Shibano Toramaru

(芝野虎丸) Shibano Toramaru is a Japanese professional player, born November 9th, 1999. As of 2017, he is one of the brightest young stars of the Nihon Ki-in. His older brother Shibano Ryunosuke is also a professional player.

Shibano (left) winning the Shinjin O in October 2017

Promotions:

1p - 2014 (?) (1st spot for diploma, not playing the Honsen pro selection tournament as a 1st ranked insei for 3 consecutive months before Honsen).

2p - early 2016

7p - 1.08.2017

8p - 9.08.2019 (automatic promotion due to becoming Meijin Challenger)

9p - 8.10.2019 (automatic promotion due to becoming Meijin)

Big Titles and runners-up:

2019 - Meijin (at 19, the youngest ever), Oza. Shusai Prize

2020 - Oza,Judan, Honinbo runner-up (lost to Iyama 1-4),Meijin runner-up (lost to Iyama Yuta 1-4)

He reached the quarterfinals of the 3rd Globis Cup. In 2017, he won the Ryusei title, the Shinjin O, and won entrance to Honinbo and Meijin leagues. He became challenger to Cho U for the 2019 Meijin title and won by 4-1, thus becoming the first teenage Meijin at age 19.

As of June 26th 2020, he is holding 3 titles, equaling Iyama (also 3 titles, although more prestigious and better paid).

Links

• Profile at Nihon Ki-in website

Books

• Fuseki Revolution: How AI Has Changed Go (2021)

• Joseki Revolution: Overthrowing Conventional Wisdom (2022)

Videos

• An interview on his and his brothers Shibano Ryunosuke's YouTube channel about his trip to 9th Kuksu Mountains Cup in South Korea in July 2023. His brother interviews him. YouTube link

Pictures

shibano toramaru ryusei 2017 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru hsu chiayuan judan apr2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru judan apr2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

shibano toramaru mlily 2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)

yang dingxin shibano toramaru mlily 2023 (Image credit: Foxwq.com)