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Kei Honda (本田 奎, Honda Kei, July 5, 1997) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.

Early life and apprenticeship

Honda was born in Kawasaki, Kanagawa on July 5, 1997. He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was about five years old. In September 2009 while he was still an elementary school sixth-grade student, he was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association (JSA) apprentice school under the guidance of shogi professional Toshio Miyata [ja] at the rank of 6-kyū.

Honda was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 3-dan in April 2015. It was around this time that he began to seriously use computer shogi programs into his practice routines, and stated that he believes doing so really helped to improve his game. He obtained full professional status and the corresponding rank of 4-dan on October 1, 2018, after winning the 63rd 3-dan League (April–September 2018) with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.

Shogi professional

In December 2019, Honda earned to right to challenge Akira Watanabe for the 45th Kiō title. Honda had advanced through the challenger tournament undefeated and advanced to the two-game challenger determination match against Daichi Sasaki. Sasaki had lost in the semi-finals of the challenger tournament, but advanced to the challenger determination match by winning the three-player double-elimination full repechage tournament for the two losers in the semi-final round and the loser in the final round of the challenger tournament to determine the player to face Honda. As the outright winner of the challenger tournament, Honda only needed to defeat Sasaki once to become the challenger for the Kiō title, whereas Sasaki needed to win two games to become challenger.

Honda lost the first game between the two held on December 16, 2019, but won the second game held on December 27. Honda's win made him first player to earn the right to challenge for a major title in his first attempt under the current eight-major-title system. It also made him the second fastest player ever to become the challenger for a major title since turning professional at one year and two months, and also made him the first 4-dan professional to become the challenger for a major title since 1992. In the 45th Kiō title match, Honda was unable to stop Watanabe from defending his title, losing the match 3 games to 1.

Promotion history

Honda's promotion history is as follows:

• 6-kyū: September 2009
• 3-dan: April, 2015:
• 4-dan: October 1, 2018
• 5-dan: December 27, 2019
• 6-dan: May 1, 2023

Titles and other championships

Honda's only appearance in a major title match was in 2020 when he was the challenger for the 45th Kiō title.

Awards and honors

Honda won the Japan Shogi Association’s Annual Shogi Award for “Best New Player” for the 2019 shogi year (April 2019–March 2020).

Personal life

Honda is married to women's shogi professional Kotomi Yamane. The JSA officially announced the couple's marriage on its website on May 2, 2023.

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Honda Kei" 棋士データベース: 本田奎 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kei Honda] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
2. ^ "Shinyondan Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [Announcing the new 4-dans] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 2, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
3. ^ Kitano, Arata (August 20, 2019). "Shōgi･Honda Kei Yondan, Nijūnisai no Chōshinsei ｢Risō wa Konpyūtā. Mokuhyō to Suru Hito wa Imasen.｣" 将棋･本田奎四段, 22歳の超新星 ｢理想はコンピューター。目標とする人はいません｣ [Shogi's new rising star 22-year-old Kei Honda 4-dan says his ideal is to play like a computer and that his aim is not be like any particular shogi professional.]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). Retrieved December 17, 2019.
4. "Daigrokujūsankai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen" 第63回奨励会三段リーグ戦 [63rd 3-dan League] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
5. "Shōgi, Sasaki Godan ga Kachi Dainikyoku e Kiōsen no Chōsensha Ketteisen" 将棋, 佐々木五段が勝ち第2局へ 棋王戦の挑戦者決定戦 [Shogi Kiō Tournament Challenger Determination Match, Sasaki 5-dan wins to force a second game]. Sanyo Shimbun (in Japanese). Kyodo News. December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
6. "Shijōhatsu no Kaikyo! Hatsusanka no Honda Kei Yondan ga Kiō Chōsenken Kakutoku" 史上初の快挙! 初参加の本田奎四段が棋王挑戦権獲得 [A history making result! Kei Honda 4-dan earns right to challenge for the Kiō title in his first appearance in the Kiō challenger tournament]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). December 27, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
7. Murakami, Kōji (December 27, 2019). "Honda Kei Shingodan, Hatsusanka de Kiō Chōsensha ni Hachidai Taitorusen de Hatsu" 本田新五段, 初参加で棋王挑戦者に 八大タイトル戦で初 [New 5-dan Kei Honda becomes the first professional under the current eight-major-title system to earn the right to challenge for a major title in his first attempt]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved December 28, 2019.
8. "Kiōsen, Watanabe Akira Sankan ga Hachirenpa...Honda Godan Yaburi Sanshō Ippai de Bōei" 棋王戦, 渡辺明三冠が8連覇...本田奎五段破り3勝1敗で防衛 [Akira Watanabe 3-crown defeats Honda 5-dan to defend title and win the Kiō title for the eighth consecutive time]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). March 17, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Honda Kei Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 本田奎 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kei Honda Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
10. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Honda Kei Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 本田奎 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kei Honda Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
11. "Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime" 将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目 [Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins "Player of the year" for the second time.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). April 1, 2020. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
12. "Shōgi no Honda Kei Rokudan, Yamane Joryū Nidan ga Kekkon" 将棋の本田六段, 山根女流二段が結婚 [Kei Honda 6-dan and Kotomi Yamane women's professional 2-dan announce marriage]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
13. "Honda Kei Rokudan to Yamane Kotomi Joryū Nidan ga Nyūseki" 本田奎六段と山根ことみ女流二段が入籍 [Kei Honda 6-dan and Kotomi Yamane women's professional 2-dan announce marriage] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.

External links

• ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Honda, Kei

• Japanese shogi players
• Japan Shogi Association players
• Living people
• People from Kawasaki, Kanagawa
• Professional shogi players from Kanagawa Prefecture
• 1997 births