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Masaki Izumi (泉 正樹, Izumi Masaki, January 11, 1961) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.

Early life and apprenticeship

Izumi was born on January 11, 1961, in Nerima, Tokyo. He entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under the guidance of shogi professional Shigeru Sekine [ja] at the rank of 6-kyū in 1973. He was promoted to 1-dan in 1977 and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in August 1980.

Shogi professional

Izumi is a member of the so-called Shōwa 55 group [ja] (55年組), a group of eight strong players that become professional in 1980–1981 (Year 55 of the Shōwa period) and won numerous shogi tournaments. Others in the group include Yoshikazu Minami, Osamu Nakamura, Michio Takahashi, Akira Shima, Hiroshi Kamiya, Yasuaki Tsukada, and Yūji Yoda [ja].

Izumi became the 51st shogi professional to win 600 official games when he defeated Kōichi Kinoshita in a 59th Ōi tournament preliminary round game on October 4, 2017.

In March 2019, Izumi voluntarily declared himself as a free class player, thus leaving the Meijin tournament league.

Promotion history

Izumi's promotion history is as follows:

• 6-kyū: 1973
• 1-dan: 1977
• 4-dan: August 20, 1980
• 5-dan: April 26, 1985
• 6-dan: June 23, 1989
• 7-dan: October 9, 1997
• 8-dan: July 4, 2013

Awards and honors

Izumi received the Japan Shogi Association's "25 Years Service Award" in 2005 in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years, and the "Shogi Honor Award" in 2017 in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional.

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Izumi Masaki" 棋士データベース: 泉 正樹 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Masaki Izumi] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
2. ^ Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Jō] A-Ta Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [上] あ-た [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook Letter "A" to Letter "Ta"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 16. Retrieved February 19, 2019 – via Google Books.
3. Naoe, Ametsugu (January 18, 2017). "Nakamura Osamu Ichimon wo Goshōkai!" 中村修一門をご紹介! [Introducing the Osamu Nakamura "shogi family"!] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
4. "Izumi Masaki Hachidan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tassei" 泉正樹八段, 600勝 (将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Masaki Izumi 8d wins 600th official game] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. October 5, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
5. "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsusha" 2019年度からのフリークラス転出者 [Players moving to free class from April 2019] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
6. "Nisenjūkyūnendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsu wo ..." 2019年度からのフリークラス転出を... [Moving to free class from April 2019]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 5, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
7. "Waki to Izumi ga Furīkurasu ni" 脇と泉がフリークラスに [Waki and Izumi to free class]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 22, 2019. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Izumi Masaki Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 泉正樹 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Masaki Izumi Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
9. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Izumi Masaki Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 泉正樹 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Masaki Izumi Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 19, 2019.

External links

• ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Izumi, Masaki

• Japanese shogi players
• Japan Shogi Association players
• Free class shogi players
• Living people
• Professional shogi players from Tokyo
• People from Nerima
• 1961 births