Amahiko Satō

Amahiko Satō (佐藤 天彦, Satō Amahiko, born January 16, 1988) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He is a former Meijin title holder.

Amahiko Satō
Born (1988-01-16) January 16, 1988
HometownFukuoka
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2010(2010-04-01) (aged 22)
Badge Number263
Rank9 dan
TeacherIsao Nakata
Major titles won3
Tournaments won3
Meijin classA
Ryūō class1
Websites
JSA profile page
Amahiko Satō on Twitter

Early life

Satō was born in Fukuoka on January 18, 1988.[1] He attended elementary school and junior high school in Fukuoka, but moved to Chiba Prefecture to attend senior high school.[2]

He entered the Japanese Shogi Association's apprentice school in September 1998 when he was in the fifth-grade under the guidance of shogi professional Isao Nakata, who is also from Fukuoka and began giving Satō guidance online.[2][3]

Shogi professional

Satō's first tournament victory as a professional came in September 2008 when he defeated Yoshitaka Hoshino 2 games to none to win the 39th Shinjin-Ō tournament.[4][5] He won the same tournament in October 2011 when he defeated Masayuki Toyoshima 2 games to 1 to win the 42nd Shinjin-Ō tournament.[6][7]

In July 2015, Satō defeated Toyoshima once again, this time in the 63rd Ōza title challenger tournament final, to advance to his first major title match.[8] In the best-of-five final against defending champion Yoshiharu Habu, Sato was leading the match 2 games to 1 before Habu came back to win the last two games and defend his title.[9]

Satō's next appearance in a major title match came in February 2016 when he challenged Akira Watanabe for the 41st Kiō title.[10] Satō advanced to the title match by defeating Yasumitsu Satō 2 games to none in the final of the challenger tournament,[11] but ended up losing to Watanabe 3 games to 1.[12]

In May 2016, Satō won his first major title when he defeated Habu 4 games to 1 win the 74th Meijin title. Satō advanced to the Meijin title match by winning Class A ranking league in his first season in the league.[13] Satō successfully defended his Meijin title in 2017 by defeating Akira Inaba (75th Meijin Match: 4 games to 2)[14] and in 2018 by defeating Habu (76th Meijin Match: 4 games to 2).[15] In each of these title defenses, Satō lost two of the first three games before coming back to win the match.[14][15]

In December 2016, Satō defeated Shōta Chida 2 games to none to win the 2nd Eiō Tournament.[16] The victory meant that Satō qualified to play the winner of a tournament involving top computer shogi programs in a two-game match the following Spring. Sato lost both games of the match held in April–May 2017 to the program Ponanza.[17]

Satō defeated Hisashi Namekata to win the 26th Ginga-sen in September 2018.[18]

Satō was unable to defend his Meijin title for the third consecutive time, losing the 77th Meijin Match (April–May 2019) to challenger Toyoshima 2-crown 4 games to none.[19]

Promotion history

The promotion history for Satō is as follows:[20]

  • 1998, September: 6-kyū
  • 2006, October 1: 4-dan
  • 2009, April 30: 5-dan
  • 2011, April 21: 6-dan
  • 2012, April 19: 7-dan
  • 2015, January 8: 8-dan
  • 2016, May 31: 9-dan

Titles and other championships

Satō has appeared in major title matches a total of six times. He has won the Meijin title three times.[21] In addition to major titles, Satō has won four other shogi championships during his career: the Shinjin-Ō (2008 and 2011), the Eiō Tournament (2016), and the Ginga-sen (2018).[22]

Awards and honors

Satō has received a number of Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards throughout his career. He won the "Best New Player" award in 2008; the "Best Winning Percentage" and "Most Consecutive Games Won" awards in 2010; the "Most Games Won", "Most Games Played", "Most Consecutive Games Won", "Game of the Year", and "Fighting-spirit" awards in 2015; the "Fighting-spirit" award in 2016; and the "Game of the Year" in 2019.[23][24]

In addition to awards for shogi, Satō was selected as one of GQ Japan's "Men of the Year" for 2017. Sato won the "Boom" award.[25]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

Satō has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings five times: 6th place with JPY 21,660,000 in earnings for 2015;[26] 3rd place with JPY 57,220,000 in earnings for 2016;[27] 2nd place with JPY 72,550,000 in earnings in 2017;[28] 2nd place with JPY 59,990,000 in earnings in 2018;[29] and 6th place with JPY 36,870,00 in earnings in 2019.[30]

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Satō Amahiko" 棋士データベース: 佐藤天彦 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Amahiko Satō] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. "Aishō ｢Kizoku｣ Habu kara Meijin-i Dasshu/Satō Amahiko Ryakureki" 愛称 ｢貴族｣ 羽生から名人位奪取／佐藤天彦名人略歴 [Nicknamed "The Noble", a brief personal history of Amahiko Satō/the man who took the Meijin title from Habu]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  3. "Chigau Ginga wa Takusan Aru koto ga Wakatta Kotoshi Hatsu Bōei wo Hatashita Shōgi no Dai Nanajūgo Meijin Satō Amahiko-san" 違う銀河がたくさんあることが分かった 今年初防衛を果たした 将棋の第75期名人 佐藤天彦さん ["There are many different worlds" says 75th Shogi Meijin Amahiko Satō]. Nishinippon Shimbun (in Japanese). November 12, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  4. "Shōgi Shinjin-Ō ni Satō Yondan" 将棋新人王に佐藤四段 [Satō 4d wins shogi's Shinjin-Ō] (in Japanese). Japanese Communist Party. September 26, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  5. "Dai Sanjūkyūki Shinjin'Ōsen" 第39期新人王戦 [39th Shinjin-Ō tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  6. "Shōgi no Shinjin'Ōsen Satō ga Toyoshima wo Kudasu" 将棋の新人王戦 佐藤が豊島を下す [Satō defeats Toyoshima to win Shinjin-Ō Tournament]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). November 1, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  7. "Dai Yonjūniki Shinjin'Ōsen" 第42期新人王戦 [42nd Shinjin-Ō tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  8. "Shōgi Ōzasen, Satō Hachidan ga Chōsenshaken wo Kakutoku" 将棋王座戦, 佐藤八段が挑戦権を獲得 [Shogi Ōza Tournament, Satō 8d is the challenger]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). July 21, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  9. Fukamatsu, Shinji (October 26, 2015). "Habu Ōza ga Bōei ni Seiko Shōgi Ōzasen, Yonnen Renzoku Nijūsankime" 羽生王座が防衛に成功 将棋王座戦, 4年連続23期目 [Habu Successfully Defends Oza Title for 4th Consecutive Year to Hold Title for 23rd Time Overall]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  10. Fujita, Masatoshi (February 10, 2016). "Taitorusen de Mezurashii Yūjin Taiketsu" タイトル戦で珍しい友人対決 [Rare matchup between friends in title match]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  11. "Dai Yonjūikki Kiōsen: Chōsensha Kettei Tōnamento" 第41期棋王戦: 挑戦者決定トーナメント [41st Kio Tournament: Challenger Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  12. "Kiōsen, Watanabe Kiō ga Yonrenpa" 棋王戦, 渡辺棋王が4連覇 [Watanabe wins Kiō for 4th consecutive year]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 21, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  13. Yamamura, Hideki (June 1, 2016). "Amahiko Sato beats Yoshiharu Habu to capture Meijin title in his first attempt". Mainichi Shimbun. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  14. Murase, Shinya (June 6, 2017). "Satō Meijin, Nijūdai Taiketsu Seishi Hatsubōei Shōgi Meijinsen Nanaban Shōbu" 佐藤名人, 20代対決制し初防衛 将棋名人戦七番勝負 [Shogi Meijin 7-game match: Satō Meijin wins the battle of the 20-somethings to defend title for first time]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  15. Yamamura, Hideki (June 20, 2018). "Satō ga Sanrenpa Yonshō Nihai de Habu Kudasu" 佐藤が3連覇 4勝2敗で羽生降す [Satō wins for third consecutive time, defeats Habu 4 games to 2]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  16. "Shōgi no Satō Meijin, Raishun Sofuto to Taikyoku Eiōsen Seisu" 将棋の佐藤名人, 来春ソフトと対局 叡王戦制す. The Nikkei (in Japanese). December 11, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  17. "Satō Meijin Kutsujoku, Ponanza ni Renpai" 佐藤名人屈辱, ポナンザに連敗 [Satō Meijin humiliated, loses twice in a row to Ponanza]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). May 20, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  18. "Satō Meijin ga Hatsu Bui Shōgi･Gingasen" 佐藤名人が初V 将棋･銀河戦 [Satō Meijin wins Ginga-sen for first time]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). September 27, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  19. "Toyoshima Nikan ga Meijin Dasshu, Sanka ni Heiseumare Hatsu no Meijin Tanjō" 豊島二冠が名人奪取, 三冠に 平成生まれ初の名人誕生 [Toyoshima 2-crown capture Meijin title to become a 3-crown and also the first player born in the Heisei Era to become Meijin]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 17, 2019. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  20. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Satō Amahiko Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐藤天彦 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Amahiko Satō Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  21. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Satō Amahiko Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐藤天彦 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Amahiko Satō Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Satō Amahiko Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 佐藤天彦 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Amahiko Satō Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  23. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Satō Amahiko Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 佐藤天彦 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Amahiko Satō Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  24. "Saiyūshūkishishō wa Toyoshima Nikan Fujii Shichidan wa ｢Myōshu｣ de Jushōlhanguage=ja" 最優秀棋士賞は豊島二冠 藤井七段は｢妙手｣で受賞 [Toyoshima 2-crown named "Player of the Year"; Fujii 7d wins award for "best move".]. Asahi Shimbun. April 1, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  25. "These Are the Winners of 'GQ Men of the Year 2017'". GQ Japan (in Japanese). Condé Nast. November 22, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  26. "2015nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2015年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2015 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 5, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  27. "2016nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2016年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2016 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  28. "2017nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2017年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2017 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  29. "Habu Yoshiharu Kudan ga Ninenburi Ichii 2018nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 羽生善治九段が2年ぶり1位 2018年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2018 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10: Yoshiharu Habu 9d reclaims top position after two years] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  30. "2019nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2019年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2019 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 3, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
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