Oi (shogi)
Ōi (王位) is one of the seven titles in Japanese professional shogi. The word means "the king's rank" (ō(王) = king, i(位) = rank or position).
The annual tournament started in 1960 sponsored by a group of local newspapers which has consisted of Shimbun Sansha Rengō (Three-Newspaper Association).[1] Despite of its name, Shimbun Sansha Rengō is currently formed by six newspapers: Hokkaido Shimbun, Tokyo Shimbun, Chunichi Shimbun, Kobe Shimbun, Tokushima Shimbun and Nishinippon Shimbun.[2]
The challenger for the title is determined by three-step preliminary round that comprises 1st heat, league competition and final playoff. Top eight players in 1st heat and top four players of previous year are divided into two six-player leagues. Top one of each league advances to final playoff, and the winner of one-game match becomes the challenger.
The player that wins four games out of seven first in the championship will become the new Ōi title holder. Each championship games assign players a six-hour playtime during two days.[3]
Lifetime Ōi
Lifetime Ōi ("Eisei-Oi" = Lifetime Ōi) is the title given to a player who won the championship five times in a row or ten times in total. Active players may qualify for this title, but it is only officially awarded upon their retirement or death.
- Yasuharu Oyama
- Makoto Nakahara
- Yoshiharu Habu
Winners
| Year | Winner | Score | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Yasuharu Ōyama | 4-1 | Masao Tsukada |
| 1961 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-1 | Yuzō Maruta |
| 1962 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-0 | Motoji Hanamura |
| 1963 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-2 | Hifumi Katō |
| 1964 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-2 | Tatsuya Futakami |
| 1965 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-0 | Daigoroh Satō |
| 1966 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-1 | Michio Ariyoshi |
| 1967 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-1 | Nobuyuki Ōuchi |
| 1968 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-2 | Michio Ariyoshi |
| 1969 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-2 | Kazuyoshi Nishimura |
| 1970 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-1 | Kunio Yonenaga |
| 1971 | Yasuharu Oyama | 4-3 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 1972 | Kunio Naitō | 4-1 | Yasuharu Oyama |
| 1973 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-0 | Kunio Naitō |
| 1974 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-2 | Kunio Yonenaga |
| 1975 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-2 | Kunio Naitō |
| 1976 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-2 | Osamu Katsuura |
| 1977 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-2 | Kunio Yonenaga |
| 1978 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-1 | Yasuharu Oyama |
| 1979 | Kunio Yonenaga | 4-3 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 1980 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-0 | Kunio Yonenaga |
| 1981 | Makoto Nakahara | 4-3 | Yasuharu Oyama |
| 1982 | Kunio Naitō | 4-2 | Makoto Nakahara |
| 1983 | Michio Takahashi | 4-2 | Kunio Naitō |
| 1984 | Hifumi Katō | 4-3 | Michio Takahashi |
| 1985 | Michio Takahashi | 4-0 | Hifumi Katō |
| 1986 | Michio Takahashi | 4-0 | Kunio Yonenaga |
| 1987 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-1 | Michio Takahashi |
| 1988 | Keiji Mori | 4-3 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 1989 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-1 | Keiji Mori |
| 1990 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-3 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 1991 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-2 | Hiroki Nakata |
| 1992 | Masataka Goda | 4-2 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 1993 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-0 | Masataka Goda |
| 1994 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-3 | Masataka Goda |
| 1995 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-2 | Masataka Goda |
| 1996 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-1 | Koichi Fukaura |
| 1997 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-1 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 1998 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-2 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 1999 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-0 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 2000 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-3 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 2001 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-0 | Nobuyuki Yashiki |
| 2002 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-1 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 2003 | Koji Tanigawa | 4-1 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 2004 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-1 | Koji Tanigawa |
| 2005 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-3 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 2006 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-2 | Yasumitsu Satō |
| 2007 | Koichi Fukaura | 4-3 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 2008 | Koichi Fukaura | 4-3 | Yoshiharu Habu |
| 2009 | Koichi Fukaura | 4-3 | Kazuki Kimura |
| 2010 | Akihito Hirose | 4-2 | Koichi Fukaura |
| 2011 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-3 | Akihito Hirose |
| 2012 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-1 | Takeshi Fujii |
| 2013 | Yoshiharu Habu | 4-1 | Hisahi Namekata |
See also
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