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Cho U

{{Short description|Taiwanese Go player}}

{{Infobox go player

| name=Cho U

| fullname=U Chō

| chinese=Trad. 張栩 Simp. 张栩

| pinyin=Zhāng Xǔ

| birth_date={{birth date and age|1980|1|20|df=yes}}

| birth_place= Taipei, Taiwan

| residence=Tokyo, Japan

| teacher=Rin Kaiho

| turnedpro=1994

| rank=9 dan

| affiliation=Nihon Ki-in; Tokyo branch

}}

{{family name hatnote|Chō|lang=Japanese}}

{{Chinese

|p= Zhāng Xǔ

|t= 張栩

|s= 张栩

|w= Chàng Hsŭ

|bpmf= ㄓㄤ ㄒㄩ

|romaji= Chō U

|kanji= 張栩

|kana= ちょう う

}}

Cho U ({{zh|t=張栩|s=张栩|p=Zhāng Xǔ|w=Chang Hsu}}; born on 20 January 1980) is a Taiwanese professional Go player. He currently ranks 6th in the most titles won by a Japanese professional; his NEC Cup win in 2011 put him past his teacher Rin Kaiho and Norimoto Yoda. Cho is the first player in history to have held five of the top seven major titles simultaneously with Iyama Yuta being the second. Cho U, Naoki Hane, Keigo Yamashita and Shinji Takao make up the group of players in Japan called the "Four Heavenly Kings". His wife is one of Japan's best female go professionals, Izumi Kobayashi, the great Kitani's granddaughter and daughter of Kobayashi Koichi.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/09/topics2009_05.htm | title=Cho U takes Judan title, is first to achieve quintuple crown | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

Biography

Cho U was born in Taipei, Taiwan. He began playing poker and bridge as a young child. Cho's father Chang Yuen-hsi taught him to play Go, and he began beating family members by the age of three.{{cite web | url=http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1833&Itemid=157 | title=First Taiwanese player to win top 7 Go titles in Japan keeps a cool look | publisher=culture.tw | date=13 August 2010 | author=Yali Chen | accessdate=29 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301232644/http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1833&Itemid=157 | archive-date=1 March 2012 | url-status=dead }} He credits Shen Chun-shan as one of his early Go teachers; he first played against Shen at age seven. Shen was impressed by the young Cho's skill and introduced his family to Rin Kaiho.{{citation|periodical=United Daily News|url=http://mag.udn.com/mag/people/storypage.jsp?f_ART_ID=32679|date=2006-05-02|accessdate=2009-11-04|title=張栩拜師 沈君山只敢當乾爹/Cho U pays his respects to his teacher; Shen Chun-shan only dares to call himself "godfather"|last1=Lin|first1=Ying-che|last2=Chen|first2=Wan-chien|last3=Liang|first3=Yu-fang}}

He earned a spot in the 13th Fujitsu Cup in 2000 through the qualifying tournament. In his first game, Cho defeated Dutch amateur 7 dan Rob van Zeijst. In the second round, Cho defeated former number one Chinese representative Ma Xiaochun. Cho lost to Mok Jin-seok in the quarter-finals.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_06.htm | title=Fujitsu Quarterfinals | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} In May 2000, Cho won a place in the 25th Kisei, the first edition to feature a league system. Cho was the youngest player in the league at 20 years.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_05.htm | title=Members of Kisei leagues decided | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} He finished the league with a record of three wins and three losses.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_10.htm | title=Cho Sonjin wins B league | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Later in the year, Cho qualified for the 56th Honinbo league. He missed out on qualifying for the 26th Meijin league when he lost to Hideki Komatsu in the last qualifying round.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_11.htm | title=Komatsu wins Meijin league place | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho finished the year with the second best record behind Keigo Yamashita with 53 wins, 12 losses and one jigo.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_12.htm | title=Most wins in 2000 | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} He also won the Kido award for the best winning percentage (81.1%).{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/01/topics2001_01.htm | title=Kido Prizes | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho was promoted to 7 dan on 16 April 2001.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/01/topics2001_04.htm | title=Cho U makes 7-dan | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

Cho finished the 56th Honinbo league with a record of five wins and two losses. In an interview after his last match, Cho said "It feels strange to become the challenger after losing my game. I was really happy when I won five games in a row, but losing successive games leaves me with regrets. I'm very fortunate to be able to appear on the important stage of a best-of-seven title match."{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/01/topics2001_04.htm | title=Taiwanese players to vie for Honinbo title | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho won the first match, but title holder O Meien won the seventh and final game of the series.{{cite web | url=http://gobase.org/games/jp/honinbo/56/?sgfmode=details | title=honinbo title, 56th edition, 2001 | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho collected ¥26,985,000 in prize money in 2001.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_01.htm | title=Most prize money won in 2001 | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} In February 2002, Cho won one of Japan's seven non-seeded spots in the 1st World Oza.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_02.htm | title=Japanese Toyota & Denso Cup places decided | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} His first title came the following month when he won the 49th NHK Cup. Cho broke the record for youngest winner of the title. After winning the title, Go journalist John Power commented, "Cho U is surely going to develop into one of the dominant players on the Japanese go scene. He is calm, has excellent concentration and reads very well -- in fact, he seems to relish reading out difficult fights. Perhaps his greatest weapon may be his outstanding positional judgement: he is already reputed to be one of the fastest and most accurate players at summing up a position."{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_03.htm | title=Cho U wins NHK Cup | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

Cho was a member of the Japanese team in the 4th Nongshim Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_09.htm | title=Japan to field strongest team yet in Nong Shim Cup | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} In October 2002, Cho qualified for his first Meijin league.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_10.htm | title=Cho U earns Meijin-league seat | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} At the close of the 2002 season, Cho set a record with 70 wins in a year.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_01.htm | title=2002 records | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} He was awarded the Shusai Prize for his record-breaking year.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_02.htm | title=Cho U wins Shusai Prize | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} After unsuccessfully challenging for the Honinbo title the previous year, Cho won his first major title on 11 July 2003 by defeating Kato Masao in six games for the 58th Honinbo. Cho set three records with his win: third youngest major title winner, second youngest Honinbo and youngest Japanese 9 dan.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_07.htm | title=Cho U wins 58th Honinbo | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho met Masao Kato, the player he defeated for the Honinbo, twice more in 2003 when they faced off in the Agon Cup final and the Oza challenger final. Cho lost the Agon Cup final, but earned the right to face O Meien in the Oza final.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_10.htm | title=Kato wins Agon Kiriyama Cup, takes revenge on Cho U | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_09.htm | title=Cho to challenge for Oza title | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho won the title in four games, making the Oza his second major title.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_12.htm | title=Cho U takes Oza title | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

Cho would go on to win each major at least once: the Meijin in 2004, the Gosei in 2006, the Tengen in 2008, the Judan in 2009 and the Kisei in 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.gogameworld.com/gophp/playerinfo.php?name=Cho%20U | title=Cho U 9p | publisher=gogameworld.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}} In 2004, Cho became the third player in history to earn over ¥100 million in a year, after Cho Chikun and Koichi Kobayashi.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/05/topics2005_01.htm | title=Cho U earns a million dollars | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} After defeating Yu Bin in the final of the 9th LG Cup, Cho U won his first international title and the first Japanese international win since Cho Chikun's Samsung Cup title in 2003.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/05/topics2005_04.htm | title=Cho U wins 9th LG Cup | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} Cho lead the top prize winners list in 2010 with ¥90,499,000 ($1,120,250.25 as of 28 June 2011).{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/11/topics2011_01.htm | title=Top prize-money winners | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}} In May 2011, Cho donated ¥15,000,000 from his Kisei prize money to victims of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/11/topics2011_05.htm#110524d | title=Cho U donates 15 million Japanese Yen for the earthquake-stricken area! | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

Promotion record

{{Promotion record

| 1 dan

| 1994

|

| 2 dan

| 1994

|

| 3 dan

| 1995

|

| 4 dan

| 1996

|

| 5 dan

| 1997

|

| 6 dan

| 1999

|

| 7 dan

| 2001

| Defeated So Yokoku in an Oteai game.

| 8 dan

| 2003

| Promoted from 7 dan to 8 dan for reaching the Honinbo finals.{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/03/topics2003_03.htm | title=First promotions under new system | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}

| 9 dan

| 2003

| Promoted from 8 dan to 9 dan for winning the 58th Honinbo.

}}

Career record

  • 1999: 51–13{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/00/topics2000_01.htm | title=Takao Shinji sets new record for most wins | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2000: 53–12–1
  • 2001: 52–24{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/02/topics2002_01.htm | title=2001 statistics | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2002: 70–14
  • 2004: 38–25{{cite web | url=http://www.nihonkiin.or.jp/english/topics/04/topics2004_12.htm | title=Most wins | publisher=nihonkiin.or.jp/english | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2006: 49–17{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan06.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2006 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2007: 51–22{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan07.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2007 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2008: 51–16{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan08.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2008 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2009: 35–19{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan09.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2009 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2010: 32–16{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan10.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2010 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=29 June 2011}}
  • 2011: 30–18{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan11.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2011 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=12 January 2012}}
  • 2012: 29–23{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan12.html | title=Japanese win–loss 2012 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=22 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193400/http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/jp/japan12.html | archive-date=4 March 2016 | url-status=dead }}
  • 2013: 28–25{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/ranking.html?country=jp&year=2013 | title=Japanese win–loss 2013 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=22 March 2016}}
  • 2014: 26–17{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/ranking.html?country=jp&year=2014 | title=Japanese win–loss 2014 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=22 March 2016}}
  • 2015: 24–17{{cite web | url=http://igokisen.web.fc2.com/ranking.html?country=jp&year=2015 | title=Japanese win–loss 2015 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=22 March 2016}}
  • 2016: 30–18{{cite web | url=https://k2ss.info/igo/ranking/?country=jp&year=2016 | title=Japanese win–loss 2016 | publisher=igokisen.web.fc2.com | accessdate=16 May 2017}}

Titles and runners-up

Ranks 7th in total number of titles won in Japan.

class="wikitable"
colspan=3|Domestic
Title || Wins || Runners-up
Kisei3 (2010–2012)1 (2013)
Meijin5 (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2018)3 (2006, 2009, 2019)
Honinbo2 (2003, 2004)2 (2001, 2005)
Tengen1 (2008)1 (2009)
Oza7 (2003–2005, 2008–2011)3 (2006, 2012, 2013)
Judan2 (2009, 2010)3 (2004, 2011, 2012)
Gosei4 (2006–2009)1 (2010)
Agon Cup4 (2006–2008, 2012, 2019)3 (2002, 2003, 2009)
Ryusei2 (2006, 2007)4 (2001, 2005, 2008, 2009)
NHK Cup4 (2002, 2005, 2008, 2016)
Shinjin-O1 (2002)
NEC Cup3 (2005, 2007, 2011)1 (2009)
Daiwa Cup2 (2006, 2010)
Daiwa Cup Grand Champion2 (2008, 2011)
JAL Super Hayago Championship1 (2003)
align="center"

| Total

3827
colspan=3|Continental
China-Japan Agon Cup1 (2019)4 (2006–2008, 2012)
align="center"

| Total

14
colspan=3|International
Asian TV Cup1 (2005)
LG Cup1 (2005)
World Oza1 (2006)
align="center"

| Total

21
colspan=3|Career total
align="center"

| Total

4132

References

{{reflist|2}}

{{Gosei}}

{{Oza}}

{{Judan}}

{{Tengen}}

{{Kisei}}

{{Honinbo}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cho, U}}

Category:Taiwanese expatriates in Japan

Category:Taiwanese Go players

Category:1980 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Taipei

Category:Go players at the 2010 Asian Games

Category:Asian Games competitors for Chinese Taipei