Chiaki Mukai - Senko Co-Captain 25-26

 

Chiaki Mukai (向井千瑛)  born 24th December 1987 was an Insei classmate of Xie Yimin and became a Professional player in 2004 at 17. She has two older sisters who are also Professional players and is cousin to the four Kobayashi siblings so comes from a very Go focused family.

Currently a 6 Dan she achieved a respectable 5 wins and 3 losses last year.

Her play style has been described as powerful and aggressive and it seems her younger play was very fighting focused (much like team compatriot Ueno Asami). More recently she has shown more ability to play in a calmer fashion. She tends to favour territorial starts to allow her to start attacking perceived weakness and to generate complex middle game fights. It is interesting that every player in Senko is either happiest (or has been happiest) in complex fights..

Her current ELO is 3031 which is only 10 off her peak and she is currently the #461st player in the world and the #7 female player in Japan.

Her ELO chart history is interesting

Showing a strong improvement in her early professional years then post her marriage in 2013 and the birth of first child in 2014 a not unexpected dip. Once the child was past needing continual attention she has returned focus to go and has rocketed back up the charts. 

She has also been in many big competition finals though must have the heart of an angel not to curse her friend Xie Yimin who prevented many big wins..

Honinbo

29th lost to Xie Yimin 3-0
30th lost to Xie Yimin 3-1
32nd beat Xie Yimin 3-2
33rd to Fujisawa Rina 3-0

So she has held the title (I am pleased)

Meijin 

22nd lost to Xie Yimin 2-0
23rd lost to Xie Yimin 2-1
24th lost to Xie Yimin 2-0

Thus reinforcing the fact Xie Yimin basically prevented her from many more wins..

Kisei (Quick Play)
11th lost to Umezawa Yukari

Saikyo

1st lost to Xie Yimin

She is a good choice for co-captain and may improve further as her child grows (9-10 years soon enough). I also am looking forward to her games as she favours my favourite opening - though don't let that influence anyone.