Japan's oldest professional player of the board game "Go" has set a new record by playing in an official match at the age of 97 years and one month.

Eighth-dan-ranked Sugiuchi Kazuko faced off against 53-year-old Morita Michihiro in Tokyo on Thursday. Sugiuchi lost the game to her ninth-dan-ranked male opponent.

Sugiuchi said she was full of emotion that she could set a new record, and she will try to concentrate on every match.

The previous age record was held by her late husband, ninth-dan-ranked Sugiuchi Masao. He remains the oldest Go player to win an official match.

Sugiuchi turned professional in 1942 when she was 15 years old. She has won a total of 10 women's titles during her career.

At the age of 92, Sugiuchi advanced to a qualification tournament to decide the challenger for a title.