Shogi Player Tetsuro Itoya Promoted to 9th Dan After 12-Year Journey
Tetsuro Itoya, a 37-year-old professional Shogi player, has been promoted to the highest rank of 9th dan after defeating Daisuke Suzuki in the 39th Ryuo Tournament. This victory marked his 250th official win since achieving 8th dan, fulfilling the strict promotion criteria. The journey from 8th to 9th dan took Itoya twelve years, a period during which he maintained his distinctive fast-paced playing style despite the increasing influence of AI in modern Shogi. Itoya, who previously won the Ryuo title in 2014, expressed emotional relief and humorously noted his immediate goal is to avoid mistakes when writing his new rank on ceremonial paper. Currently serving as an executive director of the Japan Shogi Federation, Itoya is also competing in the 84th Meijin Sen against Sota Fujii. Notably, he will compete as an 8th dan in the first match and as a 9th dan in subsequent rounds, a rare occurrence in title matches. Born in Hiroshima, Itoya turned professional at age 17 and has remained a significant figure in the Shogi world for nearly two decades.
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Shogi Player Tetsuro Itoya Promoted to 9th Dan After 12-Year Journey
Tetsuro Itoya, a 37-year-old professional Shogi player, has been promoted to the highest rank of 9th dan after defeating Daisuke Suzuki in the 39th Ryuo Tournament. This victory marked his 250th official win since achieving 8th dan, fulfilling the strict promotion criteria. The journey from 8th to 9th dan took Itoya twelve years, a period during which he maintained his distinctive fast-paced playing style despite the increasing influence of AI in modern Shogi. Itoya, who previously won the Ryuo title in 2014, expressed emotional relief and humorously noted his immediate goal is to avoid mistakes when writing his new rank on ceremonial paper. Currently serving as an executive director of the Japan Shogi Federation, Itoya is also competing in the 84th Meijin Sen against Sota Fujii. Notably, he will compete as an 8th dan in the first match and as a 9th dan in subsequent rounds, a rare occurrence in title matches. Born in Hiroshima, Itoya turned professional at age 17 and has remained a significant figure in the Shogi world for nearly two decades.
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