Wataru Yashiro (八代 弥, Yashiro Wataru, born March 3, 1994) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan.

Wataru Yashiro
Native name八代 弥
Born (1994-03-03) March 3, 1994 (age 30)
HometownKamo District, Shizuoka
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2012(2012-04-01) (aged 18)
Badge Number287
Rank7-dan
TeacherTeruichi Aono (9-dan)
Tournaments won1
Meijin classC2
Ryūō class1
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life and apprenticeship

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Yashiro was born on March 3, 1994, in Kamo District, Shizuoka.[1] He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was a first-grade elementary school student, and was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū in September 2005 under the guidance of shogi professional Teruichi Aono.[2][3]

At first, Yashiro had some difficulty as an apprentice professional and even came close to being demoted in rank to 7-kyū; however, he started practicing regularly at the Kamata Shogi Club—a well-known shogi club where many strong amateurs, apprentence professionals, and even regular professionals would practice—and his results began to quickly improve.[2] He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 2008,[2] and then 3-dan in April 2010.[3] He obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in March 2012 after finishing runner up in the 50th 3-dan League (October 2011 – March 2012) with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses.[2][3][4]

Shogi professional

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Yashiro defeated Yasuaki Murayama to win the 10th Asahi Cup Open [ja] in February 2017 for his only shogi tournament championship to date. Yashiro was just twenty-two years old at the time which made him the then youngest player to ever have won the tournament.[5][6] Yashiro's record, however, was broken the following year by Sōta Fujii who won the 11th Asahi Cup Open as a fifteen-year-old.[7]

Promotion history

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The promotion history for Yashiro is as follows:[8]

  • 6-kyū: September 2005
  • 3-dan: April 2010
  • 4-dan: April 1, 2012
  • 5-dan: May 12, 2015
  • 6-dan: February 11, 2017
  • 7-dan: April 23, 2019

Titles and other championships

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Yashiro has yet to make an appearance in a major title match, but he has won one non-major shogi championships during his career.[9]

Awards and honors

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Yashiro received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Award for "Best New Player" for the 2016–17 Shogi Year.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Yashiro Wataru" 棋士データベース: 八代弥 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Wataru Yashiro] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 65. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved April 26, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c "Saitō Shintarō Sandan to Yashiro Wataru Sandan ga Shinyondan ni" 斎藤慎太郎三段と八代弥三段が新四段に [Shintarō Saitō 3d and Wataru Yashiro 3d are the new 4-dans.] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 10, 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  4. ^ "Dai Gojūkai Shōreikai Sandan Riigusen Nisenjūichinen Jūgatsu kara Nisenjūninen Sangatsu" 第50回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2011年10月~2012年3月 [50th apprentice school 3-dan League: October 2011 to March 2012] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2012. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  5. ^ "Dai Jikkai Asahihaisen Ōpunsen [Honsen Tōnamento]" 第10回朝日杯将棋オープン戦 [本戦トーナメント] [10th Asahi Cup Open [Main Tournament]] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ^ Murase, Shinya (February 11, 2017). "Yashiro Godan, Rekidai Saishonensho de Yusho Asahihai Shogi Opunsen" 八代弥五段, 歴代最年少で優勝 朝日杯将棋オープン戦 [Yashiro 5d wins Asahi Cup Open; youngest winner in history]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  7. ^ "Fujii defeats Habu, rises to 6th dan". Japan Times. Jiji Press. February 17, 2018. Archived from the original on February 17, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Yashiro Wataru Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 八代弥 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Wataru Yashiro Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  9. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Yashiro Wataru Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 八代弥 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Wataru Yashiro Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  10. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Yashiro Wataru Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 八代弥 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Wataru Yashiro Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
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