Intellectual games are becoming increasingly popular at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. University-wide and city chess tournaments hosted on campus have attracted growing participation, with Polytechnic students consistently achieving outstanding results. More recently, tournaments in Go and Shogi have also been added, promoted by the Ukrainian-Japanese Center. These Japanese strategy games can be considered close relatives of chess, offering even broader strategic possibilities.
Recently, a Shogi tournament was held under the patronage of the Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine. The winner was Maksym Vynohradov, a student of the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics and a Shogi instructor at the Ukrainian-Japanese Center. He shared his passion for the game and spoke about the development of Shogi in Ukraine.
"The popularity of shogi in Ukraine remains relatively low: it is a niche intellectual game that is not easy to master on one's own. Beginners often find it difficult to quickly memorize the kanji characters on the pieces, learn the rules, and understand the basic strategic concepts without guidance from an instructor," Maksym explained. "The main centers for the development of shogi are Japanese culture clubs and educational courses. At Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, a shogi course has been running for the past two years, during which we have trained around 50 players. Among those who have learned to play are Polina Tsutevych (Faculty of Physics and Mathematics), Alina Dorofieieva, Maksym Lando (Faculty of Applied Mathematics), Andrii Zaiachkovskyi, and others. Most newcomers discover shogi either through an interest in Japanese culture, often after attending festivals, or through chess, when players learn about this unique variation of the game and want to explore it."
The course is structured in several stages. Students first learn the rules of the game, complete simple exercises, and memorize the pieces through practice and personal associations. They then move on to the basic principles of opening play and tactical patterns, combining the classical concepts of chess with shogi-specific combinations. Finally, they study defensive techniques and begin developing their own playing style. After just two or three lessons, beginners are usually able to play independently.
As Maksym explained, both offline competitions organized by clubs and the national federation, as well as online tournaments, are held in Ukraine. Among the most popular are international events organized by Shogi Harbor and the World Shogi League, as well as tournaments hosted by European shogi clubs. For Ukrainian players, the most prestigious over-the-board competition is the European Shogi Championship.
"The atmosphere within the Ukrainian shogi community is more friendly and academic than fiercely competitive," Maksym Vynohradov noted. "Players are always willing to help one another, exchange experience, and analyze games together. Cooperation with Japanese organizations and the support of the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine are also very important, as they regularly contribute to shogi-related events. For members of the shogi community, it is not just a game but also a way to develop critical thinking, a platform for cultural exchange, and an opportunity to make new friends and connect with like-minded people."
Maksym became interested in shogi while already being a chess player. The game attracted him with its more sophisticated mechanics and greater strategic freedom. "Over time, shogi became a way for me to develop analytical, strategic, and logical thinking," he said. He added, "Today I teach shogi at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, conduct workshops, and help beginners take their first steps in the game. I currently estimate my playing strength at around 3-dan, and I understand that this is only one stage in a long journey of continuous improvement."
His mentor, Maksym says, is Borys Baidenko, a shogi instructor who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Borys Valentynovych is a graduate of the Educational and Research Institute of Physics and Technology. During his student years, he won an international mathematics olympiad (2005), the Student of Kyiv competition, and numerous other academic and extracurricular contests. His portrait is displayed in the Gallery of Distinguished Students at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (Building No. 1).
Today, Borys Baidenko is a multiple-time Ukrainian Shogi Champion (2011–2017, 2020, 2022), winner of the Ukrainian Shogi Cup (2015, 2016, 2018, 2020), World Team Champion with the Ukrainian national team at WOSC/ESC 2015 (Prague, Czech Republic), and Ukraine's representative at the 7th International Shogi Forum (ISF) (2017, Kitakyushu, Japan). The university can rightfully take pride in its champion, mentor, and defender.
"In my opinion, everyone interested in intellectual games should give shogi a try," Maksym Vynohradov concluded. "In a way, it is a more multidimensional version of chess—like comparing 3D with 2D—which opens up far broader possibilities for strategic thinking and creativity."
Nadiia Libert
Background: Like every ancient game, the history of shogi is surrounded by legends. In ancient Japan, two great armies faced each other in battle. One marched under white banners, the other under black. The fierce battle lasted for three days and three nights until the warriors had slain one another without ever knowing who had won. Afterward, a monk-magician came to the battlefield and sealed the souls of the twenty greatest warriors from each army into forty small wooden pieces. On each piece he inscribed the name of the warrior whose soul it contained and arranged the pieces on a game board exactly as the warriors had stood in battle. The monk then presented the board to the Sun Goddess, regarded as the ancestor of the Japanese people. By moving the pieces across the board, the goddess caused the two armies to fight again and again. Thus, according to legend, Japanese chess—shogi—was born. As in traditional chess, the objective of the game is to capture the opponent's king by delivering checkmate. Players take turns making moves, and all pieces are the same color. The owner of a piece is determined by the direction in which its pointed end faces: if it points away from you, it is your piece; if it points toward you, it belongs to your opponent. Compared with classical chess, shogi offers a significantly greater number of possible moves and a much wider range of strategic combinations. Today, around 20 million people worldwide know the rules of shogi, while approximately 100,000 play the game regularly. In 2020, the Ukrainian Shogi Dojo was officially recognized as a branch of the Japan Shogi Association. It currently operates through two centers, located in Kyiv and Lviv.
🇯🇵 🇺🇦 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 DojoCongratulations 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!