From: Dick Iwakura HK NTTDATA NET> Date: 3 oct 1996 Subject: Re: Free class rules Reijer Grimbergen wrote: > > > 1) It is from now on also possible to enter the free class from the sandan > league. A player who has been runner-up twice to the two regular promoted > players from the sandanleague can, if he wishes, be promoted to 4-dan and enter > the free class. However, if he wishes to stay in the sandan league, this is > also allowed. Beste Reijer: Dick Iwkaura Wrote: Yes, this is complete. The 3rd winner of 3-Dan league for twice will have a right to enter Free Class under his option. > 2) From the free class it is not possible to return to C2 whenever one wishes > (as I previously thought). A free class professional has to play at least 30 > official games in a year and have a winning average of 60% or higher. If a > player plays more than 30 games a year, he may choose the best 30, but then > he needs a percentage of 65% or higher. If a free class professional fails > to meet that requirement for ten years, he will lose his status of free class > professional and will be forced to retire from professional shogi. This is almost right. The new free class player can chosse one of two ways to promote to C2 class as better choice as follows : Condition No.1 --- 30 games per year and more than 65% win. Condition No.2 --- 40 games per year and more than 60% win. > 3) After a 3-dan turns 26, he is allowed to continue to play in the sandan > league for at most five more tournaments (two and a half years). Also, the > age limit for reaching 1-dan has been lifted from 21 years to 23 years old. > 4) It is now allowed to do the Shoreikan entering exam until you are 22 years > old. However, if you are older than 20, you will have to be the winner or the > runner-up in a big national amateur tournament like the Ama-Meijin, Ama-Ryu-O > or the like. This translation is completely correct. GOOD JOB! > > If my translation of these rules are correct, then it seems that the Renmei > has realised that the previous rules were a bit tough on the Shoreikai players > when compared to actual professionals in C2. Increasing the age limit and > giving 3-dan players an alternative (albeit very difficult route) to C2, > might help more young players into the professional ranks. Yes, you are indeed right! Many strong players in 3-Dan league could not promote to 4 Dan under very severe rules till today. However, you see everybody who promoted from 3 dan league can start winning many Kisen. We feel they are the stronger shogi players than A class pros. This is true. > > To me one question remains: what is the status of a professional like > Wakamatsu or Honma, who are not in the "free class", but do not seem to > retire? Anyone out there who knows the answer to this question that has > been bothering me for quite some time? > > Mr.Honma (5 dan) is my teacher and he belongs to Free class by dropping from C2. However, he is especially strong for Koma-Ochi (Handi-cap) games with amatuers (stronger than Yasumitsu Sato 8 dan). But this is not the answer of yours. As pros., Honma Sensei is actually weak, so he dropped from C2 class and he must win the games more than 60% and I agree with you it is too difficult for him at the moment. On the other hands, see the case of Mr. Yoichi Kushida 5 dan. While he is working in C2 league, he applied to be in Free Class. The Renmei guaranteed his salary for a year (same samount of C2 class even he dropps to Free Class by his own will). If Kenji Kobayashi goes to Free Class now, Renmei must pay him his saraly for a year even if he does not work anything (Amount is big for US$140,000). This is the merit for pros to go to Free Class by his option. It looks like "Kakko Yoi" because he selects his position getting down by himself under the reason of being busy or no time to play Juni-Sen something like that. Hi, Hi. But this is complete LIE (Uso-800). Kushida just lost his confidence only. Best regards Dick Iwakura