{{Short description|Japanese shogi player (born 1980)}} {{Infobox shogi professional |name = Ryōko Chiba |native_name = 千葉 涼子 | maiden_name = Usui (碓井) |image = |image_size = |caption = |born = {{birth date and age|1980|04|21|mf=yes}} |hometown = Toyama Prefecture |nationality = |pro_date = {{event date and age|1994|10|01|1980|04|21}} |badge_no = W-17 |teacher = {{ill|Noboru Sakurai|ja|桜井昇}} |teacher_rank = 8-dan |lifetime_titles = |title = |rank = Women's 5-dan |no_titles = 2 |tournaments = 1 |jsa = 17 |female = yes }}
'''Ryōko Chiba''' (千葉 涼子 ''Chiba Ryōko'', née 涼子碓井 '''Ryōko Usui''',<ref name="Marriage" /> born April 21, 1980) is a Japanese women's professional shogi player ranked 5-dan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/lady/17.html | script-title=ja:女流棋士データベース | title=Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu | language=ja | trans-title=Women's Professional Shogi Player Database | publisher=Japan Shogi Association | access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref> She is a two-time winner of the {{ill|Women's Ōshō|ja|女流王将}} title.
==Women's shogi professional== Chiba's (then known as Ryōko Usui) first appearance in a women's professional shogi major title match came in 1998 when she challenged Ichiyo Shimizu for the 6th {{ill|Kurashiki Tōka Cup|ja|大山名人杯倉敷藤花戦}}; Chiba lost the match 2 games to 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/touka/index.html#jsTabE01_03|script-title=ja:大山名人杯倉敷藤花戦: 過去の結果|title=Ōyama Meijinhai Kurashiki Tōkasen: Kako no Kekka|language=ja|trans-title=Ōyama Meijin Cup Kurashiki Tōka Tournament: Past results|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> That same year Chiba also challenged Shimizu for the 25th Women's Meijin title, but once again lost (3 games to 1).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp/kisen/jo_mei25title.htm|script-title=ja:第25期女流名人位戦五番勝負|title=Dai Nijūgoki Joryū Meijinisen Goban Shōbu|language=ja|trans-title=25th Women's Meijin Best-of-Five Match|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19991022043138/http://www.shogi.or.jp/kisen/jo_mei25title.htm|archive-date=October 22, 1999|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/touka/index.html#jsTabE01_03|script-title=ja:岡田美術館杯女流名人戦: 過去の結果|title=Okada Bijūtsukanhai Joryū Meijinsen: Kako no Kekka|language=ja|trans-title=Okada Art Cup Museum Women's Meijin Tournament: Past results|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
In 1999 and 2000, Chiba yet again challenged Shimizu in a major title matches. She lost the 10th and 11th {{ill|Women's Ōi|ja|女流王位戦}} title matches respectively by the scores of 3 games to 1 and 3 games to none.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/touka/index.html#jsTabE01_03|script-title=ja:女流王位戦: 過去の結果|title=Joryū Ōisen: Kako no Kekka|language=ja|trans-title=Women's Ōi Tournament: Past results|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_oui/11hon/index.html|script-title=ja:第11期女流王位戦|title=Dai Jūikkai Joryū Ōisen|language=ja|trans-title=11th Women's Ōi Tournament|year=2000|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> Later in 2000, Chiba won her first tournament as a women's professional when she defeated Hiroe Nakai 3 games to 1 to win the 5th {{ill|Kajima Cup|ja|鹿島杯女流将棋トーナメント}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/finished/kazima/5/index.html|script-title=ja:第5回 鹿島杯女流将棋トーナメント|title=Dai Gokai Kashimahai Joryū Shōgi Tōnamento|language=ja|trans-title=5th Kashima Cup Women's Shogi Tournament|year=2000|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> Chiba and Nakai met once again the following year in the finals of the 6th Kajima Cup Tournament, but this time Nakai won 3 games to 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/finished/kazima/6/index.html|script-title=ja:第6回 鹿島杯女流将棋トーナメント|title=Dai Rokkai Kashimahai Joryū Shōgi Tōnamento|language=ja|trans-title=6th Kashima Cup Women's Shogi Tournament|year=2001|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
In 2002, Chiba challenged Nakai for the 29th Women's Meijin title and was leading the match 2 games to 1 after three games. Chiba was, however, unable to pick up the third win she needed to capture the title, and Nakai came back to win the match 3 games to 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_meijin/2002/29a/index.html|script-title=ja:第29期アルゼ杯女流名人位戦|title=Dai Nijūkyūki Aruzehai Joryū Meijinisen|language=ja|trans-title=29th Aruze Cup Women's Meijin Tournament|year=2003|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> Chiba once again challenged for the Women's Meijin title in 2004, but lost the 31st Women's Meijin match to Shimizu 3 games to 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_meijin/2004/31a/index.html|script-title=ja:第31期アルゼ杯女流名人位戦|title=Dai Sanjūikki Aruzehai Joryū Meijinisen|language=ja|trans-title=29th Aruze Cup Women's Meijin Tournament|year=2003|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
Chiba finally won her first women's professional shogi major title in June 2005 when she defeated Nakai 3 games to none to win the 27th {{ill|Women's Ōshō|ja|女流王将}} title.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_oushou/27/index.html|script-title=ja:第27期 女流王将戦|title=Dai Nijūnanaki Joryū Ōshōsen|language=ja|trans-title=27th Women's Ōshō Tournament|year=2005|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.igoshogi.net/topics/detail.php?ID=330|script-title=ja:千葉女流三段, 初タイトル!!|title=Chiba Joryū Sandan, Hatsu Taitoru!!|language=ja|trans-title=Women's professional Chiba 3d wins first major title!!|date=June 6, 2005|publisher=Igo & Shogi Channel|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|editor-first=Tetsuo|editor-last=Furukawa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0fQZBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA26|script-title=ja:女流棋界の40周年|title=Joryū Kikai no Yonjū Shūnen|language=ja|trans-title=40 years of Women's Professional Shogi|date=September 2014|pages=26|magazine=Shogi World|publisher=MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association|via=Google Books|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> The following year, Nakai once again challenged Chiba in the 28th Women's Ōshō title match, but this time it was Chiba coming back to win Games 4 and 5 to successfully defend her title 3 games to 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_oushou/28/index.html|script-title=ja:第28期 女流王将戦|title=Dai Nijūhakki Joryū Ōshōsen|language=ja|trans-title=28th Women's Ōshō Tournament|year=2006|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> Chiba defended her Women's Ōshō against Shimizu in 2007 and started well by winning Game 1, but Shimizu won the next three games to capture the 29th Women's Ōshō match 3 games to 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/match/jo_oushou/29/index.html|script-title=ja:第29期 女流王将戦|title=Dai Nijūkyūki Joryū Ōshōsen|language=ja|trans-title=29th Women's Ōshō Tournament|year=2005|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.igoshogi.net/topics/detail.php?ID=551|script-title=ja:第29期女流王将戦五番勝...清水女流王位, 奪取|title=Dai Nijūkyūki Joryū Ōshōsen Goban Shōbu, Shimizu Joryū Ōi, Dasshu|language=ja|trans-title=29th Women's Ōshō Best-of-Five Match... Women's Ōi Shimizu takes title.|date=June 21, 2007|publisher=Igo & Shogi Channel|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
===Promotion history=== Chiba has been promoted as follows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/lady/17.html#jsTabE04_02|script-title=ja:女流棋士データベース: 千葉涼子 昇段履歴|title=Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: Chiba Ryōko Shōdan Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Ryōko Chiba Promotion History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=March 25, 2026}}</ref> * Women's Professional Apprentice League: 1994 * 2-kyū: October 1, 1994 * 1-kyū: April 1, 1996 * 1-dan: October 21, 1996 * 2-dan: October 16, 1998 * 3-dan: April 25, 2002 * 4-dan: April 21, 2011 * 5-dan: February 20, 2026
Note: All ranks are women's professional ranks.
===Titles and other championships=== Chiba has appeared in major title matches nine times and has won a total of two titles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/lady/17.html#anc01|script-title=ja:女流棋士データベース: 千葉涼子 タイトル履歴|title=Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: Chiba Ryōko Taitoru Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Ryōko Chiba Major Title History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref> In addition to major titles, Chiba has won one other shogi championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/lady/17.html#anc02|script-title=ja:女流棋士データベース: 千葉涼子 優勝履歴|title=Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: Chiba Ryōko Yūshō Rireki|language=ja|trans-title=Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Ryōko Chiba Championship History|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
====Major titles==== {|class="wikitable" !Title || Years || Number of times overall |- | {{ill|Women's Ōshō|ja|女流王将}} | 2005{{ndash}}06 | 2 |}
====Other championships==== {| class="wikitable" !Tournament || Years ||Number of times |- |<sup>*</sup>{{ill|Kajima Cup|ja|鹿島杯女流将棋トーナメント}} | 2000 |1 |} Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held or currently suspended.
===Awards and honors=== Chiba received the Japan Shogi Association's "Women's Professional" Annual Shogi Award for the April 2005{{sndash}}March 2006 shogi year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shogi.or.jp/player/lady/17.html#anc03|script-title=ja:女流棋士データベース: 千葉涼子 将棋大賞|title=Joryū Kishi Dētabēsu: Chiba Ryōko Shōgi Taishō|language=ja|trans-title=Women's Professional Shogi Player Database: Ryōko Chiba Annual Shogi Awards|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life== Chiba's husband, Sakio Chiba is also a shogi professional. The couple married in May 2003,<ref name="Marriage">{{cite news|url=http://www.shogi.or.jp:80/osirase/news/2003-5.html|script-title=ja:千葉四段･碓井女流三段, 結婚へ|title=Chiba Yondan･Usui Joryū Sandan, Kekkon e|language=ja|trans-title=Chiba 4-dan and Women's professional Usui 3-dan announce marriage|date=May 26, 2003|publisher=Japan Shogi Association|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030606184123/http://www.shogi.or.jp/osirase/news/2003-5.html|archivedate=June 6, 2003|accessdate=February 16, 2018}}</ref> and have two daughters.<ref name="2016databook">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWVDCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4|script-title=ja:現役プロ棋士データブック2016 [下] た-わ行|title=Geneki Purō Kishi DētaBukku 2016 [Ge] Ta-Wa Gyō|language=ja|trans-title=2016 Active Shogi Professional Databook [Last volume] Letter "Ta" to letter "Wa"|year=2015|page=4|publisher=MyNabi Publishing/Japan Shogi Association|via=Google Books|asin=B019SSNKVA|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * ShogiHub: [http://shogihub.com/players/162 Chiba, Ryoko]
{{Women's Professional Shogi Players|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Chiba, Ryoko}} Category:Japanese shogi players Category:Japan Shogi Association players Category:Living people Category:Female shogi players Category:Shogi players from Toyama Prefecture Category:Women's Ōshō Category:1980 births