Cho U

Cho U
Name	Cho U
Born	1980
Birthplace	Taiwan
Residence	Japan
Rank	9-dan
Teacher	Rin Kaiho
Affiliation	Nihon Ki-in

Cho U is a professional Go player born in 1980 in Taiwan who became one of the leading figures in Japanese Go during the early 21st century. He rose rapidly through the ranks at the Nihon Ki-in, winning multiple major titles and influencing a generation of professionals with his joseki innovation and fighting prowess. Cho's career intersects with many prominent players, institutions, tournaments, and matches that shaped contemporary Go.

Early life and background

Cho was born in Taiwan and moved to Japan to pursue professional Go training under the tutelage of Rin Kaiho, a top player associated with the Nihon Ki-in. As a youth he competed in amateur events across Taipei and Tokyo, participating in regional tournaments such as the All Japan Student Go Championships and events organized by the Japanese Go Association affiliates. Early encounters with strong juniors brought him into contact with contemporaries like Yamashita Keigo, Takemiya Masaki, and Hane Naoki. He became an insei within the Nihon Ki-in system, engaging in study matches at the Kisei and Meijin preparatory groups and training alongside peers from institutions such as the International Go Federation-linked academies. His movement from Taiwan to Japan involved interactions with cultural institutions like the Taiwanese community in Japan and local sponsors including corporate patrons active in events at venues like the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.

Professional Go career

Cho qualified as a professional at the Nihon Ki-in and advanced to 9-dan after winning major titles, joining the ranks of leading professionals such as Kobayashi Koichi, Cho Chikun, Otomo Dozan, and Ishida Yoshio. He competed extensively in flagship tournaments including the Kisei, Meijin, Honinbo, Tengen, Oza, Gosei, and Judan titles, facing rivals like Sakakibara Shoji, Mizokami Tomochika, Mitsunori Suzuki, and international challengers from the Korean Baduk Association and China Weiqi Association such as Lee Sedol, Lee Changho, Gu Li, and Nie Weiping. Cho represented the Nihon Ki-in in team events like the Nongshim Cup, the Asian TV Cup, and the China-Japan Supermatch, and participated in invitational tournaments at venues such as the Monte Carlo Celebrity Go Tournament and corporate-sponsored matches by Denso and KDDI.

Playing style and notable games

Cho's style combined aggressive fighting with deep reading and modern fuseki innovation, often incorporating concepts associated with players like Cho Chikun and Takemiya Masaki while also reflecting study under Rin Kaiho. His games against Yamashita Keigo in the Kisei league and his series with Hane Naoki in the Honinbo matches are frequently cited for joseki novelties and endgame tesuji reminiscent of techniques seen in matches involving Lee Sedol and Gu Li. Memorable victories include critical wins in the Meijin and Tengen title matches and a celebrated upset in the Nongshim Cup against a Korean top board. Analysts and commentators from outlets such as Go Weekly, Go World, and broadcasters like NHK and Fuji Television have discussed his fuseki experiments and yose precision in annotated game collections alongside contributions by commentators including Michael Redmond, John Fairbairn, and Cho Hunhyun.

Titles and achievements

Cho captured multiple major Japanese titles, holding championships in competitions such as the Meijin, Kisei, Honinbo, Tengen, and Oza across his career, joining elite titleholders like Kato Masao, Yoshiharu Habu, and Takemiya Masaki in record books. He set milestones in prize money standings monitored by organizations including the Japan Professional Go Players Association and earned accolades at international tournaments such as the LG Cup and Samsung Cup where he faced contenders from the Korean Baduk Association and China Weiqi Association. His performance in league systems like the Kisei and Meijin leagues established him as a top seed for successive title cycles, and he received recognition from cultural bodies including municipal honors from Tokyo Metropolitan Government and awards from sponsors like Yomiuri Shimbun.

Contributions and teaching

Beyond competition, Cho contributed to Go literature and pedagogy through publications with publishers such as NHK Publishing, Ishi Press, and Yutopian, producing game collections, joseki studies, and instructional commentaries. He offered lectures at institutions including the Nihon Ki-in headquarters, summer schools linked to the All Japan Student Go Federation, and seminars co-organized with the International Go Federation and corporate partners like KDDI. Cho influenced younger professionals and amateurs through teaching sessions with players including Kono Rin, Yamashita Keigo Jr., and international students from China and Korea, and his theoretical contributions have been cited in works by authors like John Power and Richard Bozulich.

Personal life and legacy

Cho's legacy is reflected in his role among modern Japanese professionals alongside Yoshiharu Habu, Iyama Yuta, and Shibano Toramaru, bridging eras shaped by the Nihon Ki-in and international associations such as the Korean Baduk Association and China Weiqi Association. Off the board, he engaged with media outlets including NHK and Asahi Shimbun for interviews, and participated in cultural exchanges sponsored by entities like the Japan Foundation and municipal cultural programs. His influence persists through students, published analyses, and recorded games studied in Go clubs across cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, and Beijing. He remains a defining figure in early 21st-century professional Go, cited in histories of tournaments like the Kisei and Honinbo and in retrospectives by commentators affiliated with Go World and the Nihon Ki-in.

Category:Go players Category:1980 births Category:People from Taiwan