Toshiyuki Moriuchi

Toshiyuki Moriuchi (森内 俊之, Moriuchi Toshiyuki, born October 10, 1970) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 9-dan. He is a Lifetime Meijin who won the title eight times, and also a former Ryūō, Kiō and Ōshō title holder. He is also a former senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association.

Toshiyuki Moriuchi
Moriuchi at a children's shogi tournament in July 2018
Native name森内俊之
Born (1970-10-10) October 10, 1970
HometownYokohama
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusMay 13, 1987(1987-05-13) (aged 16)
Badge Number183
Rank9 dan
TeacherOsamu Katsūra
Lifetime titlesLifetime Meijin
Major titles won12
Tournaments won13
Meijin classfree
Ryūō class2
Notable studentsBeni Takemata
Websites
JSA profile page
Official website

Early life

Moriuchi was born on October 10, 1970, in Yokohama.[1] His grandfather was shogi professional Yukio Kyōsu, who died about ten years before Moriuchi was born. When Moriuchi was young and would visit his grandmother's house, she would show him old issues of Shogi World that she had kept, and this is when Moriuchi first became interested in shogi.[2]

Moriuchi started playing in shogi tournaments as an elementary school student and it was there that his rivalry with Yoshiharu Habu began. Habu lived in neighboring Tokyo and was the same age, so the two often participated in the same tournaments.[3] Moriuchi even went to watch Habu win a tournament whose entry was limited to Tokyo residents only. The following year, Moriuchi defeated Habu in the finals of the same tournament after it had been changed to an open tournament allowing anyone to participate.[2]

In 1982, Moriuchi finished tied for third in the 7th Elementary Student Shogi Meijin Tournament. Both Moriuchi and Habu advanced to the semi-finals held in Tokyo which were broadcast on television. Moriuchi, however, lost his semi-final game, whereas Habu won his and then subsequently the final to become the "7th Elementary School Shōgi Meijin".[2] That same year, Moriuchi entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school with the rank of 6-kyū as a protegee of shogi professional Osamu Katsūra. He was awarded professional status and the rank of 4-dan in May 1987.[2]

Shogi

Shogi professional

In 1987, Moriuchi won his first professional shogi tournament when he defeated Hiroyuki Iida 2 games to none to win the 18th Shinjin-Ō, but was unable to repeat as champion the following year when he lost the 19th Shinjin-Ō to Habu 2 games to none in the first match between the two as professionals. Moriuchi would, however, win the tournament again in 1991 (against Taku Morishita, 2–0) and 1993 (against Yasumitsu Satō, 2–1).[2][4]

In 1988, Moriuchi defeated then Meijin Koji Tanigawa 2 games to 1 to win the 7th All Nihon Pro. The victory was a much discussed through the year in professional shogi circles because Moriuch ranked 4-dan at the time had defeated the reigning Meijin in a match.[2] Tanigawa would get his chance for revenge against Moriuchi in 19th All Nihon Pro Tournament final in 2000, but was defeated 3 games to 2.[5]

Moriuchi's first appearance in a major title match was the 54th Meijin Match in June 1996. Moriuchi was promoted to the Class A League for the first time in 1995 and went on to win the league in his first season with a 7–2 record to advance to the title match against Habu. Although both players were the same age and had been rivals since elementary school, Habu was much more establish as a professional and was also a 7-crown title holder (i.e., simultaneously held all seven major titles) at the time. Moriuchi ended up losing the matchi 4–1.[2][6]

Moriuchi became the fifteenth shogi professional to win 800 official games when he defeated Yoshiharu Habu in Game 2 of 69th Meijin title match on April 21, 2011.[7]

In March 2017, Moriuchi voluntarily declared himself as a free class player, thus leaving the Meijin tournament league.[8][9]

Playing style

Moriuchi is considered an all-around player proficient at both Static Rook and Ranging Rook strategies. Although he's widely known as defensively strong player, his style often called "iron-clad" or "steel defense"; in the opinion of shogi professionals Hirotaka Nozuki and Akihito Hirose, however, his most characteristic trait is his ability to switch from defense to attack. His so-called "strong" style is often contrasted with the "gentle" one of Yoshiharu Habu.

Moriuchi is also well known for the Moriuchi Fortress variation which is characterized by pushing the pawn at the ninth file with P. 9d instead of the traditional P-8e, followed then by a knight jump to 9-c and then 8e.

Promotion history

The promotion history for Moriuchi is as follows:[10]

  • 1982: 6-kyū
  • 1985: 1-dan
  • 1987, May 13: 4-dan
  • 1990, June 2: 5-dan
  • 1992, April 1: 6-dan
  • 1994, April 1: 7-dan
  • 1995, April 1: 8-dan
  • 2002, May 17: 9-dan

Titles and other championships

Moriuchi has appeared in major title matches a total of 25 times. He has won the Meijin title eight times, thus qualifying for the Lifetime Meijin title. He has also won the Ryūō title twice, and the Kiō and the Ōshō titles once each.[11] In addition to major titles, Moriuchi has won thirteen other shogi championships during his career.[12]

Major titles
TitleYearsNumber of times overall
Meijin 2002, 2004–07, 2011–2013 8
Ryūō 2003, 2013 2
Kiō 2005 1
Ōshō 2003 1
Other championships
TournamentYearsNumber of times
NHK Cup 1996, 2001, 2014 3
Shinjin-Ō 1987, 1991, 1993 3
*Quick Play Young Professionals Tournament 1988–1989 2
*All Nihon Pro 1988, 2000 2
Nihon Series 2000 1
*Hayazashi Senshuken 1991 1
*All Star Kachinuki-sen 1990 1

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

Year-end shogi prize money and game fee ranking

Moriuchi has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings twenty-one times since 1993, and in the "Top 3" nine of those times.

YearAmountRank
1993¥22,970,0005th[13]
1996¥33,980,0003rd[13]
1997¥25,940,0007th[13]
1998¥23,520,0008th[13]
1999¥31,380,0007th[13]
2000¥27,290,0006th[13]
2001¥39,920,0005th[13]
2002¥48,720,0003rd[13]
2003¥52,690,0003rd[13]
2004¥108,330,0002nd[13]
2005¥71,170,0002nd[14]
2006¥65,360,0003rd[14]
2007¥67,210,0004th[15]
2008¥37,820,0004th[16]
2009¥27,280,0006th[17]
2010¥32,700,0002nd[18]
2011¥33,710,0004th[19]
2012¥53,170,0003rd[20]
2013¥55,030,0003rd[21]
2014¥83,740,0002nd[22]
2015¥34,500,0004th[23]
  • Note: All amounts are given in Japanese yen and include prize money and fees earned from official tournaments and games held from January 1 to December 31.

JSA director

Moriuchi was selected to be the senior managing director of the Japan Shogi Association's board of directors for a two-year term at the association's 68th General Meeting on May 29, 2017.[24][25] In April 2019, he announced that he would not seek re-election when his term expired in June 2019.[26]

Awards and honors

Moriuchi has received a number of awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board. These include awards given out annually by the JSA for performance in official games as well as other JSA awards for career accomplishments, and awards received from governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.[27][28]

Annual shogi awards
  • 16th Annual Awards (April 1988 – March 1989): Best New Player
  • 19th Annual Awards (April 1991 – March 1992): Best Winning Percentage, Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Distinguished Service Award
  • 21st Annual Awards (April 1993 – March 1994): Technique Award
  • 24th Annual Awards (April 1996 – March 1997): Technique Award
  • 29th Annual Awards (April 2001 – March 2002): Fighting-spirit Award
  • 30th Annual Awards (April 2002 – March 2003): Technique Award
  • 31st Annual Awards (April 2003 – March 2004): Player of the Year, Most Games Won, Most Games Played
  • 33rd Annual Awards (April 2005 – March 2006): Excellent Player
  • 38th Annual Awards (April 2010 – March 2011): Game of the Year Special Prize
  • 41st Annual Awards (April 2013 – March 2014): Player of the Year

Other awards
  • 2004: Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional)
  • 2011: Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)
  • 2012: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years)
  • 2017: Medal with Purple Ribbon: (Awarded by the Government of Japan to individuals who have done meritorious deeds or have achieved excellence in their profession)[29]

Other board games
Moriuchi playing chess in 2005

Moriuchi also plays chess and backgammon. He been playing in chess tournaments since 1998,[30] and his chess Elo score is 2310 (FIDE Master level) as of January 2018.[31]

In August 2014, he tied for fourth in the 39th Backgammon World Championship held in Monte Carlo.[32][33]

gollark: Me? No, don't think so.
gollark: It's a major bit of it and as far as I know the justification for most things in it.
gollark: I assume they mostly meant the pope, but yeeees.
gollark: Well, belief in an omnipotent god and such? That's pretty orthogonal to "good citizenship rule[s]".
gollark: No, they're defined as people who follow Catholicism. Mostly you would call them Catholic because of having Catholic-ish beliefs.

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki" 棋士データベース: 森内俊之 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  2. Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 60. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved January 19, 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō 現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行 [2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"] (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2015. p. 28. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved January 18, 2018 – via Google Books.
  4. "Shinjin-Ō: Kako no Kekka" 新人王戦: 過去の結果 [Shinjin-Ō tournament: Past results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  5. "Asahi Ōpun Senshuken (Zen Nippon Puro Tōnamento): Kako no Kekka" 朝日オープン選手権 (全日本プロトーナメント): 過去の結果 [All Nihon Pro tournament: Past results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  6. "Meijin･Jun'isen: Kako no Kekka" 名人戦･順位戦: 過去の結果 [Meijin･Meijin Leagues: Past results] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  7. "Moriuchi Toshiyuki Kudan, Hapyakkushō (Shōgi Eiyo Kantōshō) wo Tassei" 森内俊之九段, 800勝 (将棋栄誉敢闘賞)を達成 [Toshiyuki Moriuchi 9d wins 800th official game and Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 22, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  8. "Nisenjūnananendo kara no Furīkurasu Tenshutsusha" 2017年度からのフリークラス転出者 [Players moving to free class from April 2017] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 31, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  9. "Moriuchi Toshiyuki Kudan ga Jun'isen Furikurasu e Tenshutsu" 森内俊之九段が順位戦フリークラスへ転出 [Toshiyuki Moriuchi moves to the Free Class of the Meijin League]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 31, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  10. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース:森内俊之 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  11. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki Taitoru Rireki" 棋士データベース: 森内俊之 タイトル履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi Major Title History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  12. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 森内俊之 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  13. "Nenkan Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō TOP10" 年間獲得賞金・対局料TOP10 [Annual Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Kishi-mania. Archived from the original on May 23, 2014. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  14. "2006nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2006年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2006 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 1, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  15. "2007nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2007年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2007 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 1, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  16. "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 January 17, 2018.
  17. "2009nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2009年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2009 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  18. "2010nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2010年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2010 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 16, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  19. "2011nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 20" 2012年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト20 [2011 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 20] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 16, 2012. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  20. "2012nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2011年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2012 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 18, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  21. "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 January 17, 2018.
  22. "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 January 17, 2018.
  23. "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 January 17, 2018.
  24. "Shōgi Renmei, Satō Kaichō wo Sainin Moriuchi Kudan ga Senmuriji ni" 将棋連盟, 佐藤会長を再任 森内九段が専務理事に [Sato re-elected president of JSA, Moriuchi Kudan chosen to be senior director.]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). May 29, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  25. "Nihon Shōgi Renmei Shinyakuin no Oshirase" 日本将棋連盟新役員のお知らせ [New JSA officers announced] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 29, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  26. "Shōgi Renmei no Moriuchi Senmuriji ga Tainin e Rikkōhōsezu" 将棋連盟の森内専務理事が退任へ 立候補せず [JSA Senior Managing Director Moriuchi announces he will not seek re-election]. Okinawa Times (in Japanese). Kyodo News. April 5, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  27. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 森内俊之 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  28. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Moriuchi Toshiyuki Sonota Hyōshō" 棋士データベース: 森内俊之 その他表彰 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Toshiyuki Moriuchi Other Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  29. "Shōgi no Moriuchi Toshiyuki Kudan ni Shijuhōshō" 将棋の森内俊之九段に紫綬褒章 [Shogi's Toshiyuki Moriuchi 9-dan awarded medal with Purple Ribbon]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). November 2, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  30. McClain, Dylan Loeb (April 25, 2009). "Importing Attack Style From a Game Big in Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  31. "FIDE Chess Profile: Moriuchi. Toshiyuki". FIDE. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  32. Elizabeth (August 11, 2014). "39th Backgammon World Championship". United States Backgammon Federation. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  33. Cole, Carol Joy. "2014 International Backgammon Tournament Results: 39th Backgammon World Championship". Chicago Point. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
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