NOTE: This series of reports covers the second half of 2025. The order is based on the date of
the final deciding game in the tournament.
By John Power
Japan's top player, Ichiriki Ryo, continued his remarkable run by successfully defending the 51st Tengen title and adding the 73rd Oza title to his collection, giving him five of Japan's seven major titles simultaneously.
Ichiriki Too Strong in Tengen Defense
The 51st Tengen title match marked the first appearance by Shida Tatsuya 8-dan in one of Japan's seven major title matches. At 34, Shida had built a solid career, including runner-up finishes in the Agon Kiriyama Cup and NHK Cup, a Golden Mean Cup title, and appearances in three Meijin leagues and one Honinbo league. The Tengen match offered his first opportunity to claim one of Japan's biggest titles.
Standing in his way was Ichiriki, currently Japan's dominant player and in outstanding form. Shida stayed competitive in the opening game before a decisive mistake in the critical fight, but the remaining two games were more one-sided as Ichiriki completed a 3-0 sweep. After the match, Shida acknowledged the gap between the two players. "From the middle game on, I felt that there was quite a gap between Ichiriki and me," he said. Ichiriki credited the opening victory as the key to the series: "I think winning the opening game was important." The Tengen carries a first prize of 12 million yen, making it the fourth-richest of Japan's seven major titles.
Liao Yuanhe Wins Samsung Cup
China's Liao Yuanhe 9-dan claimed his first international major title by defeating compatriot Ding Hao 9-dan 2-0 in the final of the 30th Samsung Cup, held November 9–17 on Jeju Island, Korea. Although Ding entered as China's top-ranked player and the defending champion after consecutive Samsung Cup victories in 2023 and 2024, Liao swept the final to earn the championship in his first appearance in an international title match. China dominated the event from the outset, claiming 18 of the tournament's 32 places and ultimately producing an all-Chinese final. The winner's prize was 300 million won (about US$205,000).
Ichiriki Claims Oza Title
Ichiriki added another major title by defeating Iyama Yuta 3-1 in the 73rd Oza title match.
Iyama had held the Oza title for four consecutive terms and ten times overall; another successful defense would have tied the all-time record of eleven Oza titles set by Kato Masao. Instead, Ichiriki continued his recent dominance over his longtime rival, winning Games 1, 3 and 4 to capture the title. The victory gave Ichiriki his 10th consecutive title-match victory and further cemented his position at the top of Japanese Go. The Oza title carries a first prize of 14 million yen, the third-largest among Japan's seven major titles.
Five Major Titles at Once
With the Oza victory, Ichiriki now simultaneously holds five of Japan's seven major titles—the top five in prestige and prize money. Only Cho U and Iyama Yuta have previously held five major titles at the same time. Iyama famously went on to hold all seven titles simultaneously—twice—a feat that remains beyond Ichiriki's immediate reach. Ichiriki has already been eliminated from this year's Judan tournament but remains in contention for the Gosei title, giving him the opportunity to increase his total to six.
Tomorrow: Liao, Kim and Wang Close Out a Busy 2025