Yasuhiro Masuda (増田 康宏, Masuda Yasuhiro, born November 4, 1997) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.

Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship

Yasuhiro Masuda was born on November 4, 1997, in Akishima, Tokyo.[1][a] He learned shogi when he was about five years old after his mother brought home a board game box which included a shogi set.[3] Masuda won the upper-grade section of the Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament [ja] as an elementary school fourth-grade student in 2007,[2][4][5] and the following year finished tied for third place in the Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja].[6]

In September 2008, Masuda entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of shogi professional Taku Morishita. He was promoted to the rank of 3-dan in April 2012, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in October 2014 while a second-year high school student[2] after finishing tied for first in the 55th 3-dan League with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.[7][3]

Shogi professional

In October 2016, Masuda won his first professional shogi tournament when he defeated Naohiro Ishida 2 games to none to win the 47th Shinjin-Ō [ja] title.[8][9] He repeated the feat the following year when he defeated Daichi Sasaki 2 games to none to win the 48th Shinjin-Ō, thus becoming the first repeat winner since Takeshi Fujii in 1997.[10] Masuda also advanced to the championship match of the 50th Shinjin-Ō tournament in October 2019 against Satoshi Takano and his attempt to become just the second three-time winner of the tournament started promising by winning Game 1; Takano, however, came back to win the next two games and the match.[11]

On June 26, 2017, Masuda lost to Sōta Fujii in Ryūō ranking class game which was streamed live online and had received much pre-game press coverage both within Japan and internationally because a Fujii victory would allow him to set a new professional shogi record of 29 consecutive wins.[12]

In December 2024, Masuda defeated Asuto Saitō in the best-of-two finals of the 50th Kiō challenger determination tournament to qualify for a major title match for the first time.[13] In the 50th Kiō title match (February–March 2025) against defending Kiō title holder Fujii, Masuda lost the match 3 games to none. Reflecting on his first title match appearance in the post-match press conference held after Game 3, Masuda stated that he thought he played well during the opening phases of each game and was able to keep the games close, but had trouble in the middle game, even when he had an advantageous position, and felt that was where he was unable to match Fujii.[14]

Promotion history

The promotion history for Masuda is as follows:[15]

  • 6-kyū: September 2008
  • 3-dan: April 2012
  • 4-dan: October 1, 2014
  • 5-dan: January 12, 2018
  • 6-dan: May 22, 2018
  • 7-dan: February 8, 2023
  • 8-dan: March 7, 2024

Titles and other championships

Masuda has appeared in one major title match, but has yet to win a major title;[16] he is, however, a two-time winner of the Shinjin-Ō [ja] tournament.[17]

Notes

  1. ^ Masuda is the first person born after Yoshiharu Habu became a 7-crown (hold seven major titles simultaneously) in 1996 to become a shogi professional.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Yasuhiro" 棋士データベース: 増田康宏 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuhiro Masuda] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 44. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved May 25, 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b "Masuda Yasuhiro Sandan to Kurosawa Reo Sandan ga Yondan ni Shōdan" 増田康宏三段と黒沢怜生三段が四段に昇段 [Yasuhiro Masuda 3d and Reo Kurosawa 3d promoted to 4d] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 13, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  4. ^ "Dai Rokkai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第6回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [6th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  5. ^ "Dai Rokkai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第6回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [6th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (pdf) (in Japanese). Kurashiki City. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "Dai Sanjūsankai Shōgakusei Meijinsen" 第33回小学生将棋名人戦 [33rd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2008. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "Dai Gojūgonkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen" 第55回奨励会三段リーグ戦 [55th Apprentice School 3-dan League] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Dai Yonjūnanaki Shinjin-Ō-sen Sanbanshōbu ... Masuda Yondan no Yūshō" 第47期 新人王戦勝三番勝...増田四段の優勝 [47th Shinjin-Ō Best-of-three Match...Masuda 4d is the winner] (in Japanese). Igo & Shogi Channel. October 12, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Masuda Yondan ga Yūshō Shōgi･Shinjin-Ō-sen" 増田四段が優勝 将棋･新人王戦 [Masuda 4d wins Shogi's Shinjin-Ō Tournament]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). October 13, 2016. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  10. ^ "Masuda Yondan ga Renpa Shōgi･Shinjin-Ō-sen" 増田四段が連覇 将棋･新人王戦 [Masuda 4d repeats as Shinjin-Ō]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). October 19, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "Shōgi･Shinjin-Ō-sen Takano Yondan ga Hatsu Yūshō" 将棋･新人王戦 高野四段が初優勝 [Takano 4-dan wins Shinjin-Ō for first tournament victory as a professional]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). October 28, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  12. ^ "Shogi prodigy: Family, friends and fans rejoice over Fujii's historic victory". Japan Times. Kyodo News. June 27, 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  13. ^ "Masuda Yasuhiru Hachidan vs Saitō Asuto Godan Dai Gojūki Kiōsen Konami Gurūpuhai Chōsensha Kettei Niban Shōbu Dai Ikkyoku Masuda Hachidan no Shōri" 増田康宏八段VS斎藤明日斗五段 第50期棋王戦コナミグループ杯挑戦者決定二番勝負第1局 増田八段の勝利 [Yashuhiro Masuda 8-dan defeats Asuto Saitō to win Game 1 of the best-of-two challenger determination finals for the 50th Konami Group Cup Kiō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. December 17, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  14. ^ "Shōgi ｢Kiōsen｣ Fujii Sōta Nanakan Sanrenshō de Goban Shōbu Seishi Bōei Sanrenpa" 将棋 ｢棋王戦｣ 藤井聡太七冠 3連勝で五番勝負制し防衛 3連覇に [Fujii 7-crown wins shogi's best-of-five Kiō title for third year in a row to defend title]. NHK News Web (in Japanese). March 2, 2025. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  15. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Yasuhiro Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 増田康宏 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuhiro Masuda Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Yasuhiro Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 増田康宏 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuhiro Masuda Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 4, 2025.
  17. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Masuda Yasuhiro Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 増田康宏 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Yasuhiro Masuda Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 24, 2018.


Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasuhiro_Masuda
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