Karolina Fortin Explained

Karolina Fortin
Maiden Name:Styczyńska
Born:June 17, 1991
Hometown:Warsaw
Badge No:W-59
Teacher:Daisuke Katagami
Teacher Rank:7-dan
Rank:Women's 1-dan
Wins:36
Losses:50
Jsa:59
Female:yes
Othersite:https://shogiismylife.wordpress.com/

Karolina Fortin ((pronounced as /pl/), 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]

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.[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 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

Year LevelTournamentPlaceReferences
2009AmateurEuropean Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		15th[13]
2010AmateurEuropean Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		5th[14]
2011AmateurEuropean Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		11th[15]
2013AmateurEuropean Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		4th[16]
2013Amateur26th Japan Amateur Ryu-oh TournamentPreliminary round
2014AmateurEuropean Championship,
World Shogi Open Championship		1st[17]

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.[18] [19] 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 in Tokyo she was promoted to 2-kyū on February 20, 2017, thus becoming the first non-Japanese to be awarded full professional status.

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 20202021 shogi year.[27]

On August 11, 2021, the 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. 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]

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 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 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.[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.

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

On September 12, 2022, the 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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: . Polish woman becomes 1st non-Japanese shogi pro. February 20, 2017. NHK World. February 21, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170221193412/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170220_26/. February 21, 2017.
  2. Web site: . Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka Joryū Sankyū ga Joryu Nikyū ni Shōkyū. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Stycnska women's 3 kyu promoted to 2 kyu. February 20, 2017. Japan Shogi Association. February 21, 2017.
  3. News: . Polish woman becomes first foreign female pro 'shogi' player in Japan. February 21, 2017. The Japan Times. Kyodo News. February 21, 2017.
  4. News: Murase. Shinya. Polish woman, 25, becomes first foreign 'shogi' professional. February 21, 2017. Asahi Shimbun. February 21, 2017.
  5. News: Du. Lisa. Japan Shogi Association to Train Foreign Woman for First Time. June 29, 2015. The Wall Street Journal. February 21, 2017.
  6. News: . Polish woman breathes fresh air into traditional world of shogi. March 17, 2012. Mainichi Shimbun. Features. Kyodo News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120319161336/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/features/news/20120317p2g00m0fe018000c.html. March 19, 2012. February 21, 2017.
  7. News: Osawa. Yuji. Japanese Chess Goes Global. December 25, 2015. Japan in Depth. NHK World. February 21, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429040335/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/japanindepth/20151225.html. April 29, 2017.
  8. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Dainiki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen Ichijiyosen Kaigaishōtaisenshu ni Karorīna Sutechensuka-san ga Shutsujō. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska invited to participate in 2nd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament. April 21, 2012. Japan Shogi Association. February 21, 2011.
  9. News: . The Internet army: Foreign shogi players raise their games online. August 30, 2012. Asahi Shimbun. February 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170223130342/http://globe.asahi.com/feature/article/2012083000007.html. February 23, 2017. dead.
  10. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Dainiki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen Karorīna Sutechensyka-san Joryūkishi ni Shōri. ja: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. ja. Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska defeats woman professional at 2nd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament. May 19, 2012. Japan Shogi Association. February 21, 2017.
  11. News: . Kaigaishōtai no Ama Ichijiyosendomari Shōgi Joryū Ōzasen. ja:海外招待のアマ 1次予選止まり 将棋・女流王座戦. ja. Non-Japanese amateur fails to advance past preliminary round. May 21, 2013. Asahi Shimbun. February 21, 2017.
  12. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Daisanki Rikōhai Joryū Ōzasen, Karorīna Sutechensyka-san, Joryūkishi ni Nishōme. ja: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. ja. Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska defeats woman professional for second time at 3rd Ricoh Cup Women's Oza Tournament. May 18, 2013. Japan Shogi Association. February 21, 2017.
  13. Web site: European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2009. Federation of European Shogi Associations. February 22, 2017.
  14. Web site: European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2010. Federation of European Shogi Associations. February 22, 2017.
  15. Web site: European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2011. Federation of European Shogi Associations. February 22, 2017.
  16. Web site: European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2013. Federation of European Shogi Associations. February 22, 2017.
  17. Web site: European Championship / World Open Shogi Championship 2014. Federation of European Shogi Associations. February 22, 2017.
  18. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san no Kenshūkai Jukenkekka, Ikkaime wa Isshō Sanpai. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska training group test result: first attempt, one win and three loses. May 27, 2013. Japan Shogi Association. February 23, 2017.
  19. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san no Kenshūkai Jukenkekka, C2 Kurasu Gōkaku. ja: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. ja. Karolina Styczyńska training group test result: overall record of three wins and five losses, accepted in to class C2. June 24, 2013. Japan Shogi Association. February 23, 2017.
  20. News: . Pole first woman to join pro 'shogi' training course. June 25, 2013. The Japan Times. Kyodo News. subscription . February 21, 2017.
  21. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensyka-san Jūgatsu kara Kenshūkai C2 Kurasu de Taikyoku Kaishi. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska begins C2 training group play from October. October 1, 2013. Japan Shogi Association. February 23, 2017.
  22. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensuka Kenshūkaiin Joryūkishi Sankyū no Shikaku wo Kakutoku. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska qualifies for women's professional 3 kyū. June 29, 2015. Japan Shogi Association. February 23, 2017.
  23. News: Osumi. Magdelena. Polish woman becomes shogi queen in rare move for foreigner. June 29, 2015. The Japan Times. February 23, 2017.
  24. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Karorīna Sutechensuka Kenshūkaiin Jūgatsu yori Joryūkishi Sankyū ni. ja: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. ja. Shogi News: Karolina Styczyńska officially becomes a women's professional 3-kyu from October. August 25, 2015. Japan Shogi Association. February 23, 2017.
  25. News: Yamamura. Hideki. Japan's first foreign female pro shogi player scores win. March 17, 2017. Mainichi Shimbun. April 3, 2017.
  26. Web site: Shōdan･Intai Kishi no Oshirase. ja:昇段･引退棋士のお知らせ. ja. Announcement: Professional promotions and retirements. April 1, 2017. Japan Shogi Association. March 31, 2017.
  27. Web site: Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjō Kishi no Oshirase. ja:昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ. ja. Announcement: shogi player promotions, retirements and leave of absences. April 1, 2021. Japan Shogi Association. April 2, 2021.
  28. Web site: Karorīna Sutechensuka Joryū Shodan, Kyūjo no Oshirase. ja:カロリーナ･ステチェンスカ女流初段, 休場のお知らせ. ja. Women's professional 1-dan Karolina Styczyńska granted official leave of absence.. August 11, 2021. Japan Shogi Association. August 13, 2021.
  29. Styczyńska. Karolina. oneeye. 1425289369242411009. I will be taking a break and coming back abroad.. August 11, 2021. September 2, 2021.
  30. . Chunichi_News. 1425293917348454406. Karolina Styczynska, a shogi professional from Poland, has decided to return to Europe.. August 11, 2021. September 2, 2021.
  31. Web site: . Shōdan･Intai･Kyūjo Kishi no Oshirase. ja:昇段･引退･休場棋士のお知らせ. ja. Promotions, retirements and leaves of absence. April 3, 2023. Japan Shogi Association. April 5, 2023.
  32. News: . Hatsu no Gaikokujin Joryūkishi, Forutan Joryū Shodan ga Intai. ja:初の外国人女流棋士, フォルタン女流初段が引退. ja. First non-Japanese women's professional shogi player Fortin 1-dan retires. April 4, 2023. Chunichi Shimbun. April 5, 2023.
  33. Web site: Fortin. Karolina. About retirement. April 3, 2023. Shogi is my life. April 5, 2023.
  34. Web site: . Taikyoku Yotei･Kekka, Kiroku: Joryū Kishi Tsūsan Seiseki. deviated. ja:対局予定･結果, 記録: 女流棋士通算成績. ja. Game Schedule, Results and Records: Women's shogi professional career records. March 16, 2023. Japan Shogi Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317023153/https://www.shogi.or.jp/game/record/all_lady.html. March 17, 2023. April 5, 2023.
  35. Web site: Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: K･ステチェンスカ Shōdan Rireki. ja:女流棋士データベース:K･ステチェンスカ 昇段履歴. ja. Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Karolina Styczyńska Promotion History. Japan Shogi Association. April 5, 2023.
  36. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: Etere 'Shinshun Okonomi Shōgi Taikyoku 2014 Sashizome Watanabe Akira NHK Hai no Donto Kakattekoi!'. ja: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. ja. Shogi news: NHK-E New Year Shogi Special "Akira Watanabe NHK Cup Champion accepts the challenge!. December 26, 2013. Japan Shogi Association. February 21, 2017.
  37. Web site: Eiou-sen Second Stage Finals: Amahiko Satō (9-dan) vs. Shōta Chida (5-dan). 11 December 2016 . Dwango. February 23, 2017.
  38. Nisennen Sangatsu Nijūhachinichi Hōsō. ja:2017年3月28日放送. ja. March 28, 2017 broadcast. March 28, 2017. Genki no Apuri. Nippon TV. March 30, 2017.
  39. Web site: Shōgi Nyūsu: 3/28 Nippon Terebi 'Genki no Apuri" ni Karorīna Joryū Nikyū ga Shutsuen!. ja: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!. ja. Shogi news: Karolina Styczyńska women's professional 2-kyū will appear on Nippon TV's "Genki no Apuri" on March 28. March 27, 2017. Japan Shogi Association. March 30, 2017.
  40. Web site: Sherman. Jennifer. 1st Foreign Female Pro Shogi Player Inspires Anime Short by Colorido. June 15, 2018. Anime News Network. August 30, 2018.
  41. Web site: Chapman. Paul. CalorieMate Celebrates Polish Shogi Player in "Susume, Karolina" Web Anime. April 4, 2018. Crunchyroll. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180830110217/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2018/04/04/caloriemate-celebrates-polish-shogi-player-in-susume-karolina-web-anime. August 30, 2018. September 10, 2018.
  42. Web site: Karorīmeito ga Eiyo Suponsā Keiyaku wo Musubu Gaikokujin Hatsu no Joryūkishi Karorīna･Sutechensuka no Kore made wo Eigaita Shōtoanime ｢Susume, Karorina.｣ ga Zenpenkōkai!. ja: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!. ja. Full version of CalorieMate's promotional web anime "Go, Karolina" about Karolina Styczyńska, the first non-Japanese female professional shogi player, officially released. June 15, 2018. PR Times. August 30, 2018.
  43. News: . First foreign female professional shogi player grateful for support. February 21, 2017. Mainichi Shimbun. February 28, 2017.
  44. Web site: Styczyńska. Karolina. Tokyo!. Shogi is my life. March 29, 2018 . April 3, 2018.
  45. Web site: Karorīna Joryū Sankyū,「Kōfu Taishi」 ni=. ja:カロリーナ女流3級, ｢甲府大使｣に. ja. Women's professional 3kyu Karolina Styczyńska named Kōfu City Ambassador. March 29, 2016. Japan Shogi Association. April 4, 2021.
  46. News: . Polando Shusshin Joryū Kishi Karorīna-san, Bōkoku ni Eru ｢Saigo made besuto wo｣. ja: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｣. ja. Polish women's shogi professional player Karolina gives a shout-out to the Poland national football team. June 28, 2018. Sports Nippon. April 4, 2021.
  47. Web site: Kōfu Taishi. ja:甲府大使. ja. Kōfu Ambassadors. Kōfu City. April 4, 2021.
  48. Web site: Karorīna Sutechensyka Joryū Shodan ga Kekkon. ja:カロリーナ ステチェンスカ女流初段が結婚. ja. Karolina Styczyńska gets married. September 12, 2022. Japan Shogi Association. September 14, 2022.

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