21. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san Jūgatsu kara Kenshūkai C2 Kurasu de Taikyoku Kaishi" 将棋ニュース: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカさん 10月から研修会Ｃ２クラスで対局開始 [Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska begins C2 training group play from October] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. October 1, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  22. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensuka Kenshūkaiin Joryūkishi Sankyū no Shikaku wo Kakutoku" 将棋ニュース: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカ研修会員 女流棋士3級の資格を取得 [Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska qualifies for women's professional 3 kyū] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 29, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  23. Osumi, Magdelena (June 29, 2015). "Polish woman becomes shogi queen in rare move for foreigner". The Japan Times. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  24. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensuka Kenshūkaiin Jūgatsu yori Joryūkishi Sankyū ni" 将棋ニュース: カロリーナ・ステチェンスカ研修会員 10月より女流棋士3級に [Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska officially becomes a women's professional 3-kyu from October] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. August 25, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  25. Yamamura, Hideki (March 17, 2017). "Japan's first foreign female pro shogi player scores win". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  26. "Shōdan･Intai Kishi no Oshirase" 昇段･引退棋士のお知らせ [Announcement: Professional promotions and retirements] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  27. "Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjō Kishi no Oshirase" 昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ [Announcement: shogi player promotions, retirements and leave of absences] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  28. "Karorīna Sutechensuka Joryū Shodan, Kyūjo no Oshirase" カロリーナ･ステチェンスカ女流初段, 休場のお知らせ [Women's professional 1-dan Karolina Styczyńska granted official leave of absence.] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  29. Styczyńska, Karolina [@oneeye] (August 11, 2021). "I will be taking a break and coming back abroad" (Tweet). Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
  30. @Chunichi_News (August 11, 2021). "Karolina Styczynska, a shogi professional from Poland, has decided to return to Europe" (Tweet). Retrieved September 2, 2021 – via Twitter.
  31. "Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjo Kishi no Oshirase" 昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ [Promotions, retirements and leaves of absence] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  32. "Hatsu no Gaikokujin Joryūkishi, Forutan Joryū Shodan ga Intai" 初の外国人女流棋士, フォルタン女流初段が引退 [First non-Japanese women's professional shogi player Fortin 1-dan retires]. Chunichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  33. Fortin, Karolina (April 3, 2023). "About retirement". Shogi is my life. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  34. "Taikyoku Yotei･Kekka, Kiroku: Joryū Kishi Tsūsan Seiseki" 対局予定･結果, 記録: 女流棋士通算成績 [Game Schedule, Results and Records: Women's shogi professional career records] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  35. "Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: K･ステチェンスカ Shōdan Rireki" 女流棋士データベース:K･ステチェンスカ 昇段履歴 [Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Karolina Styczyńska Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  36. "Shōgi Nyūsu: Etere 'Shinshun Okonomi Shōgi Taikyoku 2014 Sashizome Watanabe Akira NHK Hai no Donto Kakattekoi!'" 将棋ニュース: Eテレ｢新春お好み将棋 2014指し初め 渡辺明NHK杯のど～んとかかって来い！｣のお知らせ [Shogi news: NHK-E New Year Shogi Special "Akira Watanabe NHK Cup Champion accepts the challenge!] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. December 26, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  37. "Eiou-sen Second Stage Finals: Amahiko Satō (9-dan) vs. Shōta Chida (5-dan)". Dwango. 11 December 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
  38. "Nisennen Sangatsu Nijūhachinichi Hōsō" 2017年3月28日放送 [March 28, 2017 broadcast]. Genki no Apuri (in Japanese). Nippon TV. March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  39. "Shōgi Nyūsu: 3/28 Nippon Terebi 'Genki no Apuri" ni Karorīna Joryū Nikyū ga Shutsuen!" 将棋ニュース: 3/28 日本テレビ ｢元気のアプリ｣ にカロリーナ女流2級が出演! [Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska women's professional 2-kyū will appear on Nippon TV's "Genki no Apuri" on March 28] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 27, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  40. Sherman, Jennifer (June 15, 2018). "1st Foreign Female Pro Shogi Player Inspires Anime Short by Colorido". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  41. Chapman, Paul (April 4, 2018). "CalorieMate Celebrates Polish Shogi Player in "Susume, Karolina" Web Anime". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  42. "Karorīmeito ga Eiyo Suponsā Keiyaku wo Musubu Gaikokujin Hatsu no Joryūkishi Karorīna･Sutechensuka no Kore made wo Eigaita Shōtoanime ｢Susume, Karorina.｣ ga Zenpenkōkai!" カロリーメイトが栄養スポンサー契約を結ぶ外国人初の女流棋士カロリーナ･ステチェンスカのこれまでを描いたショートアニメ ｢すすめ, カロリーナ.｣ が全編公開! [Full version of CalorieMate's promotional web anime "Go, Karolina" about Karolina Styczyńska, the first non-Japanese female professional shogi player, officially released] (in Japanese). PR Times. June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  43. "First foreign female professional shogi player grateful for support". Mainichi Shimbun. February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  44. Styczyńska, Karolina (March 29, 2018). "Tokyo!". Shogi is my life. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  45. "Karorīna Joryū Sankyū,「Kōfu Taishi」 ni=" カロリーナ女流3級, ｢甲府大使｣に [Women's professional 3kyu Karolina Styczyńska named Kōfu City Ambassador] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 29, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  46. "Polando Shusshin Joryū Kishi Karorīna-san, Bōkoku ni Eru ｢Saigo made besuto wo｣" ポーランド出身女流棋士カロリーナさん, 母国にエール ｢最後までベストを｣ [Polish women's shogi professional player Karolina gives a shout-out to the Poland national football team]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). June 28, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  47. "Kōfu Taishi" 甲府大使 [Kōfu Ambassadors] (in Japanese). Kōfu City. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  48. "Karorīna Sutechensyka Joryū Shodan ga Kekkon" カロリーナ ステチェンスカ女流初段が結婚 [Karolina Styczyńska gets married] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
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