Hiroe Nakai

Hiroe Nakai (中井 広恵, Nakai Hiroe) (born June 24, 1969, in Wakkanai, Hokkaido) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 6-dan.[1] She is a former women's shogi professional major title holder, having won 19 major titles throughout her career, and has been awarded the lifetime title of Queen Meijin, and also was the first women's professional to beat a regular shogi professional in an official game, the first women's professional to win an official game against a Class A professional, and the first women's professional to win a game in the NHK Cup TV Shogi Tournament.

Hiroe Nakai
Nakai in 2009
Native name中井広恵
Born (1969-06-24) June 24, 1969
HometownWakkanai, Hokkaido
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 1981(1981-04-01) (aged 11)
Badge Number
  • JSA W-7
  • LPSA W-7
RankWomen's 6-dan
TeacherYūji Sase (9-dan)
Lifetime titlesQueen Meijin
Major titles won19
Tournaments won12
Websites
Hiroe Nakai on Twitter

Nakai also is a former representative director of the Ladies Professional Shogi-player's Association of Japan (LPSA).

Early life

Nakai started playing shogi at the age of 4. She finished second in the Elementary Student Meijin Tournament in 1981 at the age of 11. In 1983, she entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school and reached the rank of 2-kyū before deciding to leave in 1990.[2]

Women's shogi professional

Nakai was awarded the rank of women's professional 2-kyū by the Japan Shogi Association in April 1981 at the age of 11 as a protegee of Yūji Satō.[1][3]

In 1993, Nakai became the first women's professional to defeat a regular professional in an official game when she beat Shūichi Ikeda in a Ryūō tournament game.[4]: 25 

Nakai was 16 years old when she won her first major title in 1985 by defeating the reigning Women's Meijin Naoko Hayashiba three games to one to win the Women's Meijin title. The following year the roles were reversed with Nakai successfully defending her title against the challenger Kobayashi three games to two.[4]: 24 [5]

In 2003, Nakai became the first women's professional to win a NHK Cup TV Shogi Tournament game. She won her round 1 game of the 53rd NHK Cup (2003) against Mamoru Hatakeyama[6][7] and then in round 2 won against Teruichi Aono (who was in Class A at the time).[8] She lost in round 3 to Makoto Nakahara.[6][7] The following year Nakai also qualified for the 54th NHK Cup (2004) and beat Shūji Satō in round 1.[9][10] In round 2, Nakai faced Yasumitsu Satō who was the reigning Kisei title holder. Nakai obtained an advantageous position against Satō, but was unable to convert it into a win.[9][10] Nakai is still the only women's professional to have won a NHK Cup game.[11]

In April 2009, Nakai became the first women's professional to win 500 official games,[12] and then became the first women's professional to win 600 official games in January 2015.[13]

In August 2010, Nakai defeated Sayuri Honda in the quarterfinals of the Kurashiki Tōka Cup to win her nineteenth official game in a row and set a new record for consecutive wins by a women's professional.[14]

In October 2020, Nakai at 51 years and 3 months old became the oldest challenger for a women's major title when she defeated Sakura Ishimoto in the finals of the challenger tournament for the 28th Kurashiki Tōka Cup.[15] The win advanced Nakai to a women's major title match for the first time in 16 years and it also broke the previous record for oldest title challenger of 49 years and 8 months set two years earlier by Ichiyo Shimizu.[15] Nakai's challenge, however, was unsuccessful as she lost the 48th Kurashiki Tōka Cup title match against Kana Satomi 2 games to none.[16]

Promotion history

Nakai has been promoted as follows.[1][3]

  • 2-kyū: April 1, 1981
  • 1-dan: March 10, 1983
  • 2-dan: April 1, 1983
  • 3-dan: April 1, 1986
  • 4-dan: April 1, 1989
  • 5-dan: April 1, 1992
  • 6-dan: November 25, 2002

Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.

Titles and other championships

Nakai has appeared in major title matches a total of 44 times and has won a total of 19 titles. She has won the Women's Meijin title nine times and has been awarded the title of Queen Meijin. She has also won the Women's Ōshō title four times, the Women's Ōi title three times and the Kurashiki Tōka Cup three times.[3] In addition to major titles, Nakai has won 17 other shogi championships.[1]

Major titles
TitleYearsNumber of times overall
Women's Meijin 1985-86, 1988, 1991–93, 1999, 2001–02 9
Women's Ōshō 1995, 2002–04 4
Women's Ōi 1990-92 3
Kurashiki Tōka Cup 2000-03 3

Other championships
TournamentYearsNumber of times
*Daiwa Securities Strongest Women's Professional Cup 2008-10 3
*Ladies Open Tournament 1988, 1990, 1994, 1996 4
*Kajima Cup 1998, 2001, 2003 3
*Tenga Cup 2008, 2010 2
*Ladies Invitation Cup 2007-08, 2010–12 5

Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held or currently suspended.

Awards and honors

Nakai received a number of Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards and other awards in recognition of her accomplishments in shogi and contributions made to Japanese society.[1][3][17]

Annual Shogi Awards
  • 13th Annual Awards (April 1985 – March 1986): Women's Professional Award
  • 14th Annual Awards (April 1986 – March 1987): Women's Professional Award
  • 16th Annual Awards (April 1888 – March 1989): Women's Professional Award
  • 20th Annual Awards (April 1992 – March 1993): Women's Professional Award
  • 27th Annual Awards (April 1999 – March 2000): Women's Professional Award
  • 29th Annual Awards (April 2001 – March 2002): Women's Professional of the Year
  • 30th Annual Awards (April 2002 – March 2003): Women's Professional of the Year
  • 31st Annual Awards (April 2003 – March 2004): Women's Professional Award
  • 22nd Annual Awards (April 2004 – March 2005): Women's Professional Award
  • 38th Annual Awards (April 2010 – March 2011): Women's Professional Most Games Played
  • 40th Annual Awards (April 2012 – March 2012): Women's Professional Most Games Played

Other awards

LPSA representative director

Nakai was selected to be the first representative director of The Ladies Professional Shogi-player's Association of Japan (LPSA) after it was established in 2007, and served in that capacity until 2010.[13]

Personal life

Nakai is married to retired shogi professional Yoshiyuki Ueyama. The couple have three daughters.[2][18] She served as a member of the Warabi, Saitama board of education from 2003 to 2015 and was named a "Warabi City PR Ambassador" in May 2016.[19]

  • Nakai in February 2013
    Nakai in February 2013
  • Nakai at the European/World Open Shogi Championships in July 2013
    Nakai at the European/World Open Shogi Championships in July 2013

References
  1. "Nakai Hiroe" 中井 広恵 [Hiroe Nakai] (in Japanese). Ladies Professional Shogi-player's Association. May 29, 2007. Archived from the original on November 24, 2017. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  2. "Nakai Hiroe" 中井 広恵 [Hiroe Nakai] (in Japanese). Ladies Professional Shogi-player's Association. May 2007. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  3. "Nakai Hiroe Joryū Rokudan (Joryū Kishi Bangō 17)" 中井広恵 女流六段(女流棋士番号17) [Hiroe Nakai Women's Professional 6d (Women's Professional Badge Number 17)] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  4. Furukawa, Tetsuo, ed. (September 2014). "Joryū Kikai no Yonjū Shūnen" 女流棋界の40周年 [40 years of Women's Professional Shogi]. Shogi World (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. pp. 22–29 – via Google Books.
  5. "Okada Bijūtsukanhai Joryū Meijinsen Kako no Kekka" 岡田美術館杯女流名人戦 過去の結果 [Okada Museum of Art Cup Women's Mejin Tournament Past Results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  6. "Dai 53kai NHK Hai Terebi Shōgi Tōnamento - Tōnamento Hyō" 第53回NHK杯テレビ将棋トーナメント トーナメント表 [53rd NHK TV Shogi Tournament: Tournament Bracket] (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  7. "Dai 53kai NHK Haisen Honsen" 第53回NHK杯戦 本戦 [53rd NHK Cup Tournament: Main] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2003. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  8. 甲斐女流王位, 深浦九段破る, Ａ級に勝った女流２人目 [Kai Ladies' Oi Defeats Fukaura 9 dan: Second Women Professional to Win Against a Class A Pro.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). October 29, 2013. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  9. "Dai 54kai NHK Hai Terebi Shōgi Tōnamento - Tōnamento Hyō" 第54回NHK杯テレビ将棋トーナメント トーナメント表 [54th NHK TV Shogi Tournament: Tournament Bracket] (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  10. "Dai 54kai NHK Haisen Honsen" 第54回NHK杯戦 本戦 [54th NHK Cup Tournament: Main] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2004. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  11. "NHK Hai Meikyoku Pureibakku - Nakai Hiroe -" NHK杯名局プレイバック - 中井広恵 - [NHK Cup Famous Games Playback - Hiroe Nakai -]. 将棋フォーカス [Shogi Focus] (in Japanese). March 1, 2015. Event occurs at 15:35. NHK Educational TV. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  12. "Shōgi no Nakai, Joryū Hatsu Gohyakushō" 将棋の中井, 女流初の500勝 [Shogi's Nakai, First Women's Pro to Achieve 500 wins]. Shikoku Shimbun (in Japanese). April 29, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  13. "Joryū Hatsu no Tsūsan Roppyakushō Nakai Joryū Rokudan" 女流初の通算600勝 中井女流六段 [Nakai Women's Professional 6d, First Women's Professional to Win 600 Games]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). January 22, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  14. "Nakai Joryū Rokudan, Shin Kiroku Jūkyū Renshō" 中井女流六段, 新記録19連勝 [Nakai Women's Professional 6d Sets New Record of 19 Consecutive Wins]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). August 5, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  15. "Gojūissai Nakai Rokudan ga Shōri, Sainenchō no Joryū Kōshikisen Chōsensha ni" 51歳中井六段が勝利, 最年長の女流公式戦挑戦者に [51-year-old Nakai 6-dan wins to become the oldest challenger for a women's major title]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). October 1, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  16. "Satomi Kana Kurashiki Tōka Bōei, Nakai Hiroe Joryū Rokudan Shirizokeru" 里見香奈倉敷藤花が防衛, 中井広恵女流六段退ける [Kana Satomi turns away Hiroe Nakai 6-dan to defend Kurashiki Tōka title]. Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). November 21, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  17. "Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha Ichiranhyō" 将棋大賞受賞者一覧 [List of Annual Shogi Award Winners] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  18. "Ueyama Yoshiyuki Shichidan ga Intai" 植山悦行七段が引退 [Yoshiyuki Ueyama 7d Retires] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. July 1, 2001. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  19. Tokizawa, Tetsuo (May 18, 2016). "Shōgi Joryū Kishi･Nakai Hiroe-san ga PR Taishi Shūnin" 将棋女流棋士･中井広恵さんがＰＲ大使就任 [Shogi Women's Professional Hiroe Nakai Named PR Ambassador]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved February 28, 2018.
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