Time to Go: Japan pro board game player retires at 98
Kazuko Sugiuchi turned professional in 1948 and won her first title 11 years later, before going on to win the prestigious Women's Meijin Championship four times in a row.
She became Japan's oldest professional player in April last year, breaking the record previously held by her late husband Masao.
She is set to be promoted to the rank of ninth dan after retiring, becoming the first woman to reach that level.
She said the gruelling sessions at the board were the reason why she is calling it quits.
"I have always worked hard with the belief that Go is an art and a lifelong pursuit, but I have decided that playing six hours without a break is no longer possible," she was reported as saying by national broadcaster NHK.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has shown me kindness over the 80 years since I first aspired to be a Go player."
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