Takumi Itō (伊藤 匠, Itō Takumi, October 10, 2002) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is the current holder of the Eiō title.

Takumi Itō
Native name伊藤匠
Born (2002-10-10) October 10, 2002 (age 22)
HometownSetagaya, Japan
Career
Achieved professional statusOctober 1, 2020(2020-10-01) (aged 17)
Badge Number324
Rank7-dan
TeacherToshio Miyata [ja] (8-dan)
Current major titles1
Tournaments won1
Meijin classB2
Ryūō class1
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life, amateur shogi and apprentice professional

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Itō was born in Setagaya, Tokyo on October 10, 2002.[1] He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was about five years old.[2][3][4]

As a second grade elementary school student in 2010, Itō represented Tokyo in the 9th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament [ja] in and finished in second place.[5] At the World Open Shogi Championships held in Minsk, Belarus in July 2013, Itō finished 9–0 to win the tournament as a fifth grade elementary school student.[6][7]

Itō entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school in September 2013 at the rank of 6-kyū when he was a fifth grade elementary school student under the guidance of shogi professional Toshio Miyata [ja].[2][3][4][8] Itō was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 3-dan in April 2018 and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan after winning the 67th 3-dan League (April 2020 – September 2020) with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.[2][3][4][9]

Shogi professional

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In September–October 2021, Itō defeated Yūsei Koga 2 games to none to win the 52nd Shinjin-Ō [ja] tournament.[10]

Itō's first appearance in a major title match came in October–November 2023 when he challenged Sōta Fujii for the 36th Ryūō title.[11] Itō advanced to the title match by defeating Ōza title holder Takuya Nagase 2 games to none in the best-of-three challenger match (July–August 2023),[11] but lost the best-of-seven title match to Fujii 4 games to none.[12] By becoming the challenger for the Ryūō title, Itō also satisfied the promotion criteria for 7-dan.[13] In December 2023, Ito defeated Akihito Hirose to win the challenger's tournament for the 48th Kiō Tournament, and advance to the title match against Fujii; Itō had actually lost to Hirose in an earlier round, but advanced to the finals through the loser's bracket, which meant he needed to win two games in a row as opposed to Hirose who only needing to win one of two games.[14] In the 48th Kiō title match (February – March 2024), however, Itō was unable to break through and lost the match 3 games to 0, although four games needed to be played due to Game 1 ending in impasse.[15]

In March 2024, Itō defeated Nagase in the 9th Eiō challenger tournament to advance to the title match against the reigning Eiō Fujii.[16] Going into the 9th Eiō title match (April – June 2024), Itō had yet to beat Fujii in eleven official games (ten losses and one impasse),[17] which included two defeats in major title matches. In 9th Eiō major title match, Itō started poorly by losing Game 1, but was able to win Games 2, 3 and 5 to win the match 3 games to 2.[18] The victory not only gave Itō his first major title, but it also ended Fujii's consecutive major title match winning streak at 22.[19]

Promotion history

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The promotion history for Itō is as follows.[20]

  • 6-kyū: September 1, 2013
  • 3-dan: April 2018
  • 4-dan: October 1, 2020
  • 5-dan: March 10, 2022
  • 6-dan: April 20, 2023
  • 7-dan: August 14, 2023

Titles and other championships

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Itō has appeared in three major title matches and has won one major title.[21] He has also won one non-major title tournament.[22]

Awards and honors

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Itō won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player" and "Best Winning Percentage" in April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2022, shogi year,[23] and "Excellent Player", "Most Games Won", "Most Games Played" and the Masuda Award for the April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024, shogi year.[24]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

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Itō has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] once: 10th with JPY 17,280,000 in earnings in 2023.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Shōgi no Shin・Sainenshō Kishi no Itō Takumi Yondan 「Fujii Nikan ni Oitsukitai」" 将棋の新・最年少棋士の伊藤匠新四段 「藤井2冠に追いつきたい」 [New shogi professional Takumi Itō 4-dan is also now shogi's youngest active professional; says that he wants to "catch up to Fujii 2-crown".]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Iwada, Hiroshi (September 27, 2020). "Itō Takumi Sandan Jūgatsu Tsuitachi Geneki Sainenshō Kishi Tanjō! Shōgaku Sannensei de Fujii Nikan wo Nakaseta Otoko, Mazu 「Tatakaeru Tokoro made」" 伊藤匠三段 10.1現役最年少棋士誕生! 小3で藤井2冠を泣かせた男, まず 「戦えるところまで」 [Takumi Itō 3-dan made current 2-crown Sōta Fujii cry after beating him when the two were elementary school students; Itō, who will become shogi's youngest current professional on October 1, says that he first just wants to compete as best as he can.]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "Shin Yonden Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [New 4-dans announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Daikyukai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第9回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [9th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Kitao, Madoka (October 11, 2017). "Berarūshi Shogi Netsu" ベラルーシ将棋熱 [Shogi fever in Belarus]. 47News (Yonnana News) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  7. ^ "ESC/WOSC 2013, Minsk, Belarus". Federation Of European Shogi Associations. 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Yamamura, Hideki (September 12, 2020). "Geneki Sainenshō Puro Kishi no Itō Takumi Shin Yondan ga Tanjō Fujii Ōi yori Sankagetsu Toshishita" 現役最年少プロ棋士の伊藤匠新四段が誕生 藤井王位より3カ月年下 [New shogi professional Takumi Itō is 3 months younger than Fujii Ōi, which makes him the youngest current active professional]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. ^ "Dai Rokujūnanakai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisennijūnen Shigatsu kara Nisennijūnen Kugatsu" 第67回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2020年4月~2020年9月 [67th apprentice school 3-dan league: April 2020 to September 2020] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  10. ^ "Itō Yondan Shōgi Shinjin-Ō" 伊藤四段 将棋新人王に [Itō 4d wins shogi's Shinjin-Ō]. Shimbun Akahata (in Japanese). Japanese Communist Party. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Fujii Sōta Ryūō ni Hatsu no Dōgakunen Chōsensha Itō Takumi Roku-dan ga Nagase Takuya Ōza ni Renshō de Kettei... Jūgatsu Muika, Nanoka ni Daiichikyoku" 藤井聡太竜王に初の同学年挑戦者 伊藤匠六段が永瀬拓矢王座に連勝で決定...10月6,7日に第1局 [Sōta Fujii Ryūō face someone his own age for the first time in a major title match and Takumi Itū 6-dan defeats Takuya Nagase Oza 2 games to none to win the best-of-three Ryuo challenger match. Game 1 of the title match will take place on October 6 and 7.]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. ^ "Fujii Sōta Ryūō Sanrenpa, Hachikan Hatsuboei...Itō Takumi Nanadan ni Yon Renshō" 藤井聡太竜王3連覇, 八冠初防衛...伊藤匠七段に4連勝 [Sōta Fujii wins Ryūō title for the third consencutive year; in his first title defense since becoming an 8-crown title holder, Fujii defeats Takumi Itō 7-dan 4 games to none.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  13. ^ "Itō Takumi Rokudan ga Nanadan ni Shōdan" 伊藤匠六段が七段に昇段 [Takumi Itō 6-dan promoted to 7-dan] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  14. ^ "Fujii Sōta Kiō no Chōsensha, Itō Takumi Shichidan ni Kimaru" 藤井聡太棋王の挑戦者, 伊藤匠七段に決まる [Takumi Itō 7-dan to challenge Sōta Fujii Kiō]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). December 26, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "Fujii Hachikan ga Itō Nanadan ni Shōri 「Kiōsen」 Nirenpa Shōritsu wa Rekidai Nii ni" 藤井八冠が伊藤七段に勝利 「棋王戦」 2連覇 勝率は歴代2位に [Fujii 8-crown defeats Itō 7-dan to win Kiō title for second year in a row and finish the season with the second highest winning percentage of all time]. NHK News Web (in Japanese). March 17, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Itō Takumi Nanadan ga Eiō Chōsen, Sandome no Taitoru Chōsen" 伊藤匠七段が叡王挑戦, 3度目のタイトル戦 [Takumi Itō 7-dan to challenge for Eiō title, becomes a major title challenger for the third time]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). March 24, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Fujii Sōta Eiō vs Itō Takumi Nanadan Dai Kyūki Eiōsen Goban Shōbu Dai Ikkyoku" 藤井聡太叡王vs伊藤匠七段 第9期叡王戦五番勝負第1局 [9th Eiō Tournament Best-of-Five Title Match Game 1: Sōta Fuji Eiō versus Takumi Itō 7-dan] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 7, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Maruyama, Susumu (June 20, 2024). "Fujii Sōta Eiō, Boei Narazu Hachikan Dokusen Kuzureru Itō Takumi Nanadan ga Hatsu Taitoru" 藤井聡太叡王, 防衛ならず8冠独占崩れる 伊藤匠七段が初タイトル [Sōta Fujii Eiō unable to defend title and retain his 8-crown status as Takumi Itō 7-dan wins his first major title]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Fujii Sōta Ryūō ga Hachikan Kanraku...Eiōsen de Itō Takumi Nanadan ni Yabureru, Zenhachikan Dokusen wa Nihyakugojūyonnichikan" 藤井聡太竜王が八冠陥落...叡王戦で伊藤匠七段に敗れる, 全八冠独占は254日間 [Sōta Fujii Ryūo's loses 8-crown status and 254-day hold on all eight major titles after losing Eiō title to Takumi Itō 7-dan]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  21. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Dai Yonjūkūkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 第49回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [49th Annual Shogi Awards Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "Dai Gojūikkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 第51回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [51st Annual Shogi Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  25. ^ "Nisennijūsannen Kakutoku Shōkin・Taikyokuryō Besuto Jū" 2023年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2023 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 5, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
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