Teruichi Aono, 9-dan, smiles after achieving a total of 800 wins on the verge of retirement.
Teruichi Aono (71), the oldest active shogi player, won the match on the 20th, achieving a total of 800 wins (895 losses) (results include unaired TV shogi matches). Aono 9-dan is set to retire from active duty at the end of this season, and this was a “fulfillment” as the deadline approaches.
◆ “Proof of being a top-class shogi player” after deciding to retire
In the shogi world, the “Shogi Honorable Fighting Award” is given to those who have achieved a total of 800 wins, and it is considered a proof of being a top-class shogi player. Kudan Aono, who will celebrate his 50th anniversary as a pro this year, has long set his goal as “It’s like being a pitcher with 2,000 hits and 200 wins in baseball.”
◆I once collapsed after a match… “I never thought one win would be so heavy.”
Teruichi Aono, the oldest person at 71 years old to achieve 800 wins in total (9-dan) (Courtesy of the Japan Shogi Federation)
He is the 26th person in history and the oldest person to achieve this at age 71. This is the first time that a losing player has reached this point. He said, “Partway through, I thought I would never be able to achieve my goal.I’m not the type of person who is persistent when it comes to shogi, but as a person, I’m bad at giving up.”As he got older, he said, it became especially hard for him to lose. “For us, playing shogi is like going hunting or fishing. If you go home losing, you won’t catch any fish. But since we had a goal, we were able to decide to go for it.” . However, in recent years, he has often collapsed after playing games or had his blood pressure drop. “I didn’t think one win would be this big,” he says with emotion.
From now on, he will retire as soon as he loses the remaining shogi matches. “I’m thankful that I had the stamina and energy until the very end.I want to build on my ability to win one or two wins,” he said, looking forward. (Kaoru Higuchi)
