Photo/Illutration Go player Toramaru Shibano with a message that reads “19 no Tora” (Tora of 19) after he won the Meijin title at the age 19 on Oct. 8 at the Atami Sekitei inn in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture (Kazuyoshi Sako)

ATAMI, Shizuoka Prefecture--A teenage professional go player won the prestigious Meijin title for the first time in Japan on Oct. 8.

Toramaru Shibano, 19, who was 8 dan, defeated Meijin title holder Chang Hsu, 39, in their fifth of a seven-game series with his 252nd move, capturing the title with four wins and one loss at the Atami Sekitei ryokan inn here.

Shibano, who clinched the title at the age of 19 years and 11 months, broke the record of Yuta Iyama, 30, who won the title 10 years ago at the age of 20 years and four months, and became the youngest title holder in the history of the seven major go titles.

Based on the rules, Shibano will be promoted to 9 dan five years and one month since he turned pro in September 2014. His achievement tops Iyama's record of seven years and six months. Iyama currently holds four titles.

Shibano lost the first game but won the next four straight in the seven-game series.

“I thought it would be hard to do while I'm still a teenager. But it felt great to win it,” said Shibano, who hails from Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture. “I still wonder ‘Am I worthy of the Meijin title?’”

Chang, who is known as Cho U in Japanese, staged a comeback the previous season, nabbing the Meijin title for the first time in 10 seasons, but failed to repeat the feat at Atami.