Yūki Sasaki (shogi)
Japanese shogi player
Yūki Sasaki Native name 佐々木勇気 Born (1994-08-05 ) August 5, 1994 (age 30) Hometown Misato , JapanAchieved professional status October 1, 2010(2010-10-01) (aged 16) Badge Number 280 Rank 8-dan Teacher Kazuo Ishida [ja ] (9-dan)Tournaments won 2 Meijin classA Ryūō class1 JSA profile page
Yūki Sasaki (佐々木 勇気 , Sasaki Yūki , born August 5, 1994) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan .
Early life, amateur shogi and apprentice professional
Sasaki was born in Geneva , Switzerland on August 5, 1994.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3] His family moved to France when he was two years old and then returned to Misato in Saitama Prefecture , Japan when he was about five.[ 4] [ 5]
As a young boy, Sasaki liked playing outdoors. His middle ear, however, became inflamed from swimming, and his doctor advised his parents to limit his playing to indoors for a while until it healed. Sasaki's father played the game go , but Sasaki started studying shogi at the prodding of his mother because she was worried that her son might mistakenly swallow one of the go pieces.[ 6]
As a first-grade elementary school student , he was already playing against adults at his local shogi club and was soon going to the club six days a week.[ 7] In 2003, Sasaki won the lower-grade section of the 2nd Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament [ja ] as a third-grade student,[ 8] and then the following year he won the 29th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja ] as a fourth-grade student to become just the second fourth grader, after Akira Watanabe , to win the tournament.[ 5] [ 9]
In September 2004, Sasaki was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association 's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional Kazuo Ishida [ja ] .[ 2] In April 2008, Sasaki was promoted to the rank of appentice-professional 3-dan as a second-year junior high school student , which at the time tied the record for being the second fastest person to do so since entering the apprentice school.[ 5] He obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 2010 after winning the 47th 3-dan League (April 2010 – September 2010) with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses.[ 10] Sasaki was 16 years and 1 month old and still a junior high school student when he was awarded professional status, thus becoming just the sixth junior high school student to turn professional.[ 2]
Shogi professional
Sasaki's first non-title tournament as a professional came in October 2013 when he defeated Shōta Chida 2 games to 1 to win the 3rd Kakogawa Seiryū Tournament [ja ] .[ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
In June 2017, Sasaki ended Sōta Fujii 's record-breaking winning streak .[ 14]
In March 2023, Sasaki and Fujii met in the championship of the 72nd NHK Cup tournament , with Fujii winning the game.[ 15] The following year the two met again in the championship game of the 73rd NHK Cup tournament, but this time it was Sasaki who came out victorious.[ 16]
In August 2024, Sasaki defeated Akihito Hirose 2 games to none to win the best-of-three 37th Ryūō Challenger Determination Match and advance to a major title match for the first time.[ 17] In the 37th Ryūō Title Match (October – December 2024), Sasaki was tied with Fujii Ryūō at two wins apiece after 4 games, but lost the next two games to lose the match 4 games to 2.[ 18]
Promotion history
Sasaki's promotion history is as follows:[ 19]
6-kyū : 2004
3-dan: 2008
4-dan: October 1, 2010
5-dan: March 11, 2014
6-dan: July 11, 2017
7-dan: November 16, 2018
8-dan: March 9, 2023
Titles and other championships
Sasaki has appeared in one major title, but he has yet to win a major title;[ 20] he, however, has won two non-title tournaments.[ 21]
Awards and honors
Sasaki won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards for "Most Games Played" (65 games) in 2017,[ 22] and the Kōzō Masuda Award for the Yūki Side Pawn Capture in 2018.[ 23]
References
^ Murase, Shinya (July 2, 2017). "Fujii Yondan, Morikaeseruka Suisu Umare Sasaki Godan ni Kusen" 藤井四段, 盛り返せるか スイス生まれ佐々木五段に苦戦 [Can Fujii 4-dan battle back? In difficult struggle with Swiss-born Sasaki 5-dan]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ a b c "Fujii Sōta Yondan no Renshō Sutoppushita Sasaki Yūki Godan wa Konna hito" 藤井聡太四段の連勝ストップした佐々木勇気五段はこんな人 [Introducing Yuki Sasaki 5-dan, the one who stopped Sota Fujii's winning streak]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). July 2, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Yūki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木勇気 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yūki Sasaki] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association . Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Fujii Yondan no Taikyokushitsu de 「Sugoi Mezuki」 「Tsugi」 no Taisensha ga Jitto Miteita" 藤井四段の対局室で 「凄い目付き」「次」の対戦者がじっと見ていた [Fujii 4-dan's next scheduled opponent shows up at the playing sight and watches from start to finish with an intense expression on his face.]. J-Cast (in Japanese). June 27, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ a b c "Fujii Yondan Tometa Sasaki Godan, Suisu Umare Ikeman" 藤井四段止めた佐々木五段, スイス生まれイケメン [Sasaki 5-dan, who stopped Fujii 4-dan's winning streak, is a young handsome Swiss-born shogi professional]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). July 2, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ Sasaki, Yūki (August 17, 2017). "Ikeman Jitsuryokuha Kishi・Sasaki Yūki Rokudan 「Kikake wa Chūjien」 Fujii Sōta Yondan Taikyoku de Chūmoku" イケメン実力派棋士・佐々木勇気六段 「きっかけは中耳炎」 藤井聡太四段対局で注目 [Yūki Sasaki 6-dan is young, handsome and a very strong player. He's received lots of attention for his game against Sōta Fujii 4-dan, but it all started with a "middle ear infection".]. Sankei Shimbun (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Yūsuke Tanaka. p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ Sasaki, Yūki (August 17, 2017). "Ikeman Jitsuryokuha Kishi・Sasaki Yūki Rokudan 「Kikake wa Chūjien」 Fujii Sōta Yondan Taikyoku de Chūmoku" イケメン実力派棋士・佐々木勇気六段 「きっかけは中耳炎」 藤井聡太四段対局で注目 [Yūki Sasaki 6-dan is young, handsome and a very strong player. He's received lots of attention for his game against Sōta Fujii 4-dan, but it all started with a "middle ear infection".]. Sankei Shimbun (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Yūsuke Tanaka. p. 3. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Dai Nikai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第2回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [2nd All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2003. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen Rekidai Yūshōsha Ichiran" 小学生将棋名人戦 歴代優勝者一覧 [Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: List of Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Dai Yonjūnanakai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen" 第47回奨励会三段リーグ戦 [47th Apprentice School 3-dan League] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2018 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Yūki Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木勇気 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yūki Sasaki Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 9, 2018 .
^ "Dai Sanki Kakogawa Seiryūsen ... Sasaki Yondan no Yūshō" 第3期 加古川青流戦...佐々木四段の優勝 [Sasaki 4d wins the 3rd Kakogawa Seiryū Tournament] (in Japanese). Igo & Shogi Channel. October 28, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2018 .
^ "Dai Sanki Kakogawa Seiryūsen" 棋第3期 加古川青流戦 [3rd Kakogawa Seiryū Tournament]. 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. 394. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7 . Retrieved July 11, 2018 – via Google Books.
^ Kakumi Kobayashi (July 2, 2017). "Record-setting winning streak of shogi prodigy Sota Fujii halted at 29 games" . The Japan Times . Retrieved December 4, 2020 .
^ "Fujii Sōta Ryūō, NHKhaisen de Sasaki Yūki Hachidan Kudashi Hatsuyūshō...Shijō Hatsu no Ippan Kisen Zenseha" 藤井聡太竜王, NHK杯で佐々木勇気八段下し初優勝...史上初の一般棋戦全制覇 [Sōta Fujii Ryūo defeats Yūki Sasaki to win NHK Cup for the first time; Fujii's win also makes him the first professional shogi player to win all non-major title tournaments in a single year]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 5, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2023 .
^ Maruyama, Susumu (March 17, 2024). "「Sanjūrenshō wo Tometa Otoko」 Sasaki Yūki Hachidan, Fujii Sōta Meijin Yaburi Yūshō NHKhai" 「30連勝を止めた男」 佐々木八段, 藤井聡太名人破り優勝 NHK杯 ["The man who stopped Sōta Fujii's 29-game winning streak" Yūki Sasaki 8-dan defeats Fujii, the reigning Meijin, yet again, this time to win the NHK Cup]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 5, 2024 .
^ "Sasaki Yūki Hachidan, Fujii Sōta Ryūō e no Chōsenken wo Kakutoku..Ryūōsen Chōsensha Kettei Sanban Shōbu" 佐々木勇気八段, 藤井聡太竜王への挑戦権を獲得...竜王戦挑戦者決定三番勝負 [Yūki Sasaki 8-dan wins the best-of-three Ryūō Challenger Determination Match to earn the right to challenge Sōta Fujii Ryūō]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). August 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ "Shōgi 「Ryūōsen」 Fujii Sōta Nanakan Sasaki Yūki Hachidan ni Kachi Taitoru Bōei" 将棋 「竜王戦」 藤井聡太七冠 佐々木八段に勝ちタイトル防衛 [Shogi's "Ryūō Tournament": Sōta Fujii 7-crown defeats Yūki Sasaki 8-dan to defend title]. NHK (in Japanese). December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Yūki Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木勇気 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yūki Sasaki Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2023 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Yūki Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木勇気 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yūki Sasaki Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved December 13, 2024 .
^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Yūki Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木勇気 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yūki Sasaki Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 5, 2024 .
^ "Shōgi Nyūsu: Dai Yonjūyonkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 将棋ニュース: 第44回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [Shogi News: 44th Annual Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018 .
^ "Saiyūshūkishi Habu Yoshiharu Ryūō, Tokubetsushō ni Fujii Sōta Rokudan. Dai Yonjūgokai Shōgi Taishō Kimaru" 最優秀棋士賞に羽生善治竜王, 特別賞に藤井聡太六段. 第45回将棋大賞決まる [Shogi News: 45th Annual Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018 .
External links
Active professional shogi players
9-dan 8-dan 7-dan 6-dan 5-dan 4-dan Current titleholders Lifetime titleholders