Kōhei Funae Explained

Kōhei Funae
Native Name:船江恒平
Born:April 27, 1987
Hometown:Kakogawa, Hyōgo
Badge No:281
Teacher:Keita Inoue
Teacher Rank:9-dan
Rank:7-dan
Tournaments:2
Meijinclass:C1
Ryuoclass:4
Jsa:281

is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan.

Early life, amateur shogi and apprentice professional

Funae was born on April 27, 1987, in Kakogawa, Hyōgo.[1] He learned how to play shogi from his grandfather when he was about five years old. When he was a second-grade student elementary school student, Funae started to regularly go to the Kakogawa Shogi Center where he met shogi professional Keita Inoue for the first time. Funae finished runner-up to fellow future professional Issei Takazaki in the 23rd in 1998. Later that same year, Funae entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school under Inoue's guidance at the rank of 6-kyū.[2]

Funae steadily advanced through the apprentice school ranks and was promoted to 1-kyū in 2001. His progress, however, slowed at that point and he wasn't promoted to 1-dan until March 2003.[3] Funae was promoted to the rank 3-dan in 2006, and entered the 39th 3-dan League in April 2006. Funae's progress, however, once again slowed and he did not obtain full professional status and the corresponding rank of 4-dan until October 2010 after he finished second in the 47th 3-dan League with a record of 13 wins and 5 losses.[4] [5]

Shogi professional

Funae's first tournament victory as a shogi professional came in 2011 when he defeated Hiroshi Miyamoto (still an apprentice professional 3-dan at the time) 2 games to 1 to win the 1st for young professionals.[6]

In MarchApril 2013, Funae was one of five shogi professionals to play against five computer shogi programs in the 2nd Denō Match. Funae played against the program and lost in 184 moves.[7] Funae played Tsutsukana once again in a "revenge match" in December 2013 and this time Funae won in 85 moves.[8]

Funae's other tournament victory came in 2016 when he defeated Shōta Chida to win the 1st sponsored by Japanese electronics retailer Yamada Denki.[9] [10]

Promotion history

Funae's promotion history is as follows:[11]

Titles and other championships

Funae has yet to appear in a major title match, but he has won two non-major title tournaments.[12]

Tsume Shogi Solving Competition

Funae won the 7th Tsume Shogi Solving Competition in 2010 while he was still an apprentice professional 3-dan; he was the only participant to finish with a perfect score of 100.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kishi Dētabēsu: Funae Kōhei. ja:棋士データベース: 船江恒平. ja. Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōhei Funae. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.
  2. Book: Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō]. ja:現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行. ja. 2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa". 2015. 40. MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. Google Books. B019SSNKVA. March 5, 2019.
  3. . Kishi Meikan: Godan Funae Kohei. ja:棋士名鑑: 五段 船江 恒平. ja. Player Directory: Kohei Funae 5-dan. 平成26年版 将棋年鑑 2014 (Shogi Yearbook: Heisei 26 (2014) edition). 576. 2014. MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association. Google Books. 978-4-8399-5175-7. March 5, 2019.
  4. Web site: Dai Yonjūnanakai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūnen Shigatsu kara Nisenjūnen Kugatsu. ja:第47回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2010年4月~2010年9月. ja. 47th apprentice school 3-dan league: April 2010 to September 2010. 2010. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.
  5. Web site: Sasaki Yūki・Funae Kōhei Shinyondan no Oshirase. ja:佐々木勇気・船江恒平 新四段誕生のお知らせ. ja. New 4-dans are Yūki Sasaki and Kōhei Funae. September 11, 2010. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.
  6. News: Satō. Keiji. Shōgi・Kakogawa Seiryūsen, Jimoto no Funaei Yondan ga Yūshō. ja:将棋・加古川青流戦, 地元の船江四段が優勝. ja. Local boy Funae 4d wins Kakogawa Seiryū Tournament. November 15, 2011. Asahi Shimbun. March 5, 2019.
  7. News: . Shōgi Sofuto, Futatabi Puro ni Katsu Denōsen Nishō Ippai ni. ja:将棋ソフト, 再びプロに勝つ 電王戦2勝1敗に. ja. Shogi software beats another pro; computers lead Denō match 2 games to 1. April 6, 2013. Nikkei Shimbun. March 5, 2019.
  8. Web site: Denōsen Ribenjimacchi Funae Kōhei Godan no Shōri. ja:電王戦リベンジマッチ 船江恒平五段の勝利. ja. Kōhei Funae 5d wins Denō Match Revenge Match. January 7, 2014. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.
  9. Web site: Dai Ikkai Jōshū YAMADA Charennjihai wa Funae Godan ga Shodaihasha. ja:第1回上州YAMADAチャレンジ杯は船江五段が初代覇者に. ja. August 29, 2016. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.
  10. Web site: 「Jōshū Shōgi YAMADA Charennjiha」 Funae Godan ga Hatsu Yusho! Watanabe Joryū Shodan Renpai Tassei!. ja:「上州将棋YAMADAチャレンジ杯」 船江五段初優勝!渡部女流初段連覇達成!. ja. Jōshū Shogi Yamada Challenge Cup: Funae 5d wins for first time, while female professional Watanabe 1-dan repeats as champion. August 28, 2016. Yamada Denki. March 5, 2019.
  11. Web site: Kishi Dētabēsu: Funae Kōhei Shōdan Rireki. ja:棋士データベース: 船江恒平 昇段履歴. ja. Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōhei Funae Promotion History. Japan Shogi Association. April 5, 2024.
  12. Web site: Kishi Dētabēsu: Funae Kōhei Yūshō Rireki. ja:棋士データベース: 船江恒平 優勝履歴. ja. Professional Shogi Player Database: Kōhei Funae Championship History. Japan Shogi Association. March 5, 2019.