Translation guide
The Meijin-sen is a prestigious Japanese professional shogi (Japanese chess) title match. It refers to the best-of-seven championship series held annually to determine the Meijin titleholder.
Referring to the championship series itself
The standard term for the Meijin title match. Used in all contexts.
今年の名人戦は非常に接戦だった。
This year's Meijin-sen was a very close match.
Referring to the title itself or the status of being Meijin
The title of Meijin, one of the eight major shogi titles. Often used with honorifics like 名人位 (Meijin-i) for the title rank.
彼は名人のタイトルを5期獲得した。
He has won the Meijin title five times.
Referring to the person who holds the Meijin title
The person holding the Meijin title. Can be used with suffixes like 名人先生 (Meijin-sensei) to show respect.
現在の名人は佐藤天彦九段です。
The current Meijin is Sato Amahiko 9-dan.
In English, 'Meijin-sen' is often used as a proper noun without translation. In Japanese, it's always written as 名人戦. When speaking about the title match, you can simply say 名人戦 (Meijin-sen). If you want to emphasize it's a title match, you can say 名人戦のタイトルマッチ (Meijin-sen no taitoru matchi), but this is redundant in Japanese.