[3][4] Then, as a sixth-grade elementary school student in 2007, he finished reached the semi-finals of the 32nd Elementary School Student Meijin Tournament [ja], but lost to fellow future professional Seiya Kondō.

Although Sasaki actually finished league play tied with several other players who also had 12 wins, his lower league seed meant he finished in third place and thus did not earn automatic promotion to the rank of 4-dan.

Third place, however, was good enough to earn him a second promotion point, and gave him the option to enter the professional ranks as a free class player.

[8] The following month, Sasaki also challenged Fujii for the 64th Ōi title (July–August 2023) but lost again, this time 4 games to 1.

[14] Sasaki has finished in the "Top 10" of the JSA's year-end prize money and game fee rankings [ja] once: 8th with JPY 18,810,000 in earnings in 2023.