Taichi Nakamura (shogi)

Taichi Nakamura (中村 太地, Nakamura Taichi, born June 1, 1988) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8-dan.[1][2] He is a former holder of the Ōza title.

Taichi Nakamura
Nakamura after Game 3 of the 66th Ōza title match
Born (1988-06-01) June 1, 1988 (age 35)
HometownFuchū, Tokyo
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 2006(2006-04-01) (aged 17)
Badge Number261
Rank8-dan
TeacherKunio Yonenaga (9-dan)
Major titles won1
Meijin classA
Ryūō class4
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship edit

Taichi Nakamura was born in Fuchū, Tokyo on June 1, 1988.[3] As a young boy, his family moved a lot due to his father's work.[4] He learned how to play shogi as a four year while living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, but first became interested in becoming a professional shogi player after hearing the news of Yoshiharu Habu becoming the first "7-crown" in professional shogi history.[4][5] After Nakamura's family moved back to Tokyo when he was a second-grade elementary school student,[4] he started practicing shogi at the well-known Hachioji Shogi Club where Habu also studied as a young boy.[5]

In 2000, Nakamura advanced to the championship game of the 25th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja], but finished runner-up after losing to fellow future shogi professional Ryūma Tonari.[5][6] In September of that same year, Nakamura was accepted in the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the tutelage of shogi professional Kunio Yonenaga.[5]

In April 2006, Nakamura was officially awarded professional status in April 2006 for finishing second in the 38th 3-dan league with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.[5][7][8] Nakamura was still a 12th grade senior high school student at Waseda Jitsugyō High School [ja] (an affiliate school of Waseda University) at the time.[5]

After graduating from high school in March 2007, Nakamura enrolled in Waseda University's School of Political Science and Economics to continue his education in addition to being a shogi professional.[5][9][10] In March 2010, Nakamura wrote a thesis about political parties and unaffiliated voters in Japan which won him a scholarship from the School of Political Science and Economics.[11] Nakamura graduated from Waseda in 2011.[9]

Shogi professional edit

In 2009, Nakamura faced Akihito Hirose in the championship match of the 40th Shinjin-Ō [ja] tournament.[5] The match was billed as the "Battle of Waseda University Students" because the two were attending Waseda University at the time.[12] Nakamura lost the match 2 games to none.[13]

Nakamura's first appearance in a major title match came in 2012 when he challenged Yoshiharu Habu for the 83rd Kisei title. Nakamura lost the match 3 games to none.[14] In 2013, Nakamura defeated Masataka Gōda in the final of the challenger tournament of the 61st Ōza tournament to earn the right to challenge Habu for the title.[15] Nakamura was leading the match 2 games to 1 after three games, but Habu was able to defend his title by winning the last two games.[16]

In 2017, Nakamura advance to the 65th Ōza title match to once again challenge Habu for a major title. As in 2013, Nakamura was leading the match 2 games to 1, but this time won Game 4 to win the match 3 games to 1 and also capture his first major title.[17] Nakamura, however, was unable to defend his title in 2018, losing the 66th Ōza title match 3 games to 2 to Shintarō Saitō.[18]

Promotion history edit

The promotion history for Nakamura is as follows:[19]

  • 6-kyū: September 2000
  • 4-dan: April 1, 2006
  • 5-dan: January 27, 2011
  • 6-dan: April 26, 2012
  • 7-dan: October 11, 2017
  • 8-dan: March 9, 2023

Titles and other championships edit

Nakamura has appeared in major title matches a total of four times and has won once.[20]

Awards and honors edit

Nakamura received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Best Winning Percentage" in 2011, "Fighting-spirit" and "Most Consecutive Games Won" in 2012, and "Game of the Year" in 2013.[21]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking edit

Nakamura has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] once: he finished 8th with JPY 21,440,000 in earnings in 2017.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Nakamura Taichi" 棋士データベース: 中村太地 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Taichi Nakamura] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "Shōgi Nyūsu: Nakamura Taishi Rokudan ga Nanadan ni Shōdan" 将棋ニューズ: 中村太地六段が七段に昇段 [Shogi News: Taichi Nakamura 6d promoted to 7d] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. October 12, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Nakamura Taichi" 棋士データベース: 中村太地 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Taichi Nakamura] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Nakamura, Taichi (February 7, 2017). "Nakamura Taichi Rokudan Intabyū: Nakamura Taichi Rokudan ga Shōgi ni Hamatta Riyu towa?" 中村太地六段インタビュー: vol.1 中村太地六段が将棋にハマった理由とは? [Interview with Taichi Nakamura 6d Vol. 1: Why did Taichi Nakamura get so interested in shogi?] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Akira Uchida. Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h 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. 19. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved July 18, 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen Rekidai Yūshōsha Ichiran" 小学生将棋名人戦 歴代優勝者一覧 [Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: List of Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  7. ^ "Dai Sanjūhakkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisengonen Jūgatsu kara Nisenrokunen Sangatsu" 第38回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2005年10月~2006年3月 [38th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2005 to March 2006] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2005. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  8. ^ "Shinyondan no Shōkai" 新四段の紹介 [Introducing the new 4-dans] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 10, 2006. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Nakamura, Taichi (September 2012). "Waseda Kishi Mirai wo Ninatte Yakushin (Zenhen)" 早稲田棋士 未来を担って躍進 (前編) [Waseda's shogi professionals: Tackling the future and progressing rapidly]. Seihoku no Kaze (Interview) (in Japanese). Vol. 12. Interviewed by Takenobu Takizawa. Waseda University. Archived from the original on November 18, 2017. Retrieved July 17, 2018 – via Yomiuri Online.
  10. ^ Nakamura, Taichi (February 9, 2017). "Nakamura Taichi Rokudan Intabyū: vol.3 Daigaku Tsugakumo, Ibishato e no Tenshin mo Shiya wo Hirogeru tame" 中村太地六段インタビュー: vol.3 大学通学も, 居飛車党への転身も視野を広げるため。 [Interview with Taichi Nakamura 6d Vol. 3: Expanding one's horizons by attending university and switching to static-rook openings] (Interview) (in Japanese). Interviewed by Akira Uchida. Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "Nakamura Taichi Yondan ga Waseda Daigaku "Seikei Sukarashippu" wo Juyo" 中村太地四段が早稲田大学 「政経スカラシップ」 を授与 [Taichi Nakamura 4d awarded Waseda University 'Seikei Scholarship'] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 13, 2010. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  12. ^ "Geneki Daigakusei no Kaikyo! Kyōikubu no Hirose Akihito-san ga Shōgi Nana Dai Taitoru no 「Ōi」 wo Kakutoku" 現役大学生初の快挙! 教育学部の広瀬章人さんが将棋7大タイトルの「王位」を獲得 [Spectacular result by current Waseda student! School of Education student Akihito Hirose wins the Ōi, one of shogi's seven major titles.] (in Japanese). Waseda University. September 3, 2010. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  13. ^ "Shōgi Shinjin Ō ni Hirose Godan" 将棋新人王に広瀬五段 [Hirose 5d wins shogi's Shinjin-Ō]. Shimbun Akahata (in Japanese). Japanese Communist Party. October 14, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "Habu Nikan, Ōyama Jūgosei Meijin wo Nuku, Taitoru Kakutoku Hachijūikki" 羽生二冠, 大山十五世名人を抜く タイトル獲得81期 [Habu 2-crown wins 81st major title to move past 15th Lifetime Meijin Ōyama]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). July 5, 2012. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  15. ^ "Shōgi Ōzasen, Nakamura Rokudan ga Hatsu no Chōsensha ni" 将棋王座戦, 中村六段が初の挑戦者に [Nakamaru 6d first time challenger for the Ōza title]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). July 22, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "Habu ga Ōza Bōei, Tsūsan Nijūikki Dōichi Taitoru Saita" 羽生が王座防衛 通算21期 同一タイトル最多 [Habu defends Ōza title, wins Ōza for the 21st time overall to set record for most times winning the same title]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  17. ^ Yamamura, Hideaki (October 11, 2017). "Nakamura Taichi Rokudan ga Hatsu no Ōza Kakutoku, Habu Kisei Ikkan e Kōtai" 中村太地六段が初の王座獲得 羽生棋聖1冠へ後退 [Taichi Nakamura 6d wins Oza title for first major title. Habu Kisei drops to a 1-crown]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  18. ^ "Shōgi, Saitō ga Hatsu Taitoru Ōza Kakutoku Saishūkyoku de Nakamura Yaburu" 将棋, 斎藤が初タイトル王座獲得 最終局で中村破る [Saitō wins first major shogi title; defeats Nakamura in final game to capture Ōza title.]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  19. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Nakamura Taichi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 中村太地 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Taichi Nakamura Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  20. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Nakamura Taichi Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 中村太地 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Taichi Nakamura Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  21. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Nakamura Taichi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 中村太地 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Taichi Nakamura Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  22. ^ "Nisenjūnananen Kakutoku Shōkin・Taikyokuryō Besuto Jū" 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.

External links edit