Cho U's wife is one of Japan's best female go professionals, Izumi Kobayashi, the great Kitani's granddaughter and daughter of Kobayashi Koichi.
20 Facts About Cho U
1.
2.
Cho U began playing poker and bridge as a young child.
3.
Cho U earned a spot in the 13th Fujitsu Cup in 2000 through the qualifying tournament.
4.
In May 2000, Cho U won a place in the 25th Kisei, the first edition to feature a league system.
5.
Cho U was the youngest player in the league at 20 years.
6.
Cho U finished the league with a record of three wins and three losses.
7.
Cho U missed out on qualifying for the 26th Meijin league when he lost to Hideki Komatsu in the last qualifying round.
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Masao Kato 8.
Cho U finished the year with the second best record behind Keigo Yamashita with 53 wins, 12 losses and one jigo.
9.
Cho U won the Kido award for the best winning percentage.
10.
Cho U finished the 56th Honinbo league with a record of five wins and two losses.
11.
In February 2002, Cho U won one of Japan's seven non-seeded spots in the 1st World Oza.
12.
Cho U broke the record for youngest winner of the title.
13.
Cho U was a member of the Japanese team in the 4th Nongshim Cup.
14.
At the close of the 2002 season, Cho U set a record with 70 wins in a year.
15.
Cho U was awarded the Shusai Prize for his record-breaking year.
16.
Cho U set three records with his win: third youngest major title winner, second youngest Honinbo and youngest Japanese 9 dan.
17.
Cho U met Masao Kato, the player he defeated for the Honinbo, twice more in 2003 when they faced off in the Agon Cup final and the Oza challenger final.
18.
Cho U lost the Agon Cup final, but earned the right to face O Meien in the Oza final.
19.
Cho U won the title in four games, making the Oza his second major title.
20.
Cho U would go on to win each major at least once: the Meijin in 2004, the Gosei in 2006, the Tengen in 2008, the Judan in 2009 and the Kisei in 2010.