Masataka Gōda

is a Japanese professional shogi player ranked 9-dan. He is a former major title holder, having won the Ōi, Kisei, Kiō and Ōshō titles throughout his career.

Early life and apprenticeship Gōda was born on March 17, 1971, in Suginami, Tokyo. He learned how to play shogi from his father when he was three years old.

In December 1982, he entered the Japan Shogi Association's apprentice school at the rank of 6-kyū under guidance of shogi professional . He was promoted to the rank of apprentice professional 1-dan in May 1985, and obtained professional status and the rank of 4-dan in February 1990. he was at the time only the second 4-dan to be the challenger for a major title. to become the first 4-dan to win a major title. In December 1992, Gōda met Tanigawa for the third time in the 61st Kisei title match, with Tanigawa winning by the score of 3 games to 0, with one game ending in impasse.

In 2014, Gōda won the 64th Ōshō title by defeating 4 games to 3. At 44 years old, he became the oldest first-time winner of the Ōshō title. The following year, 23 years after winning his first major title, he completed his first successful major title defense by defeating 4 games to 2. However, in 2016, Gōda was defeated by 4 games to 2 and lost his Ōshō title.

Gōda defeated on October 3, 2007, to become the 36th shogi professional to win 600 official games, defeated Masayuki Toyoshima on October 17, 2015, to become the 18th shogi professional to win 800 official games, and defeated Makoto Tobe on July 9, 2025, to become the 13th professional to win 1000 official games.

Promotion history Gōda's promotion history is as follows: 6-kyū: 1982 1-dan: 1985 4-dan: April 1, 1990 5-dan: October 1, 1992 6-dan: November 20, 1995 7-dan: April 1, 1998 8-dan: April 1, 1999 9-dan: August 6, 2001

Titles and other championships Gōda has appeared in major title matches a total of eighteen times, and has won six major titles. In addition to major titles, Gōda has won seven other shogi championships during his career.

Major titles Title Years Number of times overall Ōi 1992 1 Kisei 1998, 2001 2 Kiō 2011 1 Ōshō 201415 2

Other championships Tournament Years Number of times 199395 3* 1991 1* 1997 1* 2007 1 NHK Cup 2013 1 Note: Tournaments marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer held.

Awards and honors Gōda has received a number of awards and honors throughout his career for his accomplishments both on an off the shogi board. These include awards given out annually by the JSA for performance in official games as well as other JSA awards for career accomplishments, and awards received from governmental organizations, etc. for contributions made to Japanese society.

Annual shogi awards 20th Annual Awards (April 1992March 1993): Best New Player, Distinguished Service Award 22nd Annual Awards (April 1994March 1995): Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Distinguished Service Award 23rd Annual Awards (April 1995March 1996): Distinguished Service Award 25th Annual Awards (April 1997March 1998): Best Winning Percentage, Most Games Won, Most Games Played, Fighting-spirit Award 26th Annual Awards (April 1998March 1999): Fighting-spirit Award 29th Annual Awards (April 2001March 2002): Distinguished Service Award 39th Annual Awards (April 2011March 2012): Fighting-spirit Award 41st Annual Awards (April 2013March 2014): Fighting-spirit Award 42nd Annual Awards (April 2014March 2015): Fighting-spirit Award

Other awards 2007: Shogi Honor Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of winning 600 official games as a professional) 2015: 25 Years Service Award (Awarded by the JSA in recognition of being an active professional for twenty-five years), Shogi Honor Fighting-spirit Award (Awarded by JSA in recognition of winning 800 official games as a professional)

Year-end shogi prize money and game fee ranking Gōda has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's eighteen times since 1993. Year Amount Rank 1993 ¥19,700,000 9th 1994 ¥19,720,000 9th 2007 ¥29,940,000 6th 2008 ¥19,940,000 10th 2009 ¥26,320,000 8th 2011 ¥16,790,000 10th 2012 ¥25,970,000 3rd 2013 ¥34,530,000 4th 2014 ¥23,400,000 4th 2015 ¥24,670,000 7th 2016 ¥31,850,000 6th