Ryōko Chiba
Japanese shogi player (born 1980)
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Ryōko Chiba (千葉 涼子 Chiba Ryōko, née 涼子碓井 Ryōko Usui,[1] born April 21, 1980) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 4-dan.[2] She is a two-time winner of the Women's Ōshō title.
| Ryōko Chiba | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 千葉 涼子 |
| Maiden name | Usui (碓井) |
| Born | April 21, 1980 |
| Hometown | Toyama Prefecture |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | October 1, 1994 (aged 14) |
| Badge Number | W-17 |
| Rank | Women's 4-dan |
| Teacher | Noboru Sakurai (8-dan) |
| Major titles won | 2 |
| Tournaments won | 1 |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Women's shogi professional
Chiba's (then known as Ryōko Usui) first appearance in a women's professional shogi major title match came in 1998 when she challenged Ichiyo Shimizu for the 6th Kurashiki Tōka Cup; Chiba lost the match 2 games to 1.[3] That same year Chiba also challenged Shimizu for the 25th Women's Meijin title, but once again lost (3 games to 1).[4][5]
In 1999 and 2000, Chiba yet again challenged Shimizu in a major title matches. She lost the 10th and 11th Women's Ōi title matches respectively by the scores of 3 games to 1 and 3 games to none.[6][7] Later in 2000, Chiba won her first tournament as a women's professional when she defeated Hiroe Nakai 3 games to 1 to win the 5th Kajima Cup.[8] Chiba and Nakai met once again the following year in the finals of the 6th Kajima Cup Tournament, but this time Nakai won 3 games to 1.[9]
In 2002, Chiba challenged Nakai for the 29th Women's Meijin title and was leading the match 2 games to 1 after three games. Chiba was, however, unable to pick up the third win she needed to capture the title, and Nakai came back to win the match 3 games to 2.[10] Chiba once again challenged for the Women's Meijin title in 2004, but lost the 31st Women's Meijin match to Shimizu 3 games to 1.[11]
Chiba finally won her first women's professional shogi major title in June 2005 when she defeated Nakai 3 games to none to win the 27th Women's Ōshō title.[12][13][14] The following year, Nakai once again challenged Chiba in the 28th Women's Ōshō title match, but this time it was Chiba coming back to win Games 4 and 5 to successfully defend her title 3 games to 2.[15] Chiba defended her Women's Ōshō against Shimizu in 2007 and started well by winning Game 1, but Shimizu won the next three games to capture the 29th Women's Ōshō match 3 games to 1.[16][17]
Promotion history
Chiba has been promoted as follows.[18]
- Women's Professional Apprentice League: 1994
- 2-kyū: October 1, 1994
- 1-kyū: April 1, 1996
- 1-dan: October 21, 1996
- 2-dan: October 16, 1998
- 3-dan: April 25, 2002
- 4-dan: April 21, 2011
Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.
Titles and other championships
Chiba has appeared in major title matches nine times and has won a total of two titles.[19] In addition to major titles, Chiba has won one other shogi championship.[20]
Major titles
| Title | Years | Number of times overall |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Ōshō | 2005–06 | 2 |
Other championships
| Tournament | Years | Number of times |
|---|---|---|
| *Kajima Cup | 2000 | 1 |
Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held or currently suspended.
Awards and honors
Chiba received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional" Annual Shogi Award for the April 2005 – March 2006 shogi year.[21]
Personal life
Chiba's husband, Sakio Chiba is also a shogi professional. The couple married in May 2003,[1] and have two daughters.[22]