1. Overview
Ō Rissei (王立誠Wáng LìchéngChinese; born 7 November 1958) is a Taiwanese-born professional Go player active in Japan. He is renowned for his significant achievements in both domestic Japanese and international Go tournaments, including winning the Kisei, Judan, and Oza titles multiple times, and securing major international championships like the LG Cup and Chunlan Cup. His career spans several decades, establishing him as one of the prominent figures in the Go world, known for his consistent performance and strategic prowess.
2. Life
Ō Rissei's journey in Go began in his native Taiwan before he moved to Japan, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become a professional player, marking the start of a distinguished career.
2.1. Birth and Growth Background
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Born on 7 November 1958, Ō Rissei (王立誠Wáng LìchéngChinese) hails from Taiwan. While specific details about his early childhood and family environment are not extensively provided in the sources, his origins in Taiwan are consistently noted as a key aspect of his background before his relocation to Japan to pursue a professional Go career.
2.2. Move to Japan and Professional Debut
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At the age of 13, Ō Rissei relocated from Taiwan to Japan in 1971 to pursue his Go career. He quickly made his professional debut the following year, in 1972, at the remarkably young age of 14. He trained under the tutelage of Kano Yoshinori, who served as his instructor and guided his early development in the professional Go circuit.
2.3. Career Progression and Milestones
Ō Rissei's career saw a steady progression through the ranks and a series of significant achievements. In 1981, he won the 6th Shinjin-O tournament. The following year, in 1982, he secured victory in the first division of the promotion tournament. In 1983, he triumphed in the 14th Shin-Ei tournament. His consistent performance led to his promotion to 9 dan in 1988, the highest rank in professional Go.
He continued to collect titles, winning the Kakusei tournament in 1989 and again in 1993. In 1994, he won the 1st Agon Cup (also known as ACOM Cup) and entered the Meijin league, maintaining his position there for five consecutive years. He also made six appearances in the Honinbo league starting from 1986. His first major title came in 1995 when he won the 43rd Oza tournament, defeating Cho Chikun. In 1997, he won the 44th NHK Cup.
The late 1990s and early 2000s marked a period of dominance for Ō Rissei. In 1998, he won the Oza title again and reached the final decision match of the Kisei tournament for the seventh time in his career. He added another Kakusei title in 1999. The year 2000 was particularly notable as he won the 2nd Chunlan Cup and his first Kisei title, again defeating Cho Chikun. He continued his Kisei winning streak in 2001, defeating Cho Sonjin, and in 2002, defeating Ryu Shikun, achieving a three-peat. In 2001, he also won the Judan title. He continued to hold the Judan title for four consecutive years from 2001 to 2004. In 2003, he was the runner-up in the 27th Kisei tournament, losing to Yamashita Keigo.
3. Major Activities and Achievements
Ō Rissei has amassed a significant number of titles throughout his career, making him one of the most successful Go players in Japan and on the international stage.
3.1. Domestic Titles and Honors
Ō Rissei holds a distinguished record in Japanese domestic Go tournaments, ranking tied for 10th in the total number of titles won in Japan. His domestic achievements include:
| Title | Wins | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Kisei | 3 (2000-2002) | 1 (2003) |
| Meijin | 1 (1998) | |
| Honinbo | 1 (1998) | |
| Judan | 4 (2001-2004) | 2 (1996, 2005) |
| Oza | 4 (1995, 1998-2000) | 2 (1996, 2001) |
| Agon Cup | 1 (1994) | 1 (2001) |
| NHK Cup | 1 (1997) | 2 (1988, 2003) |
| Shinjin-O | 1 (1981) | 1 (1986) |
| NEC Cup | 3 (1989, 1998, 2002) | |
| Kakusei | 4 (1989, 1993, 1999, 2000) | 1 (1990) |
| Hayago Championship | 2 (1992, 1997) | |
| Shin-Ei | 1 (1983) | |
| Prime Minister Cup | 1 (1980) | |
| Total | 19 | 18 |
3.2. International Titles and Honors
Ō Rissei has also achieved significant success on the international Go stage, securing two major international titles and reaching the finals in several others.
He won the 2nd LG Cup in 1998 and the 2nd Chunlan Cup in 2000. He was also a runner-up in the 3rd Chunlan Cup in 2001.
His international runners-up include the Fujitsu Cup in 1992 and 1997, the Asian TV Cup in 1997, and the 1st Zhonghuan Cup in 2005, where he lost to Park Yeong-hun.
Beyond his finals appearances, Ō Rissei consistently performed well in major international tournaments. He reached the semifinals (4th place) of the Fujitsu Cup in 1991. He also advanced to the semifinals of the LG Cup in 2001 and the TV Asia Championship in 1992 and 2003. He reached the quarterfinals in the Ing Cup in 1988, the Fujitsu Cup in 1990 and 1998, the Tong Yang Securities Cup in 1994, the Chunlan Cup in 1999, and the Toyota & Denso Cup in 2002. He also reached the round of 16 in the LG Cup in 1999, 2002, 2004 and the Samsung Cup in 1999.
In total, he has won 2 international titles and been a runner-up in 4 international tournaments.
3.3. Career Statistics
Across his entire professional career, Ō Rissei has accumulated a total of 21 titles and has been a runner-up 23 times in major domestic, continental, and international competitions. This impressive record places him among the top title holders in the history of Go.
4. Personal Life
Ō Rissei's family has a strong connection to the world of Go. His daughter, Wang Jingyi (also known as O Keii), is a professional 2 dan Go player. His son, Wang Jinghong, is also a professional Go player. Furthermore, his nephews, Chang Cheng-ping and Chang Yuan-lung, are also professional Go players, indicating a notable family legacy in the sport.
5. Evaluation and Impact
Ō Rissei is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Go players of his generation, particularly noted for his consistent performance and ability to secure titles across different eras of professional Go. His achievement of winning the Kisei, Judan, and Oza titles, along with his numerous domestic and international victories, including the prestigious LG Cup and Chunlan Cup, highlight his global competitiveness and contribution to the internationalization of Go. Through his extensive career, he has not only achieved personal success but also inspired a new generation of players, including members of his own family, thereby leaving a lasting impact on the development and popularization of Go.