Loli Becomes Youngest Pro 'Go' Player

Ahhh, Go... that brings back memories. I must've been around 11 when I first played this board game, thanks to my late father (seems the Japan obsession runs in the family). Of course, it's one thing to start playing at that age - and never get anywhere - and a whole 'nother thing to become the youngest professional Go player at 11 years of age. And a damn cute loli, at that!



As Mainichi Daily News informs us, Rina Fujisawa now holds that distinction, after passing the qualifying exam for professional Go players in February, and debuting in the preliminary round of the 20th Ryusei Tournament on Monday. She is a sixth-year elementary school student from Tokyo, and the youngest first-dan professional on record.

Her obsession for Go also seems to run in the family, as her father Kazunari is an 8th-dan player (the top rank being 9th dan), and her grandfather was the late Hideyuki Fujisawa, holder of the Honorary Kisei title - sort of a "go sage" - for several years, between 1977 and 1982.

Expectations are obviously high for young Rina, but sadly she lost her first match against some 20-year-old dude. She was "a bit disappointed", but said that she would "do my best so that I can win a title in the future". Ganbatte, Rina-chan!