Hisashi Namekata

Hisashi Namekata (行方 尚史, Namekata Hisashi, born December 30, 1973) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan.

Hisashi Namekata
Namekata at an August 2014 event.
Native name行方尚史
Born (1973-12-30) December 30, 1973
HometownHirosaki
Career
Achieved professional statusOctober 1, 1993(1993-10-01) (aged 19)
Badge Number208
Rank9-dan
TeacherYasuharu Ōyama (9-dan)
Tournaments won2
Meijin classB2
Ryūō class3
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship

Namekata was born in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture on December 30, 1973.[1] As a sixth-grade elementary school student, he finished third in the 10th Elementary Student Meijin Tournament in 1985.[2] After graduating elementary school in 1986, he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under the guidance of Yasuharu Ōyama as a twelve year old, and was awarded professional status and the rank of 4-dan on October 1, 1993, at the age of 19.[3][4]

Shogi professional

In 2015, Namekata finished tied for first with Akira Watanabe, Toshiaki Kubo and Akihito Hirose in the Class A league for the right to challenge to Habu for the 73rd Meijin title. Each player finished league play with 6 wins and 3 losses, so a playoff was held to determine the challenger. A step-ladder playoff system with the player's league seed determining their playoff seed was held.[5] Namaketa needed to only win one game to become the challenger since he was the highest league seed of the four, whereas the two lowest seeds Kubo and Hirose needed to win three games each to become challenger. Kubo beat Hirose and then Watanabe in rounds one and two respectively to face Namekata in the final game of the playoff. Namekata then defeated Kubo to win the playoff.[6][7][8] In the title match, Namekata and Habu were tied after two games before Habu won the next three games to defend his title 4 games to 1.[9]

On January 29, 2018, Namekata defeated Yasuaki Murayama in a round 2 preliminary game of the 89th Kisei Tournament to win his 600th official game as a professional.[10][11]

Promotion history

Namekata's promotion history is as follows:[12]

  • 6-kyū: 1986
  • 1-dan: 1990
  • 4-dan: October 1, 1993
  • 5-dan: October 1, 1995
  • 6-dan: June 21, 1999
  • 7-dan: April 1, 2004
  • 8-dan: April 1, 2007
  • 9-dan: November 14, 2019

Titles and other championships

Namekata has been the challenger for a major title twice, but was unsuccessful both times. His first appearance was in 2013 when defeated Yasumitsu Satō to become the challenger to Yoshiharu Habu for the 54th Ōi Match,[13] but he ended losing to Habu 4 games to 1.[14]

Namekata has won two non-title shogi tournaments. He won the 14th Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament tournament for top shogi professionals under the age of 30 for the year 1995 and the 1st Asahi Cup Open for the year 2007.[15][16]

Awards and honors

Namekata was awarded the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player" in 1995 and "Best Winning Percentage" in 1998.[17]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

Namekata has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money/game fee rankings four times since turning professional: ninth in 2008 with JPY 20,680,000 in earnings, seventh in 2013 with JPY 18,210,000 in earnings, sixth in 2014 with JPY 20,900,000 in earnings, and fifth in 2015 with JPY 26,890,000 in earnings.[18][19][20][21]

JSA director

Namekata was elected to the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors as a non-executive director in June 2023.[22]

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Namekata Hisashi" 棋士データベース: 行方尚史 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hisashi Namekata] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  2. "Kimura Kazuki Shichidan ni Kiku Nebari wa Saizen no Gambari. ｢Korekara, Subete Kachitai｣" 木村一基七段に聞く 粘りは最善の頑張り。｢これからは, すべて勝ちたい」 [According to Kazuki Kimura 7d, never giving up is the best approach, "I want to win all my games from here on."]. Nikkei Net (Interview) (in Japanese). Nikkei Shimbun. June 8, 2005. Archived from the original on November 21, 2005. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  3. "Dai Nanajūgoki Meijinsen Namekata Hachidan ni Kiku, Dai Nikyoku Midokoro Nijūdai Kishi, Shizentai no Taiketsu" 第75期名人戦 行方八段に聞く, 第2局見どころ 20代同士, 自然体の対決 [Namekata 8d says the key point to Game 2 of the 75th Meijin match will be the natural style of play between two 20-year-olds]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). April 15, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  4. "Fujii Sōta Yondan ga Yuitsu ｢Kakkoii｣ to Katatta Otoko, Namekata Hisashi Hachidan Debyū Chokugo ni Kaishingeki no Kyotsūten" 藤井聡太四段が唯一 ｢カッコイイ｣ と語った男, 行方尚史八段 デビュー直後に快進撃の共通点 [Called the "coolest professional" by Sōta Fujii 4d, Hisashi Namekata 8d, like Fujii, also had a lot of success after turning professional] (in Japanese). Abema TV. October 11, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  5. Kashiwazaki, Kaiichirō (March 2, 2015). "Shōgikai no Ichiban Nagai Hi Jūroku jikan Kosu Shitō, Yonsha Ketteisen ni" 将棋界の一番長い日 16時間超す死闘, 4者決定戦に [Shogi's longest day: More than 16-hour struggle ends with a four player playoff]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  6. "Dai Nanajūsanki Meijinsen･Jun'isen A kyū" 第73期名人戦･順位戦 A級 [73rd Meijin Tournament･ Ranking League Class A] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  7. Yamamura, Hideki (March 17, 2015). "Meijinsen: Chōsensha wa Namekata Hisashi Hachidan Hatsuchōsen" 名人戦: 挑戦者は行方尚史八段　初挑戦 [Meijin tournament: Hisashi Namekata 8d is the challenger for the first time]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  8. Fujita, Masatoshi (April 13, 2015). "Meijinsen Habu ka Hatsu Tōjo no Namekata ka" 名人戦　羽生か初登場の行方か [Meijin Match: Will the winner be Habu or first time challenger Namekata]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  9. Fukamatsu, Shinji (May 30, 2015). "Habu Meijin 'Surōpēsu no Tatakai datta' Bōeisen kara Hitoya" 羽生名人 ｢スローペースの戦いだった」防衛戦から一夜 [Habu Meijin One Night After Defending Title: "The games were all slow paced"]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  10. "Namekata Hachidan ga Burokku Yosen Kesshō Shinshutsu Nijiyosen" 行方八段がブロック予選決勝進出 2次予選 [Namekata 8d advances to group final of preliminary round 2]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). January 29, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  11. "Namekata Hisashi Hachidan, Roppyakushō (Shōgi Eiyoshō) wo Tasei" 行方尚史八段, 600勝(将棋栄誉賞)を達成 [Hisashi Namekata 8d reaches 600 wins (awarded "Shogi Honor Award")] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. January 30, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  12. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Namekata Hisashi Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 行方尚史 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hisashi Namekata Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  13. "Dai Gojūyonki Ōisen: Chōsensha Kettei Rīgu" 第54期王位戦: 挑戦者決定リーグ [54th Ōi Tournament: Challenger League] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  14. "Habu Ōi Sanrenpa Tsūsan Jūgoki" 羽生王位3連覇 通算15期 [Habu Ōi wins title for 3rd consecutive time and 15th time overall]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  15. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Namekata Hisashi Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 行方尚史 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hisashi Namekata Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  16. "Namekata Hachidan ga Shodai Hasha ni Dai Ikkai Asahi Hai Shōgi Opūnsen" 行方八段が初代覇者に 第１回朝日杯将棋オープン戦 [Namekata 8d wins the First Asahi Cup Open to become the tournament's first champion.] (in Japanese). February 9, 2008. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  17. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Namekata Hisashi Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 行方尚史 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Hisashi Namekata Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  18. "2008nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2008年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2008 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 2, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  19. "2013nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2013年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2013 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 7, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  20. "2014nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2014年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2014 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 3, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  21. "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 November 20, 2017.
  22. "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shiyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [Announcement of New Japan Shogi Association Board Members] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
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