Makoto Chūza (中座 真, Chūza Makoto, born February 3, 1970) is a Japanese retired professional shogi player who achieved the rank of 8-dan.

Makoto Chūza
Native name中座真
Born (1970-02-03) February 3, 1970 (age 54)
HometownWakkanai, Hokkaido
Career
Achieved professional statusApril 1, 1996(1996-04-01) (aged 26)
Badge Number219
Rank8-dan
RetiredJune 19, 2024(2024-06-19) (aged 54)
TeacherYūji Sase [ja] (Honorary 9-dan)
Career record413–427 (.492)
Notable studentsHiroki Taniai
Websites
JSA profile page

Early life and apprenticehip

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Chūza was born in Wakkanai, Hokkaido on February 3, 1970.[1] He was accepted into the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū in November 1981 under the tutelage of shogi professional Yūji Sase [ja], was promoted to the rank of 1-dan in 1988, and obtained full professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 1996.[2][3]

Shogi professional

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In May 2024, the JSA posted on its official website that Chūza had submitted his retirement papers and would be retiring from professional shogi for personal reasons upon completion his last official game for the 2024-2025 shogi season.[4] Chūza's retirement became official on June 19, 2024, after he lost his 37th Ryūō Group 4 game to Hirotaka Nozuki.[5] Chūza finished his career with a record of 413 wins and 427 losses for a winning percentage of 0.492.[6]

Theoretical contributions

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The Side Pawn Capture variation Chūza's Rook (中座飛車 Chūza hisha, also known the R-85 variation 横歩取り8五飛), which became a very popular strategy, is named after him.[3]

Matsumoto vs Chūza 1997
☖ pieces in hand: 歩歩
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☗ pieces in hand: 歩歩歩
position of Chūza's Rook[7]

Promotion history

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The promotion history for Chūza is as follows:[8]

  • 6-kyū: 1981
  • 1-dan: 1988
  • 4-dan: April 1, 1996
  • 5-dan: August 17, 2001
  • 6-dan: April 11, 2007
  • 7-dan: September 20, 2007
  • 8-dan: April 1, 2024
  • Retired: June 19, 2024

Awards and honors

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Chūza received the Japan Shogi Association's Masuda Award for his "Chūza's Rook" opening variation in 1998.[9]

Personal life

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Chuza is married to retired female shogi professional Akiko Nakakura.[3] The couple married in November 2003,[10] and have three children.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Chūza Makoto" 棋士データベース: 中座真 [Professional Shogi Player Database:Makoto Chūza] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Kishi Meikan: Shichidan Chūza Makoto" 棋士名鑑: 七段 中座 真 [Player Directory: Makoto Chūza 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. 564. ISBN 978-4-8399-5175-7. Retrieved June 6, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c 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. 4. ASIN B019SSNKVA. Retrieved June 6, 2019 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Chūza Makoto Hachidan ga Intai" 中座真八段が引退 [Makoto Chūza 8-dan retires] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. May 13, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  5. ^ "Chūza Makoto Hachidan ga Intai" 中座真八段が引退 [Makoto Chūza 8-dan retires] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 20, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  6. ^ "Tsūsan Seiseki" 通算成績 [Career Records] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. June 20, 2024. Archived from the original on June 21, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Matsumoto Keisuke vs. Chūza Makoto Jun'isen" 順位戦松本佳介 vs. 中座真順位戦 [Keisuke Matsumoto vs. Makoto Chūza, Meijin Ranking League]. Shogi DB2 (in Japanese). August 26, 1997. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Chūza Makoto Shōdan Rireki" 棋士データベース: 中座真 昇段履歴 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Makoto Chūza Promotion History] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kishi Dētabēsu: Chūza Makoto Shōgi Taishō" 棋士データベース: 中座真 将棋大賞 [Professional Shogi Player Database: Makoto Chūza Annual Shogi Awards] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  10. ^ "Chūza Makoto Godan to Nakakura Akiko Joryū Shodan ga Konyaku" 中座 真五段と中倉彰子女流初段が婚約 [Makoto Chuza 5-dan and female professional Akiko Nakakura 1-dan announce engagement] (in Japanese). Igo & Shogi Channel. August 29, 2003. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Profile of President". I-tsu-tsu. Co. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
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