Izumi Kobayashi

is a professional Go player. Biography Izumi Kobayashi grew up in a family of accomplished Go players. She has joked that she first played Go in her mother's womb. Her father is Koichi Kobayashi, the man who ranks third in number of titles held in Japan. Her maternal grandfather was Kitani Minoru, one of the leading players and probably the greatest Go teacher. Her mother was Reiko Kobayashi née Kitani (1939–1996), 6 dan, who won the All-Japan Women's Championship several times. She became a professional go player in 1995, and was promoted to her current rank, 6 dan, in 2004. She is married to Cho U, one of the top players in Japan. Promotion record

Titles & runners-up Title Years Held Current 9 Women's Honinbo 2001–2003 Women's Meijin 2001, 2003, 2004 Women's Kisei 1998, 1999 Women's Saikyo 2005 Defunct 1 Women's JAL Super Hayago 2004

Title Years Lost Current 6 Women's Honinbo 1999, 2004 Women's Meijin 2000, 2002, 2005 Women's Kisei 2000 Defunct 3 Women's Kakusei 1996, 1999, 2001