Ayumu Matsuo

Ayumu Matsuo (松尾 歩, Matsuo Ayumu, born March 29, 1980) is a Japanese professional shogi player, ranked 8-dan.

Ayumu Matsuo
Matsuo in October 2018.
Native name松尾歩
Born (1980-03-29) March 29, 1980
HometownNisshin, Aichi
NationalityJapanese
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 1999(1999-04-01) (aged 19)
Badge Number231
Rank8 dan
TeacherKazuharu Shoshi
Tournaments won1
Meijin classB1
Ryūō class2
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life

Matsuo was born on March 29, 1980, in Nisshin, Aichi.[1] His father, a professor at Nagoya University, taught him how to play shogi when he was a third-grade elementary school student, and he soon began regularly traveling to the Tokyo Shogi Kaikan to participate in official Japan Shogi Association training groups. Matsuo's training group results allowed him to enter the JSA's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū in March 1994 as a protegee of shogi professional Kazuharu Shoshi. After only one year as an apprentice, Matsuo achieved promotion to the rank of 1-kyū.[2]

When he was a tenth-grade high school student, Matsuo asked his parents to allow him to leave school and move to Tokyo on his own so that he could fully focus on shogi. His parents were at first opposed to such a thing, but eventually changed their minds and gave their approval.[2] Matsuo was promoted to 1-dan in 1997, and quickly advanced to the rank of 3-dan within eight months. Matsuo won the 3-dan League in his first attempt and was officially awarded professional status and the rank of 4-dan on April 1, 1999.[2]

Personal life

Mastuo married women's professional shogi player and fellow Shoshi protegee Kaori Uekawa in April 2005.[3] However, the Ladies Professional Shogi-players' Association of Japan announced on December 1, 2014, that Uekawa would no longer be competing under the name "Matsuo".[4]

Promotion history

The promotion history of Matsuo is as follows:[5]

  • 1994, March: 6-kyū
  • 1997: 1-dan
  • 1999, April 1: 4-dan
  • 2002, April 1: 5-dan
  • 2006, April 21: 6-dan
  • 2007, September 27: 7-dan
  • 2015, July 2: 8-dan

Titles and other championships

Matsuo has yet to appear in a major title match, but he did defeat Kazuki Kimura two games to none to win the 32nd Shinjin-Ō tournament—a tournament for shogi professionals age 26 and under who are also ranked 6-dan or lower and are not currently a major title holder—in 2001.[6][7]

Awards and honors

Matsuo received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Best New Player" in 2001 and Kōzō Masuda Award in 2013.[8]

Year-end prize money and game fee ranking

Matsuo has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings once: he finished 9th with JPY 19,850,000 in earnings in 2017.[9]

References
  1. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Matsuo Ayumu" 棋士データベース: 松尾歩 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Ayumu Matsuo] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  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. 34. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved December 20, 2017 – via Google Books.
  3. "Matsuo Ayumu Godan to Uekawa Kaori Joryū Shodan, Kekkon" 松尾歩五段と上川香織女流初段, 結婚 [Ayumu Matsuo 5d and Kaori Uekawa women's professional 1d announce marriage] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 2005. Archived from the original on August 31, 2005. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. "Oshirase (Nisenjūyonnen Jūnigatsu Tsuitachi" お知らせ (2014.12.1) [Announcement (2014.12.1)] (in Japanese). The Ladies Professional Shogi-player's Association of Japan. December 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 11, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Matsuo Ayumu Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 松尾歩 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Ayumu Matsuo Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  6. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Matsuo Ayumu Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 松尾歩 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Ayumu Matsuo Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  7. "Shinjin-Ō-sen" 新人王戦 [Shinjin Ō tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  8. "Kishi Dētabēsu: Matsuo Ayumu Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 松尾歩 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Ayumu Matsuo Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. "2017nen Kakutoku Shōkin - Taikyokuryō Besuto 10" 2017年獲得賞金・対局料ベスト10 [2017 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. February 6, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
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