Takumi Itō
Japanese shogi player (born 2002)
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Takumi Itō (伊藤 匠, Itō Takumi; October 10, 2002) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is the current holder of the Eiō and Ōza titles.
Early life, amateur shogi and apprentice professional
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 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.[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 –September 2020) with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.[2][3][4][9]
Shogi professional
In September–October 2021, Itō defeated Yūsei Koga 2 games to none to win the 52nd Shinjin-Ō 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]
Itō's first defense of the Eiō title was a successful one, defeating challenger Shintarō Saitō 3 games to 2 in the 10th Eiō title match (April–June 2025).[20] The win not only gave Itō his second major title overall but also qualified him for promotion to 8-dan.[21] Itō earned promotion to the rank of 9-dan and became a 2-crown title holder for the first time when he defeated Fujii 3 games to 2 in the 73rd Ōza title match (September–October 2025).[22]
Promotion history
The promotion history for Itō is as follows.[23]
- 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
- 8-dan: June 14, 2025
- 9-dan: October 28, 2025
Titles and other championships
Itō has appeared in five major title matches and has won three major titles.[24] He has also won one non-major title tournament.[25]
Awards and honors
Itō won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player" and "Best Winning Percentage" for the April 2022 – March 2023 shogi year;[26] "Excellent Player", "Most Games Won",[a] "Most Games Played" and the Masuda Award for the April 2023 – March 2024 shogi year;[27] and "Excellent Player" and "Game of the Year"[b] for the April 2024 – March 2025 shogi year.[28]
Year-end prize money and game fee ranking
Itō has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings three times: tenth with JPY 17,280,000 in earnings in 2023;[29] second with JPY 43,640,000 in earnings in 2024;[30] and fourth with JPY 40,870,000 in earnings in 2025.[31]
Notes
- Itō and Nagisa Fujimoto each won 51 games to share the award.[27]
- Game 5 of the 9th Eiō title match against Sōta Fujii.[28]