Mana Watanabe (渡部 愛, Watanabe Mana, born June 26, 1993) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 3-dan. She is a former Women's Ōi title holder. She is also the first women's professional to come out of the Ladies Professional Shogi-players' Association of Japan (LSPA) and subsequently be recognized as such by the Japan Shogi Association.[1][2][3]
| Mana Watanabe | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 渡部愛 |
| Born | June 26, 1993 |
| Hometown | Obihiro, Hokkaido |
| Career | |
| Achieved professional status | October 24, 2013 (aged 20) |
| Badge Number | LPSA-19 |
| Rank | Women's 3-dan |
| Major titles won | 1 |
| Tournaments won | 2 |
| Websites | |
| LPSA profile page | |
Women's shogi professional
editWatanabe's first appearance in a women's professional major title match came in May–June 2018 when she challenged Kana Satomi for 29th Women's Ōi title, and she won the match 3 games to 1.[4] The two met again the following year in the 30th Women's Ōi title match (May–June 2019); Watanabe was, however, unable to successfully defend her title, losing 3 games to 1.[5]
Watanabe met Tomoka Nishiyama in the title match of the 1st Hakurei title match in September–October 2021, but lost the match 4 games to none.[6]
Promotion history
editWatanabe has been promoted as follows.[1]
- 3-kyū: July 3, 2012
- 2-kyū: October 2013
- 1-kyū: March 2014
- 1-dan: March 2014
- 2-dan: November 2017
- 3-dan: June 2018
Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.
Major titles and other championships
editWatanabe has appeared in major title matches three times and has won one major title. In addition, she has also won two other official women's professional shogi tournaments.[1]
Awards and honors
editWatanabe received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional Award", "Women's Professional Game of the Year", "Game of the Year Special Prize" Annual Shogi Awards for the April 2018 – March 2019 shogi year.[7][8]
In addition, to Annual Shogi Awards, Watanabe received Ōta, Tokyo's "Meritorious Resident Award" in 2019.[9]
Personal life
editWatanabe is married to shogi professional Hirotaka Nozuki. The two got married in January 2024. Watanabe stated that she will continue to complete professionally under her maiden name.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Kireki (Watanabe Mana)" 棋歴（渡部愛） [Player history: Mana Watanabe] (in Japanese). Ladies Professional Shogi-players' Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "LPSA Kōnin Hatsu no Joryū Puro" LPSA公認 初の女流プロ [LPSA certifies its first women's professional]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). July 10, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ "Watanabe Mana Sankyū, Tokurei de Mitomeru...Nihon Shōgi Renmei" 渡部愛さんの女流3級, 特例で認める...将棋連盟 [Japan Shogi Association makes exception and recognizes Mana Watanabe as a women's professional 3-kyū]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). July 12, 2013. Archived from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Shōgi no Joryū Ōisen Watanabe Joryū Nidan ga Dasshu" 将棋の女流王位戦 渡部女流二段が奪取 [Women's professional Watanabe 2-dan captures Women's Ōi title]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). June 20, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Satō, Keiji (June 13, 2019). "Satomi Joryū Yonkan, Joryū Ōi Dasshu ｢Kuin Ōi｣ Shōgō Kakutoku" 里見女流四冠, 女流王位奪取 ｢クイーン王位｣ 称号獲得 [Satomi Women's 4-crown captures Women's Ōi title and "Queen Ōi" lifetime title]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Shōgi･Hakureisen, Nishiyama Tomoka Sanka ga Shodai Taitoru Kakutoku...Shōkin wa Joryū Gikai Saikōgaku Sengohyakuman" 将棋･白玲戦, 西山朋佳三冠が初代タイトル獲得...賞金は女流棋界最高額1500万円 [Tomoka Nishiyama 3-crown first winner of the Hakurei title...the winner's prize of JPY 15,000,000 is largest in women's profssional shogi.]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). October 16, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
- ^ "Saiyūshūkishishō wa Toyoshima Nikan Fujii Shichidan wa ｢Myōshu｣ de Jushōllanguage=ja" 最優秀棋士賞は豊島二冠 藤井七段は｢妙手｣で受賞 [Toyoshima 2-crown named "Player of the Year"; Fujii 7d wins award for "best move".]. Asahi Shimbun. April 1, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Saiyūshūkishishō ni Toyoshima Masayuki Nikan, Dai Yonjūroku Shōgi Taishō Kimaru" 最優秀棋士賞に豊島将之二冠, 第46回将棋大賞決まる [46th Annual Shogi Award winners announced; Masayuki Toyoshima 2-crown wins "Player of the Year"] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. April 1, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Joryūkishi, Watanabe Mana-san ga Tōkyō･Ōtakumineiyoshō wo Jushō" 女流棋士, 渡部愛さんが東京･大田区民栄誉賞を受賞 [Women's professional Mana Watanabe awarded Ōta, Tokyo's "Meritorious Resident Award"]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). March 24, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ "Shogi no Watanabe Mana Joryu Sandan ga Nozuki Hirotaka 8-dan to Kekkon" 将棋の渡部愛女流三段が野月浩貴八段と結婚 [Shogi's women professional 3-dan Mana Watanabe married Hirotaka Nozuki 8-dan]. Sports Hochi (in Japanese). February 14, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
External links
edit- 公益社団法人日本女子プロ将棋協会: 所属棋士 (in Japanese)
- Mana Watanabe on Twitter
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