1. Yuta Iyama Kisei, Honinbo, Meijin is a Japanese professional Go player.
47 Facts About Yuta Iyama
1. 2.
In January 2018, Iyama became the first professional Go player to be awarded Japan's People's Honour Award.
3.
Yuta Iyama began playing Go at the age of five and reached the rank of 3 dan amateur a year later.
4.
Yuta Iyama won the national elementary school championship twice, in 1997 and 1998.
5.
Yuta Iyama became an insei in October 1998 and challenged for a professional spot in 2001.
6.
At the time, Yuta Iyama was the fourth youngest professional behind Cho Chikun, Utaro Hashimoto and Satoshi Yuki.
7.
In June 2003, Yuta Iyama was promoted to 3 dan for his performances in the Oteai.
8.
Yuta Iyama met his rival, Daisuke Murakawa, a fellow player from the Kansai region, in the final section of the 30th Shinjin-O.
9.
Yuta Iyama won the first major game of his career when he defeated Cho U by resignation in the 20th Agon Cup.
10.
Yuta Iyama would go on to win the tournament, becoming the youngest title holder in Japanese history at 16 years and five months.
11.
Yuta Iyama was a member of the Japanese team at the 6th Asian New Star Match, where he won one match.
12.
Yuta Iyama participated in the China-Japan Agon Cup in 2006, losing to Gu Li by resignation.
13.
Yuta Iyama won two awards for his performance during the 2005 season: the New Star award and an award for having the highest winning percentage.
14.
Three months after his unsuccessful Honinbo league bid, Yuta Iyama participated in the first edition of the Daiwa Cup, an internet tournament.
15.
Yuta Iyama won his second official tournament when he defeated Kenichi Mochizuki in the Shinjin-O final.
16.
In September 2007, Yuta Iyama reached the challenger final of his first major title, the Tengen.
17.
In March 2008, Yuta Iyama participated in the 1st Yugen Cup, a tournament pitting veteran professionals against newly promoted youngsters.
18.
Yuta Iyama finished in 6th place, but won all six of his games.
19.
Yuta Iyama reached the final round of the preliminary tournament for the 13th LG Cup, but was unable to make the final tournament.
20.
Two months later, in July 2008, Yuta Iyama won the 33rd Meijin league.
21.
At the age of 19, Yuta Iyama became the youngest ever challenger for the Meijin title and the youngest challenger for any of the major titles.
22.
Yuta Iyama broke a record held by Cho Chikun, who challenged for the Oza title in 1976 at the age of 20 years.
23.
Yuta Iyama was a part of the Japanese team at the 1st World Mind Sports Games.
24.
Yuta Iyama faced Norimoto Yoda in the challenger final of the 33rd Kisei and lost by resignation.
25.
In March 2008, Yuta Iyama participated in the inaugural BC Card Cup as one of Japan's two representatives, Cho Chikun being the other.
26.
Chikun was knocked out in the first round by Paek Hongsuk, but Yuta Iyama won two games in a row against Kim Seongjae and On Sojin.
27.
Yuta Iyama came up against Cho Hanseung in the third round and was eliminated by the Korean representative.
28.
That same month Yuta Iyama participated in two unofficial tournaments, the Yugen Cup, which he won, and the RICOH Rengo Cup.
29.
Yuta Iyama won the Kido "Outstanding Player" award for his performances during the 2008 season.
30.
Yuta Iyama was one of four Japanese participants at the 14th LG Cup, where he won his first game against Yun Junsang and lost his second game against Lee Chang-ho.
31.
Yuta Iyama reached the challenger final of the 34th Gosei, but eventually lost to Satoshi Yuki by 1.5 points.
32.
Yuta Iyama lost the first game of his Meijin challenge, but then went on to win four in-a-row.
33.
In December 2009, Yuta Iyama participated in his first Nongshim Cup.
34.
Yuta Iyama was the third Japanese player and lost his game to Xie He, who won five straight games before losing to Naoki Hane.
35.
Yuta Iyama led the Japanese most wins list in 2009 with a record of 43 wins and 14 losses.
36.
Yuta Iyama was awarded the Shusai Prize for his performances during the 2009 season.
37.
In February 2010, Yuta Iyama lost the final of the 5th Daiwa Cup to Rin Kono.
38.
Yuta Iyama lost to Lee Chang-ho in the first round.
39.
Yuta Iyama was a representative of the Japanese team at the 16th Asian Games.
40.
In October 2010, Yuta Iyama was invited to the World Meijin tournament along with Gu Li and Lee Chang-ho.
41.
Yuta Iyama then defended his Meijin title in straight wins against Shinji Takao.
42.
In 2010, Yuta Iyama won the third most prize money in Japan with 56,482,000 Yen.
43.
Yuta Iyama unsuccessfully challenged Cho U for the Kisei title in 2011.
44.
Yuta Iyama won his second major title, the Judan, in 2011.
45.
In January 2017, Yuta Iyama was awarded the Shusai Prize, which honors the outstanding player of the previous year.
46.
In February 2017, Yuta Iyama was awarded the Kido Prize for "Most outstanding player" for winning all top seven titles.
47.
Yuta Iyama was scheduled to play in the 2017 World Go Championship.