Profile: An Impressive Young Couple In Japanese Go

by William Cobb

May 10, 2004

     A surprising number of pro titles in Japan are held by players in their twenties. One of these young stars is Cho U. Cho came to Japan from his native Taiwan in 1990 at the age of ten and set a new record for speed in reaching the top level of professional play. In 2001 he was the youngest challenger ever for the Honinbo, and when he was promoted to 9 dan upon winning the Honinbo title in 2003, Cho was the youngest 9 dan in Japanese history. He has won a number of titles, including the Oza, the Shinjin O, and the NHK Cup, and was recently the challenger for the 42nd Judan against O Rissei, who is also from Taiwan (O held on to his title, 3-1). Cho is just now beginning a defense of his Honinbo title against Yoda Norimoto, current Meijin.
     Cho set the record for most wins in a year in 2002 with seventy victories, a record that is not likely to be surpassed now that the Oteai rating tournament has been abolished and pros play fewer games in a year. He also set the record for most wins in a row in the Oteai, surpassing Cho Chikun's record of 33, set thirty years ago. His streak was ended by the termination of the Oteai.
     Another twenty-something title holder in Japan is Kobayashi Izumi, daughter of the famous Kobayashi Koichi and recent bride of Cho U. A formidable pro herself, Izumi currently holds both the Women's Honinbo and Women's Meijin titles and is the winner of several games against male pros in recent tournaments. On April 1st she defeated Kobayashi Satoru 9 dan (another top male pro) in the first round of the preliminary league for the 43rd Judan, and she is scheduled to play Michael Redmond 9 dan next. However, the prospect of a husband-wife match for the next Judan is gone now that Cho lost to O. The first husband-wife title match ever occurred in last year's contest between Rui Naiwei and Jiang Zhujiu (Jujo) for the Maxim Cup in Korea (Jujo won, but Naiwei won the Maxim this year, defeating Yoo Changhyuk). Cho and Kobayashi are definitely a couple to keep an eye on.
     Sources: gobase.org, Sensei's Library, gogameworld.com, Go World #s 98, 99, and 100.

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