{{Short description|Japanese shogi player (born 1995)}} {{Infobox shogi professional |name = Daichi Sasaki |native_name = 佐々木大地 |image = File:SHOGI Professional Daichi Sasaki.jpg |born = {{birth date and age|1995|5|30|mf=yes}} |hometown = Tsushima, Nagasaki |nationality = |pro_date = {{death date and age|2016|4|01|1995|5|30}} |badge_no = 306 |teacher = Kōichi Fukaura |rank = 7-dan |teacher_rank = 9-dan |meijinclass = C2 |ryuoclass = 3 |jsa = 306 }}
{{nihongo|'''Daichi Sasaki'''|佐々木 大地|Sasaki Daichi|born May 30, 1995}} is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 7-dan.
==Early life, amateur shogi and apprenticeship== Sasaki was born in Tsushima, Nagasaki on May 30, 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/306.html|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 佐々木大地|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> He learned shogi from his father when he was three years old.<ref name="New 4d">{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2016/03/post_1363.html|script-title=ja:新四段誕生のお知らせ|title=Shin Yondan Tanjō no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=New 4-dan announced|date=March 7, 2016|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref> As a third-grade elementary school student, he won the Grades 1 to 3 division of the 3rd {{ill|All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament|ja|将棋のアマチュア棋戦#小･中学生棋戦}} in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/tournament/elementary_school/3/tournament.html|script-title=ja:第3回全国小学生倉敷王将戦|title=Daisankai Zenkoku Shōgakusei Kurashiki Ōshōsen|language=ja|trans-title=3rd All Japan Elementary School Student Kurashiki Ōshō Tournament|year=2004|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=http://www.city.tsushima.nagasaki.jp/live/kouhou/images/200409/200409_09.pdf|format=pdf|script-title=ja:対馬トピックス:佐々木君日本一|title=Tsushima Topikkusu: Sasaki-kun Nipponichi|language=ja|trans-title=Tsushima City Topics: Sasaki in Number 1 in Japan|date=September 2004|work=Kōhō Tsushima|publisher=Tsushima City|access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-date=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918030334/http://www.city.tsushima.nagasaki.jp/live/kouhou/images/200409/200409_09.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Then, as a sixth-grade elementary school student in 2007, he finished reached the semi-finals of the 32nd {{ill|Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament|ja|小学生将棋名人戦}}, but lost to fellow future professional Seiya Kondō.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/tournament/elementary_school_meijin/32/tournament.html|script-title=ja:第32回小学生名人戦|title=Dai Sanjuni Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen|language=ja|trans-title=32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament|year=2007|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/tournament/elementary_school_meijin/32/daihyo.html|script-title=ja:第32回小学生名人戦: 代表選手一覧|title=Dai Sanjuni Shōgakusei Shōgi Meijinsen: Daihyōsenshu Ichiran|language=ja|trans-title=32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament: Participant List|year=2007|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 16, 2019}}</ref>
The following year, Sasaki entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū as a student of shogi professional Kōichi Fukaura. He was promoted to the rank or 3-dan in 2013, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in April 2016 after finishing the 58th 3-dan League (October 2015{{sndash}}March 2016) with a record of 12 wins and 6 losses. Although Sasaki actually finished league play tied with several other players who also had 12 wins, his lower league seed meant he finished in third place and thus did not earn automatic promotion to the rank of 4-dan. Third place, however, was good enough to earn him a second promotion point, and gave him the option to enter the professional ranks as a free class player.<ref name="New 4d" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/shoreikai/sandan/58/index.html|script-title=ja:第58回奨励会三段リーグ戦 2015年10月～2016年3月|title=Dai Gojūhakkai Shōreikai Sandan Rīgusen Nisenjūgonen Jūgatsu kara Nisenjūrokunen Sangatsu|language=ja|trans-title=58th apprentice school 3-dan league: October 2015 to March 2016|year=2015|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref>
==Shogi professional== Sasaki made his first appearance in a major title match in June 2023 when he challenged Sōta Fujii for the 94th Kisei title (June{{ndash}}July 2023) but lost the match 3 games to 1.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line-->|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20230718/k10014134751000.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718102813/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20230718/k10014134751000.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 18, 2023|script-title=ja:将棋 藤井聡太七冠 ｢棋聖戦｣ 4連覇 今年度2つ目のタイトル防衛|title=Shōgi Fujii Sōta Nanakan ｢Kisei-sen｣ Yonrenpa Kotoshi Futatsume no Taitoru Bōei|language=ja|trans-title=Shogi's Sōta Fujii 7-crown successfully defends Kisei title; it's his second successful title defense this year and his fourth consecutive Kisei title match victory|date=July 18, 2023|website=NHK News Web|access-date=July 19, 2023}}</ref> The following month, Sasaki also challenged Fujii for the 64th Ōi title (July{{ndash}}August 2023) but lost again, this time 4 games to 1.<ref>{{cite news|last=Satō|first=Keiji|url=https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR8R6V6XR8NUCVL01C.html|url-access=subscription|script-title=ja:藤井聡太王位が4連覇 佐々木大地七段との力戦制し, 4勝1敗で防衛|title=Fujii Sōta Ōi ga Yonrenpa Sasaki Daichi Nanadan to no Rikisen Seishi, Yonshō Ippai de Bōei|language=ja|trans-title=Sōta Fujii Ōi beats Daichi Sasaki 7-dan in a hard-fought game to defend Ōi title 4 games to 1 and win the title for the fourth year in a row.|date=August 23, 2023|newspaper=Asahi Shimbun|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>
===Promotion history=== Sasaki's promotion history is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/306.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 昇段履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Promotion History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> * 6-kyū: September 2008 * 3-dan: October 2013 * 4-dan: April 1, 2016 * 5-dan: February 20, 2019 * 6-dan: February 16, 2022 * 7-dan: April 28, 2022
===Titles and other championships=== Ssaki's has appeared in a major title match twice, but has yet to win a title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/306.html#anc01|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 タイトル履歴|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Taitoru Rireki|language=Japanese|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Major Title History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 17, 2023}}</ref>
===Awards and honors=== Sasaki received the Japan Shogi Association Annual Shogi Awards for "Most Games Won" for the 2018{{ndash}}19 shogi year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/pro/306.html#jsTabE04_03|script-title=ja:棋士データベース: 佐々木大地 将棋大賞|title=Kishi Dētabēsu: Sasaki Daichi Shōgi Taishō|language=ja|trans-title=Professional Shogi Player Database: Daichi Sasaki Annual Shogi Awards|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> "Most Games Played" for the 2019{{ndash}}2020 shogi year,<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer; no by-line-->|url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igoshougi/20200401-OYT1T50211/amp/%3Fusqp%3Dmq331AQRKAGYAajT-anjx57LggGwASA%253D|script-title=ja:将棋大賞, 最優秀棋士賞に渡辺明三冠...2回目|title=Shōgi Taishō, Saiyūshūkishishō ni Watanabe Sankan...Nikaime|language=ja|trans-title=Shogi Annual Awards: Watanabe 3-crown wins “Player of the year” for the second time.|date=April 1, 2020|newspaper=Yomiuri Shimbun|access-date=April 4, 2020|archive-date=November 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221106181900/https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/igoshougi/20200401-OYT1T50211/amp/%3Fusqp=mq331AQRKAGYAajT-anjx57LggGwASA%253D|url-status=dead}}</ref> and "Most Consecutive Games Won" for the 2023{{ndash}}24 shogi year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2024/04/51_6.html|script-title=ja:第51回将棋大賞受賞者のお知らせ|title=Dai Gojūikkai Shōgi Taishō Jushōsha no Oshirase|language=ja|trans-title=51st Annual Shogi Award Winners|date=April 1, 2024|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref>
===Year-end prize money and game fee ranking=== Sasaki has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's {{ill|year-end prize money and game fee rankings|ja|将棋界#獲得賞金と対局料}} once: 8th with JPY 18,810,000 in earnings in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/news/2024/02/202310.html|title= Nisennijūsannen Kakutoku Shōkin･Taikyokuryō Besuto Jū|script-title=ja:2023年獲得賞金･対局料ベスト10|trans-title= 2023 Prize Money/Game Fees Top 10|language=ja|date=February 5, 2024|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *ShogiHub: [http://shogihub.com/players/393 Professional Player Info · Sasaki, Daichi]
{{Professional Shogi Players|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sasaki, Daichi}} Category:Japanese shogi players Category:Japan Shogi Association players Category:Living people Category:Shogi players from Nagasaki Prefecture Category:1995 births Category:Kakogawa Seiryū