An interesting article was translated into English on The Mainichi Daily News.
White pieces had better win-rate in last year's shogi events - The Mainichi Daily News
Players using the white pieces -- which go second -- won more often than those using the black during the 2008 shogi season, the first time since stats were first kept by the Japan Shogi Association in fiscal 1967.
Of the 2,323 public matches in fiscal 2008, white players won 1,167 and lost 1,156, a win rate of 50.2 percent, it was discovered on Tuesday. The previous highest win rate was 49.5 percent in fiscal 1968, and the lowest 46.4 percent in fiscal 2004.
"With the Gokigen-Nakabisha, which doesn't impede the movement of the bishop, and other ploys, the breadth of strategies for white players has increased in recent years," said Meijin Yoshiharu Habu. "I believe the repeated use of these stratagems as openings has led to the increase in the win rate."
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) March 31, 2009
As you may already know, the draw rate in shogi is very low such as 1 or 2 %.
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