Iyama Yuta 9p successfully defended his Meijin title on October 6, 2015, defeating Takao Shinji 9p with a perfect 4-0 score in the 40th Meijin title match.
Game 4 of the final was played on October 5 and 6 in Mie Prefecture, Japan and Iyama Yuta won by resignation after 227 moves.
Takao Shinji 9 dan (left) and Iyama Yuta 9 dan at the 40th Meijin final.
Iyama still holds four Japanese titles
Iyama Yuta 9 dan at the 40th Meijin final.
Having successfully defended the Meijin title again, Iyama currently holds four of the seven Japanese “majors”, including the Kisei, Honinbo and Gosei.
Earlier this year, he also successfully defended three other titles, defeating Yamashita Keigo 9p in the 39th Kisei, 70th Honinbo, and the 40th Gosei title matches.
Yamashita won three games in the Kisei title deciding match, but only managed one win each in the Honinbo and Gosei finals.
Iyama in Meijin title matches
This is the 5th Meijin title in Iyama’s career.
Iyama first challenged Cho U 9p in the 33rd Meijin in 2008 but was defeated 4-3.
However, Iyama got a second chance the following year in the 34th Meijin and won his first Meijin title with a 4-1 score.
In 2010, Iyama defeated Takao Shinji 4-0 to successfully defend his title.
However, his hold was short-lived and he lost to Yamashita Keigo 9p in 2011.
In 2013, Iyama challenged Yamashita Keigo for the title back, and he won his third Meijin title with a 4-1 score.
In 2014, Kono Rin 9p challenged, but Iyama defeated him 4-2 to defend the title.
Takao Shinji’s defeat
Takao Shinji 9 dan with the sealed move, at the end of the first day from game 4.
At the end of 2014, Takao defeated Iyama to win the 40th Tengen with a 3-2 score.
He was behind the final 2-1, but won the last two games to win the title.
Takao’s style is calm but lively, and he favors tesuji and flexible haengma.
Yamashita Keigo was soundly defeated by Iyama earlier this year, so some thought Takao’s style of play might be more effective against Iyama’s powerful and creative style of play.
However, Takao didn’t manage to win a single game in the final so we can assume that it’s even harder for Takao to fight against Iyama.
Rising stars up to the challenge
There are a few young talented Japanese players rising rapidly through the ranks such as Murakawa Daisuke 8p, Ida Atsushi 8p and Ichiriki Ryo 7p.
Murakawa has already managed to win one title from Iyama with the 62nd Oza in 2014 and Ida is the youngest Judan holder.
So the professional circuit in Japan is about to get a lot more interesting!
Takao Shinji 9 dan (left) and Iyama Yuta 9 dan, at the beginning of game 4.
The 40th Meijin Series
Game 1
The opening up to White 54 was even.
White 58 to 60 were good probes, and White 66 and 68 were practical.
Black 87 was premature, and White took the lead up to White 96.
White 106 and 112 were nice moves to make eyeshape.
White 142 and 146 were sharp, and decided the game.
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Game 2
White 22 to 26 were nice, and the result up to White 32 was slightly more favorable for White.
Black 35 to 37, Black 47 to 49 were full of fighting spirit.
Black 73 to 77 were strong, and Black 89 and 103 were good tesuji.
The big trade up to Black 123 was good for Black, and Black took the lead.
White 170 was sharp, and White 182 was a nice way to reverse the game.
White 200 was the losing move, and the game was reversed again up to Black 211.
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Game 3
White 22 to 28 were creative moves by Iyama.
Black 37 was questionable, and White 46 to 56 were sophisticated.
White 82 was a nice counter-move, and the result up to White 92 was satisfactory for White.
Black 97 to 103 were bold, but Iyama’s sabaki up to White 128 was excellent.
Black went all out with 129, but White 140 and 142 were accurate, and Black’s center group was captured.
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Game 4
White 22 and 24 were questionable, and Black had a nice start up to 31.
Black 39 and 41 were a good combination, and Black 49 was a good tesuji as well.
White 74 was slack, and Black solidified his lead with 77.
Black 81 to 85 were creative, and Black 89 was practical. Black was still in the lead up to 123.
Black 143 to 149 were severe, and Black 167 to 175 were strong and powerful.
White 210 was tricky, but Black 211 and 213 were accurate, and simplified the game.
Black 215 and 217 were played in precisely the right order, and the game was over.
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