Kazuo Sugimoto
| Kazuo Sugimoto | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 杉本和陽 |
| Born | September 1, 1991 |
| Hometown | Ōta, Tokyo |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | April 1, 2017 (aged 25) |
| Badge Number | 310 |
| Rank | 6-dan |
| Teacher | Kunio Yonenaga (9-dan) |
| Meijin class | C2 |
| Ryūō class | 4 |
| Websites | |
| JSA profile page | |
Kazuo Sugimoto (杉本 和陽, Sugimoto Kazuo; born September 1, 1991) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.
Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship
Sugimoto was born in Ōta, Tokyo on September 1, 1991.[1] He learned how to play shogi from watching his father (an amateur 2-dan) play.[2] As a sixth-grade student at Tamagawa Elementary School in 2003, Sugimoto won the 28th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament, defeating fellow future professional Takuya Ishida in the semi-finals.[3][4]
Later in 2003, Sugimoto entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū as a student of shogi professional Kunio Yonenaga.[2] He was promoted to the rank of 3-dan in 2008 and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2017 after finishing second to Nishida in the 60th 3-dan League (October 2016 – March 2017) with a record of 12 wins and 6 losses.[2][5]
Shogi professional
In April 2025, Sugimoto defeated Takuya Nagase in the finals of the 96th Kisei challenger tournament to advance to his first major title match and earn the right to challenge the reigning Kisei Sōta Fujii for the 96th Kisei Title. The win also meant Sugimoto satisfied the criteria for promotion to 6-dan.[6] In the June 2025 title match, however, Sugimoto was unable to continue his good form and lost the best-of-five match to Fujii 3 games to none.[7]
Promotion history
The promotion history for Sugimoto is as follows.[8]
- 6-kyū: September 2003
- 3-dan: October 2008
- 4-dan: April 1, 2017
- 5-dan: July 8, 2021
- 6-dan: April 25, 2025
Titles and other championships
Sugimoto has appeared in one major title match but lost the match.[9]
References
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sugimoto Kazuo" 棋士データベース: 杉本和陽 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Sugimoto]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Shinyondan Tanjō no Oshirase" 新四段誕生のお知らせ [New 4-dans announced]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). March 4, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ "Dai Nijūhakkai Shōgakusei Meijinsen [Kesshō Tōnamento/Kesshō Taikai]" 第28回小学生名人戦 [決勝トーナメント/決勝大会] [28th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: Championship Tournament and Final 4]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Dai Nijūhakkai Shōgakusei Meijinsen: Daihyō Ichiran" 第28回小学生名人戦 [代表選手一覧] [28th Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: Participants list]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Dai Rokujūkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūrokunen Jūgatsu kara Nisenjūnananen Sangatsu" 第60回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2016年10月～2017年3月 [60th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2016 to March 2017]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Hyūrikku Hai Kiseisen Sugimoto Kazuo Rokudan ga Taitoru Hatsu Chosen Koe Furuwase ｢Kusarazu Yokatta｣" ヒューリック杯棋聖戦 杉本和陽六段がタイトル初挑戦 声震わせ ｢くさらず良かった｣ [Huric Cup Keisei Tournament: Kazuo Sugimoto 6-dan advance to his first major title match: says in a trembling voice he is glad he "did not fold under pressure"]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). April 25, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "Fujii Kisei, Mushō no Sairenshō de Rokurenpa Tassei, Sugimoto Kazuo Rokudan wo Shirizokeru Hyūrikku Hai Kiseisen" 藤井棋聖, 無傷の3連勝で6連覇達成 杉本和陽六段を退ける ヒューリック杯棋聖戦 [Huric Cup Keisei Tournament: Fujii Kisei wins Kisei title for 6th consecutive year with an unblemished 3-0 victory over Kazuo Sugimoto 6-dan]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). June 30, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sugimoto Kazuo Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 杉本和陽 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Sugimoto Promotion History]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved May 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Sugimoto Kazuo Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 杉本和陽 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazuo Sugimoto Major Title History]. Japan Shogi Association (in Japanese). Retrieved July 13, 2025.
External links