Original title：趙治勲 私の履歴書（10）トップ爭い
Original article: The Nikkei
Author: Cho Chikun, Honorary Meijin
Losing to Sakata Eio Sensei in the Nihon Ki-in Championship after being ahead was indeed a huge blow. But soon, I got a chance for revenge. At that time, Asahi Shimbun organized the Professional Top Ten Tournament.
This tournament was unique in that the participating players were selected based on popularity votes, with the top ten ranking players earning a spot. Although the main battlegrounds for players were the Meijin and Honinbo leagues, the Professional Top Ten Tournament, as a distinctive event, also garnered significant attention.
In the 10th edition of the tournament in 1973, I finished 8th, and in the 11th edition in the following year, I placed 10th. In the final edition, the 12th in 1975, I advanced to the best-of-five finals.
My opponent was Masao Kato, who was still an 8-dan at the time. He was a senior from my days at the Kitani Dojo in Yotsuya, Tokyo. Although he debuted slightly later than Yoshio Ishida, he had achieved great success, particularly in the Oza tournament organized by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and went on to win a total of 47 titles during his career, becoming a legendary player.
Masao Kato’s gentle and honest personality contrasted sharply with his aggressive playing style. He was known for his willingness to capture seemingly impossible large groups, earning him the nickname “Executioner Kato.” However, he was one of the opponents I felt comfortable against because I excelled at countering my opponent’s attacks, and Kato’s aggressive style gave me plenty of opportunities to do so.
In this best-of-five series, the first game was an intense battle, but in the end, I won three consecutive games and secured my first prestigious championship at the age of 18. Although the loss to Sakata Eio Sensei was disheartening, the tight tournament schedule didn’t allow me time to dwell on the defeat, and I managed to achieve great results in the Professional Top Ten Tournament.
Six months later, Asahi Shimbun organized another tournament called the “Eight Strong Showdown.” This event was temporarily held because the Meijin tournament’s sponsorship had transferred from Yomiuri Shimbun to Asahi Shimbun, and it invited eight top players, including titleholders. I earned a spot in this tournament thanks to my victory in the Professional Top Ten Tournament.
In the Eight Strong Showdown, I advanced to the final, where I faced Sakata Eio Sensei’s longtime rival, Hideyuki Fujisawa. In the best-of-three final, I won 2-1. This victory significantly boosted my confidence.
The championship of the Eight Strong Showdown came in February 1976. That same year, I also successfully advanced in the Oza tournament and earned the right to challenge Hideyuki Otake.
Hideyuki Otake, who was 14 years older than me, was a senior from the same school of thought. When I first joined the dojo, he had already moved out to live independently but would occasionally return to the dojo to teach us, often harshly criticizing our moves. As a result, he was someone I feared to some extent. However, his aggressive playing style was not particularly troublesome for me.
At that time, the Oza tournament was still a best-of-three series. After tying 1-1, the third game became the decider, and I managed to make a comeback and win. Otake used less than half of the 6-hour time limit for the match, which made him appear somewhat rushed. At the age of 20, this was my first victory in what is now recognized as one of the seven major titles.
That same year, I also achieved my dream of entering the Meijin league. The Meijin league matches began around the same time as the Oza best-of-three series. Competing for a year with top-tier players like Yoshio Ishida, Masao Kato, Rin Kaiho, and Sakata Eio was an immense joy for me.
However, in the second Meijin league, although I defeated Kansai Ki-in players like Utaro Hashimoto, Hidetomo Kubouchi, and Yutaka Shiraishi, I couldn’t win against other Nihon Ki-in players, finishing with a record of 3 wins and 5 losses, which resulted in my relegation. Nevertheless, I won the final qualifying round in the third edition and quickly returned to the league.
Even though I lost the Oza title within a year, my performance fluctuated, and I was gradually expanding my presence. Behind my good form was a significant encounter with a woman, which played a crucial role.
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