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Koichi Kobayashi

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Koichi Kobayashi
Full nameKoichi Kobayashi
Kanji小林光一
Born (1952-09-10) September 10, 1952 (age 71)
Asahikawa City, Japan
ResidenceTokyo, Japan
TeacherKitani Minoru
Turned pro1967
Rank9 dan
AffiliationNihon Ki-in

Koichi Kobayashi (小林 光一, Kobayashi Kōichi, born September 10, 1952) is a Japanese Go player. He is one of the 'Six Supers' who championed Japanese Go in the last three decades of Japanese Go.

Biography

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Koichi Kobayashi was born in Asahikawa, Japan. In 1965, he came to Tokyo to be a disciple of Minoru Kitani.[1] He studied along with Cho Chikun, Masao Kato, Yoshio Ishida, and Masaki Takemiya. He went on to marry the daughter of his teacher, Reiko Kitani (1939–1996), a 6-dan who has won the All-Japan Women's Championship several times.[2] Together they had a daughter, Izumi Kobayashi, who is now one of the leading female Go players in Japan. Kobayashi is one of the few Go players who have won more than 1,200 professional games. Kobayashi's rivalry with Cho Chikun has continued for some time and they frequently play against each other.

Career

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Two years after joining Kitani Minoru's dojo, Kobayashi was promoted to be a 1-dan professional. His first tournament victory came from the 4th Shin Ei in 1972. In 1976, he won his first major title, Tengen.

Promotion record

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Rank Year Notes
1 dan 1967
2 dan 1967
3 dan 1968
4 dan 1969
5 dan 1970
6 dan 1972
7 dan 1974
8 dan 1977
9 dan 1979

Titles and runners-up

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Kobayashi is Honorary Kisei, Honorary Meijin and Honorary Gosei. He ranks #3 in the total number of titles in Japan.

Domestic
Title Wins Runners-up
Kisei 8 (1986–1993) 2 (1994, 1999)
Meijin 8 (1985, 1988–1994) 3 (1986, 1995, 1997)
Honinbo 4 (1982, 1990, 1991, 1992)
Tengen 6 (1976, 1984–1986, 1998, 1999) 5 (1981, 1987, 1990, 1995, 2000)
Oza 2 (1985, 1992)
Judan 5 (1984–1986, 1999, 2000) 4 (1987, 1992, 1994, 2001)
Gosei 9 (1988–1993, 1999, 2001, 2002) 3 (1994, 2000, 2003)
Agon Cup 1 (1999) 1 (2004)
Ryusei 3 (1997, 2002, 2003)
NHK Cup 2 (1986, 2004) 1 (1997)
Shinjin-O 2 (1976, 1977)
NEC Cup 3 (1995, 1999, 2004)
Daiwa Cup 1 (2008)
Kakusei 3 (1994, 1997, 2001) 2 (1987, 2002)
Hayago Championship 4 (1972, 1981, 1986, 1997) 5 (1982, 1983, 1985, 2000, 2001)
Shin-Ei 2 (1972, 1975) 2 (1974, 1979)
Prime Minister Cup 3 (1972, 1974, 1976)
Total 59 35
International
Fujitsu Cup 1 (1997) 1 (1995)
Total 1 1
Continental
China-Japan Meijin 5 (1988–1991, 1993) 2 (1992, 1994)
China-Japan Tengen 1 (2000) 1 (1999)
China-Japan Agon Cup 1 (1999)
Total 7 3
Career total
Total 67 39

References

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  1. ^ "Koichi KOBAYASHI Professional Igo Player". TEDx Seeds. TEDx Seeds. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Kitani Reiko". Retrieved 14 March 2010.