Takao Shinji
Takao Shinji (高尾 紳路 Takao Shinji, born 1976) is a professional Go player.
- Winner of 1st Daiwa Shoken Cup (2006)
- Winner of 31st Meijin title (2006)
- Winner of 61st Honinbo title (2006)
- Winner of 60th Honinbo title (2005)
- Winner of 13th Ryu-sei title (2004)
- Challenger for 41st Judan title (2003)
- Challenger for 27th Shinjin-O title (2002)
- Winner of 13th Ryu-sei title (2000)
- Challenger for 23rd Shinjin-O title (1998)
- Winner of 21st Shinjin-O title (1996)
Nihon Ki-in pro promotion record
- 7 dan in 2000
- 8 dan in 2002
- 9 dan on 28 June 2005 (won 60th Honinbo)
On November 3rd, 2006, Takao won the 31st Meijin tournament from holder Cho U by 4 games to 2. Two of his four wins were by half a point.
On June 28th, 2005 Takao won the 60th Hon'inbo tournament, and his first big Japanese title, from Cho U, in a match that lasted five games. Its final game was won by a mere half a point.
Bob McGuigan: On the Mainichi newspaper web site there are some comments about Takao and his success in the Honinbo match. Takao's win is ascribed to his thick style, transmitted from his teacher Fujisawa Hideyuki. It is mentioned that he is joining Cho U, Hane Naoki, and Yamashita Keigo at the top, and that these players are being called the "Four Emperors".
Strange Pro Opening 3 features a game between Takao and Yamashita Keigo. These two have been rivals since at least August 1986 when the 9-year-old Takao lost on national television to the not-quite-8-year-old Yamashita in the final of the All-Japan Elementary School Championship. In 1996 Takao beat Yamashita in the semi-final of the 21st Shinjin-O Tournament and then went on to sweep the title match from Nakamura Shinya 2-0. In 1998 Takao played Yamashita in the final of the 23rd Shinjin-O but lost 1-2.
On 2003-01-16 Takao beat Cho Chikun to win the losers' section of the Judan tournament. As a result, he will play the winner of the winners' section to see who will challenge O Rissei for the title. His opponent? Yamashita Keigo, of course! Dave.
Takao Shinji won the game by resignation, which means that the current holder O Rissei is not going to play two matches against Yamashita Keigo at the same time. HolIgor
Takao performed quite well in junior and lightning tournaments.
His teachers are Taoka Keiichi and Fujisawa Hideyuki.
Author of Pure and Simple Takao's Astute Use of Brute Force.