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Takumi Itō (伊藤 匠, Itō Takumi, October 10, 2002) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan. He is the current holder of the Eiō title.

Early life, amateur shogi and apprentice professional

Itō was born in Setagaya, Tokyo on October 10, 2002. He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was about five years old.

As a second grade elementary school student in 2010, Itō represented Tokyo in the 9th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament [ja] in and finished in second place. 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.

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 [ja]. 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 2020 – September 2020) with a record of 15 wins and 3 losses.

Shogi professional

In September–October 2021, Itō defeated Yūsei Koga 2 games to none to win the 52nd Shinjin-Ō [ja] tournament.

Itō's first appearance in a major title match came in October–November 2023 when he challenged Sōta Fujii for the 36th Ryūō title. 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), but lost the best-of-seven title match to Fujii 4 games to none. By becoming the challenger for the Ryūō title, Itō also satisfied the promotion criteria for 7-dan. 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. 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.

In March 2024, Itō defeated Nagase in the 9th Eiō challenger tournament to advance to the title match against the reigning Eiō Fujii. 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), 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. The victory not only gave Itō his first major title, but it also ended Fujii's consecutive major title match winning streak at 22.

Promotion history

The promotion history for Itō is as follows.

• 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

Titles and other championships

Itō has appeared in three major title matches and has won one major title. He has also won one non-major title tournament.

Awards and honors

Itō won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player" and "Best Winning Percentage" in April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2022, shogi year, and "Excellent Player", "Most Games Won", "Most Games Played" and the Masuda Award for the April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024, shogi year.

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 [ja] once: 10th with JPY 17,280,000 in earnings in 2023.

References

1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
2. ^ "Shōgi no Shin･Sainenshō Kishi no Itō Takumi Yondan ｢Fujii Nikan ni Oitsukitai｣" 将棋の新･最年少棋士の伊藤匠新四段 ｢藤井2冠に追いつきたい｣ [New shogi professional Takumi Itō 4-dan is also now shogi's youngest active professional; says that he wants to "catch up to Fujii 2-crown".]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
3. ^ Iwada, Hiroshi (September 27, 2020). "Itō Takumi Sandan Jūgatsu Tsuitachi Geneki Sainenshō Kishi Tanjō! Shōgaku Sannensei de Fujii Nikan wo Nakaseta Otoko, Mazu ｢Tatakaeru Tokoro made｣" 伊藤匠三段 10.1現役最年少棋士誕生! 小3で藤井2冠を泣かせた男, まず ｢戦えるところまで｣ [Takumi Itō 3-dan made current 2-crown Sōta Fujii cry after beating him when the two were elementary school students; Itō, who will become shogi's youngest current professional on October 1, says that he first just wants to compete as best as he can.]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2020.
4. ^ "Shin Yonden Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [New 4-dans announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
5. "Daikyukai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第9回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [9th All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
6. Kitao, Madoka (October 11, 2017). "Berarūshi Shogi Netsu" ベラルーシ将棋熱 [Shogi fever in Belarus]. 47News (Yonnana News) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
7. "ESC/WOSC 2013, Minsk, Belarus". Federation Of European Shogi Associations. 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
8. Yamamura, Hideki (September 12, 2020). "Geneki Sainenshō Puro Kishi no Itō Takumi Shin Yondan ga Tanjō Fujii Ōi yori Sankagetsu Toshishita" 現役最年少プロ棋士の伊藤匠新四段が誕生 藤井王位より3カ月年下 [New shogi professional Takumi Itō is 3 months younger than Fujii Ōi, which makes him the youngest current active professional]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2020.
9. "Dai Rokujūnanakai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisennijūnen Shigatsu kara Nisennijūnen Kugatsu" 第67回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2020年4月～2020年9月 [67th apprentice school 3-dan league: April 2020 to September 2020] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
10. "Itō Yondan Shōgi Shinjin-Ō" 伊藤四段　将棋新人王に [Itō 4d wins shogi's Shinjin-Ō]. Shimbun Akahata (in Japanese). Japanese Communist Party. October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
11. ^ "Fujii Sōta Ryūō ni Hatsu no Dōgakunen Chōsensha Itō Takumi Roku-dan ga Nagase Takuya Ōza ni Renshō de Kettei... Jūgatsu Muika, Nanoka ni Daiichikyoku" 藤井聡太竜王に初の同学年挑戦者 伊藤匠六段が永瀬拓矢王座に連勝で決定...10月6,7日に第1局 [Sōta Fujii Ryūō face someone his own age for the first time in a major title match and Takumi Itū 6-dan defeats Takuya Nagase Oza 2 games to none to win the best-of-three Ryuo challenger match. Game 1 of the title match will take place on October 6 and 7.]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
12. "Fujii Sōta Ryūō Sanrenpa, Hachikan Hatsuboei...Itō Takumi Nanadan ni Yon Renshō" 藤井聡太竜王3連覇, 八冠初防衛...伊藤匠七段に4連勝 [Sōta Fujii wins Ryūō title for the third consencutive year; in his first title defense since becoming an 8-crown title holder, Fujii defeats Takumi Itō 7-dan 4 games to none.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
13. "Itō Takumi Rokudan ga Nanadan ni Shōdan" 伊藤匠六段が七段に昇段 [Takumi Itō 6-dan promoted to 7-dan] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
14. "Fujii Sōta Kiō no Chōsensha, Itō Takumi Shichidan ni Kimaru" 藤井聡太棋王の挑戦者, 伊藤匠七段に決まる [Takumi Itō 7-dan to challenge Sōta Fujii Kiō]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). December 26, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
15. "Fujii Hachikan ga Itō Nanadan ni Shōri ｢Kiōsen｣ Nirenpa Shōritsu wa Rekidai Nii ni" 藤井八冠が伊藤七段に勝利 ｢棋王戦｣ 2連覇 勝率は歴代2位に [Fujii 8-crown defeats Itō 7-dan to win Kiō title for second year in a row and finish the season with the second highest winning percentage of all time]. NHK News Web (in Japanese). March 17, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
16. "Itō Takumi Nanadan ga Eiō Chōsen, Sandome no Taitoru Chōsen" 伊藤匠七段が叡王挑戦, 3度目のタイトル戦 [Takumi Itō 7-dan to challenge for Eiō title, becomes a major title challenger for the third time]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). March 24, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
17. "Fujii Sōta Eiō vs Itō Takumi Nanadan Dai Kyūki Eiōsen Goban Shōbu Dai Ikkyoku" 藤井聡太叡王vs伊藤匠七段 第9期叡王戦五番勝負第1局 [9th Eiō Tournament Best-of-Five Title Match Game 1: Sōta Fuji Eiō versus Takumi Itō 7-dan] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 7, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
18. Maruyama, Susumu (June 20, 2024). "Fujii Sōta Eiō, Boei Narazu Hachikan Dokusen Kuzureru Itō Takumi Nanadan ga Hatsu Taitoru" 藤井聡太叡王, 防衛ならず8冠独占崩れる 伊藤匠七段が初タイトル [Sōta Fujii Eiō unable to defend title and retain his 8-crown status as Takumi Itō 7-dan wins his first major title]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
19. "Fujii Sōta Ryūō ga Hachikan Kanraku...Eiōsen de Itō Takumi Nanadan ni Yabureru, Zenhachikan Dokusen wa Nihyakugojūyonnichikan" 藤井聡太竜王が八冠陥落...叡王戦で伊藤匠七段に敗れる, 全八冠独占は254日間 [Sōta Fujii Ryūo's loses 8-crown status and 254-day hold on all eight major titles after losing Eiō title to Takumi Itō 7-dan]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
20. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
21. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
22. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Itō Takumi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 伊藤匠 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Takumi Itō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
23. "Dai Yonjūkūkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 第49回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [49th Annual Shogi Awards Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
24. "Dai Gojūikkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase" 第51回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ [51st Annual Shogi Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
25. "Nisennijūsannen Kakutoku Shōkin･Taikyokuryō Besuto Jū" 2023年獲得賞金･対局料ベスト10 [2023 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 5, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2024.

External links

• ShogiHub: Professional Player Info · Itō, Takumi

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• Living people
• 2002 births
• Japanese shogi players
• Japan Shogi Association players
• People from Setagaya
• Professional shogi players from Tokyo Metropolis
• Shinjin-Ō
• Eiō
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