🇯🇵 🇺🇦 The Ukrainian-Japanese Center at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute hosted the qualifying round of the 2026 Japanese Ambassador’s Cup Open Shogi Tournament—an ancient Japanese intellectual game that combines logic, strategic thinking, and philosophy.
🤝 Among the distinguished guests was Masashi Nakagome, the Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine, whose visit underscored the event’s importance for intercultural dialogue between our countries.
📌 The Shogi tournament qualifiers at KPI featured:
• 34 participants—from beginners to ranked players—a friendly atmosphere, and the thrill of competition;
• Over 6 hours of intense games;
• The Swiss system: 4–5 rounds.
🏆 Based on the results of the first day of play at KPI, the finalists were determined, who continued their battle for the Cup at the Residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine.
Event organizers:
• Embassy of Japan in Ukraine
• Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Ukrainian-Japanese Center
• Ukrainian Shogi Federation
• Japan Dojo
Congratulations to the winner
The winner of the tournament is Maksym Vynohradov!
Maksym works as a shogi instructor at the Ukrainian-Japanese Center and is also a student in the Department of Physics and Mathematics, majoring in mathematics, at Igor Sikorsky KPI. His journey in shogi began right here at the UJC under Boris Baidenko, a shogi instructor who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We are extremely proud of Maksym and sincerely delighted by his success!