Kimio Yamada

Kimio Yamada (山田 規三生, Yamada Kimio, born 9 September 1972) is a professional Go player.[1] A territorial player who is adept at invading and living within opponent's spheres of influence,[2] Yamada won his first major title, the Oza, in 1997.[1] He has two older brothers, Shiho Yamada and Wakio Yamada.[3]

Kimio Yamada
Full nameKimio Yamada
Kanji山田規三生
Born (1972-09-09) 9 September 1972
Osaka, Japan
ResidenceOsaka, Japan
TeacherYorimoto Yamashita
Turned pro1989
Rank9 dan
AffiliationNihon Ki-in, Kansai branch
Kimio Yamada
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Asian Games
2010 GuangzhouMen's Team

Biography

Yamada began playing Go at the beginning of his school career. Two years later, he became a pupil of Yorimoto Yamashita, who adjudged Yamada to be a 6 dan amateur at the time. He was often praised for his extensive studying and deep reading. Yamada became a professional in 1989. In his first year as a professional, Yamada scored a record of 23 wins and six losses.[4]

Yamada won the "New Player Award" in 1992 and won his first title, the Shin-Ei, in 1993. He was also winner of the top Oteai section that same year.[3] Yamada won another young players tournament, the Shinjin-O, in 1997.[5] He continued at a winning rate of 80% – including an 18-game winning streak, for which he won an award – up until his first major title challenge: the Oza in 1997.[1] It was at that time the nickname, "King of Cool", was bestowed upon him by Go journalist John Fairbarn.[4]

He defeated title-holder Ryu Shikun three to one to claim his first major title, but then lost the title the following year to O Rissei.[6][7] In 1999, Yamada reached the semi-finals of the challenger tournament for the Oza.[8] He was invited to participate in the 1st Chunlan Cup in 1998.[9][10] In 1999, Yamada reached the semi-finals of the Samsung Cup, losing to Lee Chang-ho by resignation.[4] The following year Yamada reached the finals, but lost again to another Korean player, Yoo Changhyuk, three to one.[11]

Yamada won the 7 dan division of the 23rd Kisei tournament when he defeated Naoki Hane on 22 April 1999.[12] In the first round of the main tournament, Yamada defeated Hiroyuki Hiroe. In the second round, Yamada faced the previous Kisei runner-up, Norimoto Yoda, and lost.[13] While challenging for the Kisei title, Yamada reached the final of the 8th Ryusei in 1999, defeating Michihiro Morita.[14] At the end of 1999, Yamada finished 8th in the top prize winners with ¥23,627,000.[15] Yamada was a part of the Japanese team at the 1st Nongshim Cup in 2000. He was eliminated in his only game against Chang Hao.[16] In May 2000, Yamada was promoted to 8 dan.[17]

Yamada finished 15th in most prize money for 2001 with ¥12,919,960.[18] In 2003, Yamada won the award for most consecutive victories with 18. He won his 600th career game in 2004, the third fastest ever at 15 years and 6 months.[1] Three years later, Yamada won his 700th game, becoming the second fastest to reach 700 wins.[19] In 2004, Yamada reached the finals of the Gosei tournament, his first major title challenge in six years.[20] Yamada was the first player to be promoted from 8 dan to 9 dan for cumulative victories in 2006.[21] He challenged for the Honinbo title that same year, losing to Shinji Takao in six games.[22] Yamada challenged for the Oza title twice more in 2009 and 2010, losing both times to title holder Cho U.[5] He won the NHK Cup in 2010.[1]

Promotion record
Rank Year Notes
1 dan 1989
2 dan 1989
3 dan 1990
4 dan 1991
5 dan 1992
6 dan 1993 Winner of the Oteai.[3]
7 dan 1995
8 dan 2000
9 dan 2006 Promoted for winning 200 games as an 8 dan.[21]

Career record

Titles and runners-up
Domestic
TitleWinsRunners-up
Honinbo1 (2006)
Oza1 (1997)3 (1998, 2009, 2010)
Gosei1 (2004)
Ryusei1 (1999)1 (2004)
NHK Cup1 (2010)
Shinjin-O1 (1997)
Hayago Championship1 (1994)
NEC Shun-Ei1 (1996)
Shin-Ei2 (1993, 1998)
Total68
International
Samsung Cup1 (2000)
Total01
Career total
Total69

References
  1. 山田　規三生｜財団法人日本棋院 (in Japanese). Nihon Ki-in. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. Alexandre Dinerchtein (18 August 2009). "Archive: Yamada Kimio, 9-dan on IGS". gosensations.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  3. "Yamada Kimio". gobase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  4. John Fairbarn (19 June 2000). "KING OF COOL - YAMADA KIMIO". msoworld.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  5. "Yamada Kimio 9p". gogameworld.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  6. "oza title, 45th edition, 1997". gobase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  7. "oza title, 46th edition, 1998". gobase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  8. "Kato or Cho to challenge for Oza title". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  9. "New international tournament launched by China". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  10. "International: The 1st Chunlan Cup". msoworld.com. 24 October 1999. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  11. "samsung cup, 5th edition, 2000". gobase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  12. "Kisei Tournament Individual Dan Championships". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  13. "kisei title, 23rd edition, 1999". gobase.org. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  14. "Yamada wins Ryusei title". nihonkiin.or.jp. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  15. "Top prize money winners of 1999". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  16. "Korea wins 1st Nong Shim Spicy Noodles Cup". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  17. "Yamada Kimio and Hane Naoki win promotion to 8-dan". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  18. "2001 statistics". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  19. "山田規三生九段が通算700勝達成【史上最高勝率・史上最短期間】". nihonkiin.or.jp. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  20. "Yamada Kimio to challenge for Gosei title". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  21. "History of Topics 2006". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  22. "honinbo title, 61st edition, 2006". gobase.org. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  23. "Most wins in 2000". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  24. "Top winners". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  25. "Most wins". nihonkiin.or.jp/english. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
  26. "Japanese win-loss 2006". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  27. "Japanese win-loss 2007". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  28. "Japanese win-loss 2008". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  29. "Japanese win-loss 2009". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  30. "Japanese win-loss 2010". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  31. "Japanese win-loss 2011". igokisen.web.fc2.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
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