Shibano Toramaru | Player Profile | PlayGo.gg

Youngest Meijin in Japanese history

Biography

Shibano Toramaru (born 1999) turned professional in 2014. In 2019, at nineteen, he beat Cho U to become the youngest Meijin in Japanese history and the first teenager to hold one of Japan's big three titles, which also made him the youngest 9-dan ever.

He has since added the Oza and Judan titles and remains one of the three players, with Iyama Yuta and Ichiriki Ryo, who share Japan's major titles between them.

Internationally he reached the semifinal of the 15th Chunlan Cup in 2024 and has anchored Japan's Nongshim Cup team with wins over Korean and Chinese top players.

vs. Ding Hao, 15th Chunlan Cup, Quarterfinal

December 17, 2024

Shibano took Black against Ding Hao, then a three-time world champion and China's number one, and won by resignation to reach the Chunlan Cup semifinal. It was one of the strongest results by a Japanese player in a world championship in years.

Ding Hao was winning this quarterfinal, and Shibano was down to 8% when he played G13 on move 123, asking for a decision at the top. White's J12 on move 124 was the wrong one, and Shibano's winrate climbed to 41%. H18 would have kept Ding's lead, a move only 7% of 9-dan players find. Shibano won by resignation.