Official News Release

On Wednesday, March 17th, the fourth game of the 46th Kiō Tournament with five-game match, in which Itodani Tetsuro 8-Dan is challenging Watanabe Akira Kiō, was held at Togo Shrine in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. 98 moves later, Watanabe defeated Itodani 8-Dan, making his record 3 win and 1 loss in the 5 games and obtained Kiō Title. Watanabe has won nine straight at Kiō Tournament.

In addition, Watanabe won the title for a total of 28 terms, which is the fourth place after Habu Yoshiharu 9-dan (99 terms), and the second, Oyama Yasuharu 15th Meijin (80 terms), and the third, Nakahara Makoto 16th Meijin (64 terms).

The 6th game of the 70th Ōshō Tournament was held at Sanbe-so, Ota City, Shimane Prefecture on March 13 and 14 (Sat. and Sun.), and Watanabe AkiraŌshō defeated Nagase Takuya Ōza by 113 moves with 4 wins and 2 losses.

This is the fifth time in three consecutive terms that Watanabe has won the Ōshō title.

　Deguchi Wakamu 4-Dan, aged 25, has been promoted to 5-Dan by winning the game described below.

Date of Promotion

March 5, 2021 (Fri)

Game

The 79th ranking game Class C, Group 2
（vs Chuza Makoto, 7-dan）

Promotion criteria met:

Promoton to Class C, Group 1

Nishida Takuya 4 dan (aged 29) by achieving score stated in regulations, on February 19, 2020 has been promoted to 5 dan.

On Saturday, February 20th, the second game of the 46th Kiō Tournament with five-game match, in which Itodani Tetsuro 8-Dan is challenging Watanabe Akira Kiō, was held at Hokkoku Shinbun Kaikan in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. 90 moves later, Watanabe defeated Itodani 8-Dan, making his record 1 win and 1 loss in the 5 games.

The third game will be held on Sunday, March 7th at the Niigata Grand Hotel in Niigata-shi, Niigata Prefecture.

On February 13th, 14th(Sat,Sun), the 4th game of the 70th Ōshō Tournament with seven-game match, in which Nagase Takuya Ōza is challenging Watanabe Akira Ōshō, was held at Sorano Hotel in Tachikawa City, Tokyo. 113 moves later, Nagase Ōza defeated Watanabe Ōshō, making his record 1 win and 3 losses in the 4 games.

The 5th game will be held on March 1st and 2nd(Mon, Tue)at Taikoen in Miyaki District, Saga prefecture.

　Makino Mitsunori 5-Dan, aged 32, has been promoted to 6-Dan by winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

February 10, 2021 (Wed)

Game

The 6th Eiou-sen Preliminary Rounds by Dan for 5 Dan
（Opponent : Stoshi Takano 5-Dan）

Promotion criteria met:

120 wins on the formula games after the promotion of 5-Dan

The first game of the 46th Kiō Tournament with five-game match, in which Itodani Tetsuro 8-Dan is challenging Watanabe Akira Kiō, was held at Shogi Kaikan in Tokyo on Saturday, February 6, and Itodani 8-Dan defeated Watanabe Kiō in 128 moves, making his record 1-0 in the 5 games.

The second game will be held on Saturday, February 20th at the Hokkoku Shimbun Hall in Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture.

"Top 10 Ranking of Prize Money Won and Tournament Fee in 2020" is as follows;

Top 10 Ranking of Prize Money Won and Tournament Fee in 2020

2020.1.1～2020.12.31
（Figures in parentheses are amounts earned in 2019 / Unit: 10,000 yen）

Ranking	Name	Prize Money Won	Ranking Last Year
1	Toyoshima Masayuki Ryūō	10,645（7,157）	1
2	Watanabe Akira Meijin	8,043（6,514）	3
3	Nagase Takuya Ōza	4,621（4,678）	4
4	Fujii Souta Ōi and Kisei	4,554（2,108）	9
5	Hirose Akihito 8-Dan	3,241（6,984）	2
6	Habu Yoshiharu 9-Dan	2,491（3,999）	5
7	Kubo Toshiaki 9-Dan	2,421（2,178）	8
8	Kimura Kazuki 9-Dan	2,338（3,209）	7
9	Maruyama Tadahisa 9-Dan	1,926（1,017）	24
10	Chida Shota 7-Dan	1,692（1,080）	21

【Notes】

• Teshima Ryuoh takes the first place for second time in a row.
• In the Women's competition,Satomi Kana was ranked the first.

　Kuroda Takayuki,4-Dan, aged 24, has been promoted to 5-Dan by winning the game described below.

Date of promotion

February 4, 2021 (Thu)

Promotion criteria met:

Promoted at the Junisen tournament from Class C, Group 1