Kazushiza Horiguchi (堀口 一史座, Horiguchi Kazushiza, born February 28, 1975) is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 8-dan.

Kazushiza Horiguchi
Native name堀口一史座
Born (1975-02-28) February 28, 1975 (age 49)
HometownTokyo Metropolis
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 1996(1996-04-01) (aged 21)
Badge Number218
Rank8-dan
TeacherHatasu Itō [ja] (8-dan)
Tournaments won1
Meijin classFree
Ryūō class6
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life and apprenticeship

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Horiguchi was born in Tokyo Metropolis on February 28, 1975.[1] He learned shogi around the age of ten after seeing a shogi set at his grandparents' house.[2] Horiguchi entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school as a pupil of shogi professional Hatasu Itō [ja] at the rank of 6-kyū in 1988. He was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1991, and entered the 3-dan League in 1993.[2]

Horiguchi came close to obtaining full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in the 17th 3-dan League (April 1995 – September 1995), but lost his last round game to future fellow professional Kimura Kazuki to miss out on promotion. The following league season, however, Horiguchi finished with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses in the 18th 3-dan League (October 1995 – April 1996) to win the league and earn promotion to the rank of 4-dan.[2][3]

Shogi professional

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Horiguchi finished runner up in the 48th NHK Cup TV Shogi Tournament (1998) and the 8th Ginga-sen [ja] (2000), losing in the finals both times to Yoshiharu Habu. He also finished runner up in the 30th Shinjin-Ō [ja] (1999), losing to Takeshi Fujii 2 games to none.[2][3][4]

Horiguchi's only shogi championship to date came in 2002 when he defeated Masataka Sugimoto 3 games to 1 to win the 20th Asahi Open [ja]; he was, however, unable to defend his championship the following year, losing to Kōichi Fukaura by the same score in the finals of the 21st Asahi Open.[2][3][5][6]

Promotion history

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Horiguchi's promotion history is as follows:[7]

  • 6-kyū: 1989
  • 1-dan: 1991
  • 4-dan: April 1, 1996
  • 5-dan: October 14, 1999
  • 6-dan: October 1, 2002
  • 7-dan: April 1, 2004
  • 8-dan: December 15, 2022

Titles and other championships

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Horiguchi has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won one non-major title championship.[8]

Awards and honors

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Horiguchi won the Japan Shogi Association's Annual Shogi Award for "Best New Player" in 1991.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Horiguchi Kazushiza" 棋士データベース: 堀口一史座 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushiza Horiguchi] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e 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. 42. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c "Kishi Meikan: Shichidan Horiguchi Kazushiza" 棋士名鑑: 七段 堀口 一史座 [Player Directory: Kazushiza Horiguchi 7-dan]. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition) (in Japanese). MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. 2014. p. 562. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved February 18, 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Dai Sanjūki Shinjin-Ōsen: Tōnamentosen" 第30期新人王戦:トーナメント戦 [30th Shinjin-Ō: Main Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 1999. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  5. ^ "Dai Nijūikkai Asahi Ōpun Shōgi Senshuken: Kesshō Tōnamento" 第20回朝日オープン将棋選手権: 決勝トーナメント [20th Asahi Open: Final's Tournament] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2001. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  6. ^ "Dai Nijūikkai Asahi Ōpun Shōgi Senshuken: Chōsensha Kettei Tōnamento/Goban Shōbu" 第21回朝日オープン将棋選手権: 挑戦者決定トーナメント/五番勝負 [21st Asahi Open: Challenger's Tournament/Title Match] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 2002. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  7. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Horiguchi Kazushiza Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 堀口一史座 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushiza Horiguchi Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  8. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Horiguchi Kazushiza Yūshō Rireki" 棋士データベース: 堀口一史座 優勝履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushiza Horiguchi Championship History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  9. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Horiguchi Kazushiza Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 堀口一史座 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Kazushiza Horiguchi Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
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