Ōza (王座) is one of the eight titles in Japanese professional shogi.
The word literally means "king's seat", i.e., "throne". The tournament started in 1953 as a knockout tournament with three games in the final match and was a non-title tournament up until 1982.[1] The challenger for the title is determined through three preliminary rounds. The player that wins three games out of five in the championship match becomes the new Ōza title holder. [2]
The tournament is sponsored by Nikkei, Inc. (日本経済新聞社 nihon keizai shinbunsha), a newspaper conglomerate that publishes The Nikkei and the Nikkei 225 stock market index. The current Ōza title holder is Sōta Fujii.
Lifetime Ōza
edit"Lifetime Ōza" (名誉王座) is the title given to a player who won the championship five times in a row or ten times in total. Active players may qualify for this title, but it is only officially awarded upon their reaching the age of 60 years, retirement or death.[3]
- Lifetime Ōza title holders
- Makoto Nakahara (won championship ten times when it was a non-title tournament)[4]
- Yoshiharu Habu[5]
Winners
editFrom 1953 until 1982, the tournament was just regular tournament and not a major title match. From 1953 to 1969, two finalists would play a 3-game match to determine the overall winner; the 1st Oza match (1953), however, was only a single game. From 1970 to 1982, the winner of the previous year's tournament would play the winner of a qualifying tournament in a 3-game match.[6]
| No. | Year | Winner | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1953 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 1–0 | Yūzō Maruta |
| 2 | 1954 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Kōzō Masuda |
| 3 | 1955 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Renshō Nada |
| 4 | 1956 | Seiichi Kobori | 2–1 | Kazukiyo Takashima |
| 5 | 1957 | Shigeyuki Matsuda | 2–1 | Seiichi Kobori |
| 6 | 1958 | Masao Tsukada | 2–1 | Tatsuya Futakami |
| 7 | 1959 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Michiyoshi Yamada |
| 8 | 1960 | Yūzō Maruta | 2–1 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
| 9 | 1961 | Sōetsu Honma | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 10 | 1962 | Hifumi Katō | 2–0 | Michihito Kumagai |
| 11 | 1963 | Renshō Nada | 2–1 | Hirobumi Sekizawa |
| 12 | 1964 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 13 | 1965 | Yūzō Maruta | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 14 | 1966 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Yūzō Maruta |
| 15 | 1967 | Michiyoshi Yamada | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 16 | 1968 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 17 | 1969 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Michio Ariyoshi |
| 18 | 1970 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Tatsuya Futakami |
| 19 | 1971 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 20 | 1972 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 21 | 1973 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Genichi Ōno |
| 22 | 1974 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
| 23 | 1975 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama | 2–0 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 24 | 1976 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama |
| 25 | 1977 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 26 | 1978 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 27 | 1979 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–0 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 28 | 1980 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–0 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 29 | 1981 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 2–1 | Osamu Katsuura |
| 30 | 1982 | Kunio Naitō | 2–0 | Yasuharu Ōyama |
For the 31st Oza Match (1983), the tournament was officially elevated to major title match status and starting with the 32nd Oza Match, the format switched to a best-of-five.
| No. | Year | Winner | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1983 | Makoto Nakahara | 2–1 | Kunio Naitō |
| 32 | 1984 | Makoto Nakahara (2) | 3–2 | Hidemitsu Moriyasu |
| 33 | 1985 | Makoto Nakahara (3) | 3–1 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 34 | 1986 | Makoto Nakahara (4) | 3–0 | Kiyozumi Kiriyama |
| 35 | 1987 | Yasuaki Tsukada | 3–2 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 36 | 1988 | Makoto Nakahara (5) | 3–0 | Yasuaki Tsukada |
| 37 | 1989 | Makoto Nakahara (6) | 3–2 | Teruichi Aono |
| 38 | 1990 | Kōji Tanigawa | 3–1 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 39 | 1991 | Bungo Fukusaki | 3–2 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 40 | 1992 | Yoshiharu Habu | 3–0 | Bungo Fukusaki |
| 41 | 1993 | Yoshiharu Habu (2) | 3–1 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 42 | 1994 | Yoshiharu Habu (3) | 3–0 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 43 | 1995 | Yoshiharu Habu (4) | 3–0 | Keiji Mori |
| 44 | 1996 | Yoshiharu Habu (5) | 3–0 | Akira Shima |
| 45 | 1997 | Yoshiharu Habu (6) | 3–0 | Akira Shima |
| 46 | 1998 | Yoshiharu Habu (7) | 3–2 | Kōji Tanigawa |
| 47 | 1999 | Yoshiharu Habu (8) | 3–1 | Tadahisa Maruyama |
| 48 | 2000 | Yoshiharu Habu (9) | 3–2 | Takeshi Fujii |
| 49 | 2001 | Yoshiharu Habu (10) | 3–1 | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 50 | 2002 | Yoshiharu Habu (11) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 51 | 2003 | Yoshiharu Habu (12) | 3–2 | Akira Watanabe |
| 52 | 2004 | Yoshiharu Habu (13) | 3–1 | Toshiyuki Moriuchi |
| 53 | 2005 | Yoshiharu Habu (14) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 54 | 2006 | Yoshiharu Habu (15) | 3–0 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 55 | 2007 | Yoshiharu Habu (16) | 3–0 | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 56 | 2008 | Yoshiharu Habu (17) | 3–0 | Kazuki Kimura |
| 57 | 2009 | Yoshiharu Habu (18) | 3–0 | Takayuki Yamasaki |
| 58 | 2010 | Yoshiharu Habu (19) | 3–0 | Takeshi Fujii |
| 59 | 2011 | Akira Watanabe | 3–0 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 60 | 2012 | Yoshiharu Habu (20) | 3–1 | Akira Watanabe |
| 61 | 2013 | Yoshiharu Habu (21) | 3–2[7] | Taichi Nakamura |
| 62 | 2014 | Yoshiharu Habu (22) | 3–2[8] | Masayuki Toyoshima |
| 63 | 2015 | Yoshiharu Habu (23) | 3–2[9] | Amahiko Satō |
| 64 | 2016 | Yoshiharu Habu (24) | 3–0[10] | Tetsuro Itodani |
| 65 | 2017 | Taichi Nakamura | 3–1[11] | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 66 | 2018 | Shintarō Saitō | 3–2[12] | Taichi Nakamura |
| 67 | 2019 | Takuya Nagase | 3–0[13] | Shintarō Saitō |
| 68 | 2020 | Takuya Nagase (2) | 3–2[14] | Toshiaki Kubo |
| 69 | 2021 | Takuya Nagase (3) | 3–1[15] | Kazuki Kimura |
| 70 | 2022 | Takuya Nagase (4) | 3–1[16] | Masayuki Toyoshima |
| 71 | 2023 | Sōta Fujii | 3–1[17] | Takuya Nagase |
| 72 | 2024 | Sōta Fujii (2) | 3–0[18] | Takuya Nagase |
Records
edit- Most titles overall: Yoshiharu Habu, 24
- Most consecutive titles: Yoshiharu Habu, 19 in a row (1992-2010)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Hodges, George, ed. (1977). "Introduction to the Ôza tournament". Shogi (6): 4.
- ^ "Ōzasen" 王座戦 [Oza Title Match] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ "Nakahara Makoto Eisei 10-dan・Meiyo Ōza Tanjō e" 中原 誠 永世十段・名誉王座"誕生へ [Makoto Nakahara was crowned as Lifetime 10-dan and Lifetime Ōza] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- ^ "Kishi Shokai: Nakahara Makoto" 棋士紹介: 中原誠 [Player Introduction: Makoto Nakahara] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ "Kishi Shokai: Habu Yoshiharu" 棋士紹介: 羽生善治 [Player Introduction: Yoshiharu Habu] (in Japanese). Japan Shogi Association. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ Tanabe, Tadayuki (2006). Shōgi Hachi Daikisen Hiwa 将棋八大棋戦秘話 [Shogi, Untold Stories from 8 Major Title Matches] (in Japanese). Sedagaya, Tokyo: Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers, Inc. p. 169. ISBN 4309268706.
- ^ "Habu ga Ōza Bōei, Tsūsan Nijūikki Dōichi Taitoru Saita" 羽生が王座防衛 通算21期 同一タイトル最多 [Habu defends Ōza title, wins Ōza for the 21st time overall to set record for most times winning the same title]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 21, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Fukamatsu, Shinji (October 24, 2014). "Habu Ōza ga Bōei Taitoru Kakutoku Kyūjūki ni Shōgi Ōzasen" 羽生王座が防衛 タイトル獲得は90期に 将棋王座戦 [Habu Defends Oza Title for his 90th Major Title Overall]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ Fukamatsu, Shinji (October 26, 2015). "Habu Ōza ga Bōei ni Seiko Shōgi Ōzasen, Yonnen Renzoku Nijūsankime" 羽生王座が防衛に成功 将棋王座戦, 4年連続23期目 [Habu Successfully Defends Oza Title for 4th Consecutive Year to Hold Title for 23rd Time Overall]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 26, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 4, 2016). "Habu Sankan ga Ōza Bōei, Itodani Hachidan ni Sanrenshō" 羽生3冠が王座防衛 糸谷八段に3連勝 [Habu 3-crown defends Oza title by defeating Itodani 8d three straight games]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 5, 2016.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 11, 2017). "Nakamura Taichi Rokudan ga Hatsu no Ōza Kakutoku, Habu Kisei Ikkan e Kōtai" 中村太地六段が初の王座獲得 羽生棋聖１冠へ後退 [Taichi Nakamura 6d wins Oza title for first major title. Habu Kisei drops to a 1-crown]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 12, 2017.
- ^ "Shōgi, Saitō ga Hatsu Taitoru Ōza Kakutoku Saishūkyoku de Nakamura Yaburu" 将棋, 斎藤が初タイトル王座獲得 最終局で中村破る [Saitō wins first major shogi title; defeats Nakamura in final game to capture Ōza title.]. Hokkaido Shimbun (in Japanese). October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Yamamura, Hideki (October 1, 2019). "Nagase Eiō ga Ōza Dasshu Saitō, Hatsu Bōei Narazu" 永瀬叡王が王座奪取 斎藤, 初防衛ならず [Nagase Eiō capture Ōza title; Saitō unsuccessful in first title defense]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved October 1, 2019.
- ^ "Shōgi･Nagase Ōza ga Bōei Sanshō Nihai de Kubo Kudan Yaburu" 将棋･永瀬王座が初防衛 3勝2敗で久保九段破る [Nagase Ōza defends title; defeats Kubo 9-dan 3 games to 2]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ "Nagase Ōza Sanrenpa, Sanshō Ippai de Kimura Kudan Kudasu Shōgi Ōzasen" 永瀬王座3連覇, 3勝1敗で木村九段下す 将棋王座戦 [Nagase Ōza threepeats by defeating Kimura 9-dan 3 games to 1]. The Nikkei (in Japanese). October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ^ "Nagase Ōza ga Bōei ni Seikō, Yonrenpa Tassei" 永瀬王座が防衛に成功, 4連覇達成 [Nagase Ōza successfully defends title, win Ōza title for the fourth consecutive time]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Inoue, Yukana (October 11, 2023). "Sota Fujii becomes first ever to win all eight major shogi titles". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Fujii Sōta Nanakan Sanrenshō de ｢Ōza｣ no Taitoru Hatsubōei" 藤井聡太七冠 3連勝で ｢王座｣ のタイトル初防衛 [Sōta Fujii 7-crown defends Ōza title; he wins first three games in his first defense of the Ōza crown.]. NHK (in Japanese). September 30, 2024. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
External links
edit- 61st Oza Match Official Site (in Japanese) by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and the Japanese Shogi Association
- Shogi Kingdom (in Japanese) by Nihon Keizai Shimbun