The Italian Shogi Association (AIS) has existed for twenty-five years and has been recognized as the official Italian partner by FESA (Federation of European Shogi Associations) and NSR (Nihon Shogi Renmei, the Japanese Association of Professional Shogi Players). FESA and NSR collaborate exclusively with serious, reliable, and credible national associations comprised of real people—those with names, faces, and a genuine passion for promoting Shogi and Japanese culture without personal gain.

In recent months, AIS has had to officially deny false claims about the supposed closure of the Association. We want to reassure everyone that AIS is fully operational and continues to work actively to spread Shogi in Italy, with the support of official institutions.

Unfortunately, we find ourselves compelled to intervene again (our initial communication is available at this link) to unequivocally clarify a situation that has exceeded acceptable limits regarding statements disseminated by Mr. Calogero Salomon.

To be clear, there are no conspiracies, plots, or even hacking of any kind involved: this is simply a matter of transparency and respect for the truth.

Recently, Mr. Salomon published defamatory articles in his magazine targeting FESA and AIS and initiated a dispute with NSR concerning Italy’s participation in the latest International Shogi Forum, held from November 7-8, 2024, in Tokyo. He claimed to represent a group of 35 individuals excluded from the selection process but provided no verifiable details. However, the Italian Shogi Championship (XX CIS), which served as the qualifying tournament for Italy’s representative, was widely publicized, and the process was officially recognized by NSR. It is also worth noting that Mr. Salomon himself chose not to participate in this championship or other official FESA-regulated tournaments, while criticizing their outcomes.

We were perplexed to discover that Mr. Salomon’s group includes profiles of dan-level players on 81dojo, a server his federation declared “official” for rating Italian players. However, an analysis of the profiles reveals that some “top players” at high levels have never achieved significant wins in notable matches or official tournaments.

The discrepancy with FESA’s official ratings, obtained through in-person tournaments, is substantial and suggests a lack of transparency in Mr. Salomon’s approach. Several profiles on 81dojo show a limited number of games, all lost and often played against the same account. This does not reflect the meritocratic and transparent criteria required to officially represent the Italian Shogi community.

As president of AIS, my role is an elective one, regulated democratically by the association’s statute: members elect the Board of Directors, which assigns representative roles. This system ensures natural rotation of responsibilities, fostering renewal and balance within the association. This transparency allows AIS to represent the collective will of its members. By contrast, the statute of Mr. Salomon’s “Italian Shogi Federation” stipulates permanent appointments without elections, with a self-proclaimed lifetime president. While we respect the freedom of any organization to define its own statutes, this structure appears incompatible with the principles of transparency and openness to renewal that characterize associations recognized by FESA and NSR, which recently decided not to recognize the “Italian Shogi Federation” as an Italian contact, removing it from their website.

In conclusion, we urge all Shogi enthusiasts to consult reliable and diverse sources to form an informed and complete opinion.

AIS remains open to anyone who wishes to explore this fascinating game and the Japanese culture it represents. You can contact us through our official website, and we hope to meet you at one of our in-person events.

Thank you for your attention and continued support.

Best regards,
Giuseppe Baggio
President of AIS, Italian Shogi Association