Kōta Kanai

Kōta Kanai
Native name	金井恒太
Born	(1986-05-25) May 25, 1986 (age 38)
Hometown	Ageo, Saitama
Career
Achieved professional status	April 1, 2007(2007-04-01) (aged 20)
Badge Number	265
Rank	6-dan
Teacher	Kenji Iino [ja] (8-dan)
Meijin class	C1
Ryūō class	4
Websites
JSA profile page

Kōta Kanai (金井 恒太, Kanai Kōta, born May 25, 1986) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.

Early life and apprenticeship

Kanai was born on May 25, 1986, in Ageo, Saitama.^[1] He learned how to play shogi from his grandfather when he was about six years old.^[2] In August 1999, he was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional Kenji Iino [ja]. He was promoted to the rank of 3-dan in 2003,^[2] and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2007 after the tying for first place with Masayuki Toyoshima in the 40th 3-dan League (October 2006 – March 2007) with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses.^[2][3] Kanai had a record of three wins and four losses after seven games in the 40th 3-dan League before winning his next eleven games to gain professional status.^[4]

Shogi professional

Kanai advanced to the title match of the 3rd Eiō tournament in 2018, but lost the match to Taichi Takami 4 games to none.^[5][6]

Promotion history

Kanai's promotion history is as follows:^[7]

• 6-kyū: 1999
• 4-dan: April 1, 2007
• 5-dan: March 9, 2010
• 6-dan: March 9, 2016

Titles and other championships

Kana has appeared in one major title match since turning pprofessional.^[8]

Awards and honors

Kanai received the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards "Most Consecutive Games Won" for 2008 and "Special Game of the Year" for 2009.^[9][10][11]

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kanai Kōta" 棋士データベース: 金井恒太 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōta Kanai] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
2. "Toyoshima Masayuki･Kanai Kōta Shinyondan no Oshirase" 豊島将之･金井恒太 新四段誕生のお知らせ [Masayuki Toyoshima and Kōta Kanai announced as new 4-dans] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 17, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
3. "Kishi Meikan: Godan Kanai Kōta" 棋士名鑑: 五段 金井 恒太 [Player Directory: Kōta Kanai 5-dan]. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition) (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 574. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved March 10, 2019 – via Google Books.
4. "Dai Yonjūkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenrokunen Jūgatsu kara Nisennananen Sangatsu" 第40回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2006年10月～2007年3月 [40th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2006 to March 2007] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2006. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
5. Murakami, Koji (May 26, 2018). "Takami Rokudan ga Hatsu Taitoru Kakutoku Shōgi Eiōsen" 高見六段が初タイトル獲得 将棋叡王戦 [Shogi Eiō Tournament: Takami 6d wins his first major title]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved March 10, 2019.
6. "Eiōsen Daisanki" 叡王戦 第3期 [3rd Eiō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
7. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kanai Kōta Shōdan" 棋士データベース: 金井恒太 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōta Kanai Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kanai Kōta Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 金井恒太 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōta Kanai Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Kanai Kōta Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 金井恒太 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōta Kanai Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
10. "Dai Sanjūrokkai Shōgi Taishō Kimaru!" 第36回将棋大賞決まる! [36th Annual Shogi Awards decided] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2009. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
11. "Dai Sanjūnanakai Shōgi Taishō Kimaru!" 第37回将棋大賞決まる! [37th Annual Shogi Awards decided] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2010. Retrieved March 10, 2019.

External links

• ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Kanai, Kota