Daichi Sasaki (佐々木 大地, Sasaki Daichi, born May 30, 1995) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan.

Daichi Sasaki
Native name佐々木大地
Born (1995-05-30) May 30, 1995 (age 29)
HometownTsushima, Nagasaki
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2016(2016-04-01) (aged 20)
Badge Number306
Rank7-dan
TeacherKōichi Fukaura (9-dan)
Meijin classC2
Ryūō class5
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship

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Sasaki was born in Tsushima, Nagasaki on May 30, 1995.[1] He learned shogi from his father when he was three years old.[2] As a third-grade elementary school student, he won the Grades 1 to 3 division of the 3rd All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament [ja] in 2004.[3][4] Then, as a sixth-grade elementary school student in 2007, he finished reached the semi-finals of the 32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja], but lost to fellow future professional Seiya Kondō.[5][6]

The following year, Sasaki entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū as a student of shogi professional Kōichi Fukaura. He was promoted to the rank or 3-dan in 2013, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2016 after finishing the 58th 3-dan League (October 2015 – March 2016) with a record of 12 wins and 6 losses. Although Sasaki actually finished league play tied with several other players who also had 12 wins, his lower league seed meant he finished in third place and thus did not earn automatic promotion to the rank of 4-dan. Third place, however, was good enough to earn him a second promotion point, and gave him the option to enter the professional ranks as a free class player.[2][7]

Shogi professional

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Sasaki made his first appearance in a major title match in June 2023 when he challenged Sōta Fujii for the 94th Kisei title (June–July 2023) but lost the match 3 games to 1.[8] The following month, Sasaki also challenged Fujii for the 64th Ōi title (July–August 2023) but lost again, this time 4 games to 1.[9]

Promotion history

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Sasaki's promotion history is as follows:[10]

  • 6-kyū: September 2008
  • 3-dan: October 2013
  • 4-dan: April 1, 2016
  • 5-dan: February 20, 2019
  • 6-dan: February 16, 2022
  • 7-dan: April 28, 2022

Titles and other championships

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Ssaki's has appeared in a major title match twice, but has yet to win a title.[11]

Awards and honors

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Sasaki received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Most Games Won" for the 2018–19 shogi year,[12] "Most Games Played" for the 2019–2020 shogi year,[13] and "Most Consecutive Games Won" for the 2023–24 shogi year.[14]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

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Sasaki has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] once: 8th with JPY 18,810,000 in earnings in 2023.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi" 棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Shin Yondan Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [New 4-dan announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 7, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "Daisankai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen" 第3回全国小学生倉敷王将戦 [3rd All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2004. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  4. ^ "Tsushima Topikkusu: Sasaki-kun Nipponichi" 対馬トピックス:佐々木君日本一 [Tsushima City Topics: Sasaki in Number 1 in Japan] (PDF). Kōhō Tsushima (in Japanese). Tsushima City. September 2004. Archived from the original (pdf) on September 18, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  5. ^ "Dai Sanjuni Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen" 第32回小学生名人戦 [32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2007. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "Dai Sanjuni Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen: Daihyōsenshu Ichiran" 第32回小学生名人戦: 代表選手一覧 [32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: Participant List] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Dai Gojūhakkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūgonen Jūgatsu kara Nisenjūrokunen Sangatsu" 第58回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2015年10月~2016年3月 [58th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2015 to March 2016] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Shōgi Fujii Sōta Nanakan 「Kisei-sen」 Yonrenpa Kotoshi Futatsume no Taitoru Bōei" 将棋 藤井聡太七冠 「棋聖戦」 4連覇 今年度2つ目のタイトル防衛 [Shogi's Sōta Fujii 7-crown successfully defends Kisei title; it's his second successful title defense this year and his fourth consecutive Kisei title match victory]. NHK News Web (in Japanese). July 18, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. ^ Satō, Keiji (August 23, 2023). "Fujii Sōta Ōi ga Yonrenpa Sasaki Daichi Nanadan to no Rikisen Seishi, Yonshō Ippai de Bōei" 藤井聡太王位が4連覇 佐々木大地七段との力戦制し, 4勝1敗で防衛 [Sōta Fujii Ōi beats Daichi Sasaki 7-dan in a hard-fought game to defend Ōi title 4 games to 1 and win the title for the fourth year in a row.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  12. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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 9, 2024.
  15. ^ "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.
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