is a Go

Go (board game)

Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...

 player

Go players

This page gives an overview of well-known players of the game of Go throughout the ages. The page has been divided into sections based on the era in which the Go players played and the country in which they played. As this was not necessarily their country of birth, a flag of that country precedes...

.

Biography

Koichi Kobayashi was born in Asahikawa, Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. He was one of the more famous disciples of the legendary Minoru Kitani

Minoru Kitani

was one of the most celebrated professional Go players and teachers of the game of Go in the twentieth century in Japan.- Biography :He earned the nickname "the Prodigy" after winning a knockout tournament. He defeated eight opponents from the Kiseisha in a row during 1928. He played a celebrated...

; he studied along with Cho Chikun

Cho Chikun

Cho Chihun 25th Honinbo Honorary Meijin is a professional Go player. His total title tally of 71 titles is the most in the history of the Japanese Nihon Ki-in. Cho is the only player to hold the top three titles—Kisei, Meijin, and Honinbo—simultaneously which he did for 3 years in a row...

, Masao Kato

Masao Kato

- Titles and runners-up :Ranks #4 in total amount of titles in Japan.-Books:*Kato's Attack and Kill ISBN 4-87187-027-2*The Chinese Opening ISBN 4-906574-33-5-External links:...

, Yoshio Ishida

Yoshio Ishida

is a professional Go player.- Biography :By the time he was 8, Ishida started learning Go. He was a student at the legendary Kitani Minoru go school. Famous along with his fellow students Cho Chikun, Kobayashi Koichi, Kato Masao, and Takemiya Masaki. Alike his fellow students, he joined the dojo at...

, and Masaki Takemiya

Masaki Takemiya

is a professional Go player.- Biography :Masaki Takemiya was born in Japan. He became one of the many disciples of the Minoru Kitani school. His rise to fame began when he was only 15 years old. By the time he was 15, he was already 5 dan. He earned the nickname "9 dan killer" because he won...

. He would go on and marry the daughter of his teacher, Reiko Kitani (1939–1996), a 6-dan who has won the All-Japan Women's Championship several times. Together they had a daughter, Izumi Kobayashi

Izumi Kobayashi

is a professional Go player.- Biography :Izumi Kobayashi grew up in a family of accomplished Go players. She has joked that she first played Go in her mother's womb. Her father is Koichi Kobayashi, the man who ranks third in number of titles held in Japan. Her maternal grandfather was Kitani...

, who is now one of the leading female Go players in Japan. Kobayashi is one of the few Go

Go (board game)

Go , is an ancient board game for two players that originated in China more than 2,000 years ago...

 players who have won more than 1,200 professional games. Kobayashi's rivalry with Cho Chikun

Cho Chikun

Cho Chihun 25th Honinbo Honorary Meijin is a professional Go player. His total title tally of 71 titles is the most in the history of the Japanese Nihon Ki-in. Cho is the only player to hold the top three titles—Kisei, Meijin, and Honinbo—simultaneously which he did for 3 years in a row...

 has continued for some time and they frequently play against each other.

Promotion record

Titles & runners-up

Kobayashi is Honorary Kisei, Honorary Meijin, and Honorary Gosei. He ranks #3 in total amount of titles in Japan.

Title	Years Held
Current	45
Kisei Kisei The Kisei is a Go competition. The title, meaning go sage in Japanese, was a traditional honorary appellation given to a handful of players down the centuries. The element ki can also apply to shogi, and there were also recognized kisei in the shogi world.-Background:Kisei is a Go competition...	1986–1993
Meijin Meijin Meijin , literally translated, means "Brilliant Man." It is the name of the second most prestigious Japanese Go Tournament. It also refers to a traditional Japanese title given to the strongest player of the day during the Edo period.- The tournament :...	1985, 1988–1994
Judan Judan (Go) The Judan —which can be translated as "10 dan"—is a Go competition in Japan. It is one of the seven major professional titles.-Biography:...	1984–1986, 1999, 2000
Tengen Tengen (Go) Tengen is the name of a Go competition in Japan.The name Tengen refers to the center point on a Go board.The event is held annually, and has run continuously since its inauguration in 1975....	1976, 1986, 1998, 1999
Gosei	1988–1993, 1999, 2001, 2002
Agon Cup Agon Cup The Agon Cup is a Go competition.-Biography:The Agon Cup is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon Kiin. It was started in 1994 by Agon Shu. The name was originally the "Acom Cup" but it changed its sponsor in 1999 and became the Agon Cup...	1999
Shinjin-O Shinjin-O The Shinjin-O is a professional Go competition.An annual Japanese tournament, it has been held continuously since 1976.- Format :...	1976, 1977
NEC Cup NEC Cup The NEC Cup is a Go competition, supported by NEC Corporation.-Biography:The NEC Cup is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon-Kiin. Unlike the big three titles in Japan, the NEC Cup is a single knockout tournament where players have less time to think. The field of challengers is 16...	1995, 1999, 2004
NHK Cup	1986, 2004
Ryusei Ryusei -Biography:The Ryusei is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon-Kiin. It was started in 1991 and is a fast go tournament. The tournament consists of four sections. The winner from each section, along with the player who won the most games in each section play in a single knockout tournament....	1997, 2002, 2003
Defunct	9
Kakusei Kakusei (Go) The Kakusei was a Go competition in Japan.-Past winners:...	1994, 1997, 2001
Hayago Championship Hayago Championship The Hayago Championship was a Go competition.-Outline:The Hayago Championship was a hayago tournament, where each player had to make moves within 10 seconds. The tournament was sponsored by TV Tokyo.-Past winners:...	1972, 1981, 1986, 1997
Shin-Ei Shin-Ei -Outline:The Shin-Ei was a Go competition held where players under the age of 30 and 7 dan would compete in.-Past winners:...	1972, 1975
Prime Minister Cup Prime Minister Cup The Prime Minister Cup was a Go competition.-Outline:The Prime Minister Cup ran from 1961 to 1981. It was used by the Nihon Ki-in The first 18 titles were decided in a knockout tournament. The last two years, the format was changed to a best-of-three match between finalists from a large...	1972, 1974*
Continental	2
China-Japan Tengen China-Japan Tengen The China-Japan Tengen is a professional gocompetition.-Outline:The China–Japan Tengen is a tournament where the current Tengen/Tianyuan title holders from China and Japan play each other in 3 matches.-Past winners:...	2000
China-Japan Agon Cup China-Japan Agon Cup The China-Japan Agon Cup is a Go competition.-Outline:The China-Japan Agon Cup is a tournament where the current Agon Cup/Ahan Tongshan Cup title holders from China and Japan play each other.-Past winners:...	2000
International	1
Fujitsu Cup Fujitsu Cup - Outline :The Fujitsu Cup is an international competition. Fujitsu and Yomiuri Shimbun host the oldest international Go competition. The players are picked as follows:* The top 3 players from the previous year's competition* 7 players from Japan...	1997
Total	57

Title	Years Lost
Current	26
Kisei Kisei The Kisei is a Go competition. The title, meaning go sage in Japanese, was a traditional honorary appellation given to a handful of players down the centuries. The element ki can also apply to shogi, and there were also recognized kisei in the shogi world.-Background:Kisei is a Go competition...	1994, 1999
Meijin Meijin Meijin , literally translated, means "Brilliant Man." It is the name of the second most prestigious Japanese Go Tournament. It also refers to a traditional Japanese title given to the strongest player of the day during the Edo period.- The tournament :...	1986, 1995, 1997
Honinbo Honinbo Honinbō was the name of one of the four major schools of Go in Japan. Easily the strongest school of Go for most of its existence, it was established in 1612 and survived until 1940....	1982, 1990, 1991, 1992
Judan Judan (Go) The Judan —which can be translated as "10 dan"—is a Go competition in Japan. It is one of the seven major professional titles.-Biography:...	1987, 1992, 1994, 2001
Tengen Tengen (Go) Tengen is the name of a Go competition in Japan.The name Tengen refers to the center point on a Go board.The event is held annually, and has run continuously since its inauguration in 1975....	1981, 1987, 1990, 1995, 2000
Oza Oza is a title in Go. The association that holds this title is the Japanese Nihon Ki-in.-Outline:Recently, the format for the tournament was changed to a best of five. The challenger is decided in a tournament of 16 players, other than the title player. The winner's purse is ¥14 million .-Past winners...	1985, 1992
Gosei	1994, 2000, 2003
NEC Cup NEC Cup The NEC Cup is a Go competition, supported by NEC Corporation.-Biography:The NEC Cup is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon-Kiin. Unlike the big three titles in Japan, the NEC Cup is a single knockout tournament where players have less time to think. The field of challengers is 16...	1984, 1991
Agon Cup Agon Cup The Agon Cup is a Go competition.-Biography:The Agon Cup is a Go competition used by the Japanese Nihon Kiin. It was started in 1994 by Agon Shu. The name was originally the "Acom Cup" but it changed its sponsor in 1999 and became the Agon Cup...	2004
NHK Cup	1997
Defunct	9
Kakusei Kakusei (Go) The Kakusei was a Go competition in Japan.-Past winners:...	1987, 2002
Shin-Ei Shin-Ei -Outline:The Shin-Ei was a Go competition held where players under the age of 30 and 7 dan would compete in.-Past winners:...	1974, 1979
Hayago Championship Hayago Championship The Hayago Championship was a Go competition.-Outline:The Hayago Championship was a hayago tournament, where each player had to make moves within 10 seconds. The tournament was sponsored by TV Tokyo.-Past winners:...	1982, 1983, 1985, 2000, 2001
Continental	1
China-Japan Tengen China-Japan Tengen The China-Japan Tengen is a professional gocompetition.-Outline:The China–Japan Tengen is a tournament where the current Tengen/Tianyuan title holders from China and Japan play each other in 3 matches.-Past winners:...	1999
International	1
Fujitsu Cup Fujitsu Cup - Outline :The Fujitsu Cup is an international competition. Fujitsu and Yomiuri Shimbun host the oldest international Go competition. The players are picked as follows:* The top 3 players from the previous year's competition* 7 players from Japan...	1995
Total	38

*Prime Minister Cup

Prime Minister Cup

The Prime Minister Cup was a Go competition.-Outline:The Prime Minister Cup ran from 1961 to 1981. It was used by the Nihon Ki-in The first 18 titles were decided in a knockout tournament. The last two years, the format was changed to a best-of-three match between finalists from a large...

is not counted in the title total.