From: Reijer Grimbergen <grimberg <at> ETL <dot> GO <dot> JP>
Date: 14 jul 1998
Subject: Amateur Ryu-O Report (Long)

As promised, here is my report on the amateur Ryu-O tournament that was played
on June 27th and 28th. It is quite long, so I apologize to everyone who might
not be interested in my experiences in this top amateur tournament. This
report can also be found at:

http://www.etl.go.jp/etl/suiron/~grimberg/SHOGI/amaryu98.html

Reijer

******************************************************************************

The 11th Amateur Ryu-O Tournament
=================================

The build-up
------------
On the Thursday before the start of the 11th Amateur Ryu-O Tournament, I did
not know any better than that I would spent the weekend of June 27th and 28th
playing and watching football. The world cup in France was starting to become
interesting with the pre-round matches almost completed. Also, with my own
team we had to play one of our main rivals, a tough team from a neighboring
research institute.

An E-mail message with the subject "Invitation to the Ryu-O" changed all
that. At first I thought it was an invitation to come and watch the games,
supporting Mr. Kyo, the Chinese player who was invited this year. However,
it turned out to be a message from Onogi from the Shogi Renmei, who asked me
to replace Mr. Kyo in the tournament. With pain in my heart I informed our
team captain that urgent business kept me from playing (they lost 2-1 and even
worse: they found out that I had given shogi priority over football). This was
a chance I was not going to miss.

I arrived at around 6 o'clock on Friday evening at the Urashima Hotel where
the tournament was going to be held. I was welcomed by Onogi and Horiguchi of
the Shogi Renmei and Yamada and Oda of the Yomiuri Shimbun, the organizers of
the Ryu-O tournament. There were only three spots left and I ended up in a
group that seemed to give some hope. In the first round I had to play a
very strong opponent, but I was also in the same group as the representative
of Okinawa, the smallest prefecture in Japan. That might be my opponent in the
second game...

But first there was the pre-tournament party held on Friday evening. As usual,
there were quite a number of speeches. Professional Ryu-O Tanigawa had some
very nice words for me. He said that even though he was supposed to be
neutral as the main referee, he would still be supporting me. During the
reception I also heard that Mr. Kyo could not come because he had been too late
in requesting a visa. In China it seems to take two months to get a visa
application approved.

After the reception there was a small afterparty with Tanigawa, Oda and
co-organizer Tanabe (professional 6-dan). Still tired from watching the
Holland-Mexico game the evening before, I retired early. I was hoping that
my opponents would watch the Japan against Jamaica game that night, so that
at least I would have some extra hours of sleep as a small compensation for
my lack of Shogi strength.

The first round
---------------
When I went downstairs for breakfast on Saturday morning, I met Nishimoto, the
strong representative from Hyogo-ken, in the elevator. He had planned to
go to sleep early, but in the end he watched the complete Japan-Jamaica game.
Japan had surprisingly lost 2-1 and retired from the world cup with three
losses. Good, I thought, at least the football fans will be depressed. Another
badly needed psychological advantage.

The tournament system of the amateur Ryu-O tournament has not changed since
the beginning. First, every player plays in a group of four. The winners and
the losers of the first game in this group play against each other. The player
who wins two games in a row automatically qualifies for the knock-out
tournament. The player who loses two consecutive games goes home. The players
who have won one game and lost one game play against the players with a 1-1
score in a neighboring group. The winners of these games also qualify for the
knock-out tournament. After these group stages, the tournament becomes a
normal knock-out. The first round of the knock-out is played on Saturday,
the remaining games on Sunday. The only thing that has changed over the
years is the amount of time available. When I first played in the tournament in
1993, there was no byoyomi in the group stage. This has changed a couple
of years ago. For this tournament, all Saturday games were played with
40 minutes and 40 seconds byoyomi for each player. For me this was quite a
comfortable pace.

My first game was against Fujimoto, the representative of Fukuoka. A very tough
opponent, who made it to 1-kyu in the Shoreikai before giving up his dream of
becoming a professional player. He is still very young at 26 and reached the
semi-finals of the Amateur Ryu-O tournament last year. No real pressure in
this game, I was expected to lose.

Black: Grimbergen
White: Fujimoto (Fukuoka)
11th Ama Ryu-O Tournament, Round 1, June 27th 1998
1.P7g-7f
2.P8c-8d
3.S7i-6h
4.P3c-3d
5.P6g-6f
6.S7a-6b
7.S3i-4h
8.P5c-5d
9.P5g-5f
10.S3a-4b
11.P4g-4f
12.G4a-3b
13.S4h-4g
14.K5a-4a
15.S6h-6g
16.G6a-5b
17.R2h-6h

I have been playing the Yodofuribisha quite a lot recently, especially against
stronger players. It is the ideal opening for players like me who like both
Yagura and Furibisha but do not have the time to keep up with the latest
opening developments. Pretend to play Yagura and once your opponent has
chosen a Yagura position, then switch to the Furibisha. This takes a couple
of extra moves, but the Ibisha side no longer can play the quick attacking
variations, so in general this is not a big factor. The Ibisha side usually
has to rearrange his pieces anyway, because the Yagura type castle is not
well suited for defending against the Furibisha. I have heard that there
are some nasty counter variations, but so far I have not encountered these.
>From my experience, the Yodofuribisha gives good chances and this game does
not show anything else.

18.P4c-4d

I find 18.P6d to be more of a problem. In similar positions I have been badly
beaten after 19.K4h P6e Px6e?? Bx8h+ Rx8h B*2h. This is one of the few opening
traps in this strategy.

19.P3g-3f

Played quickly to avoid 19.P3e. This would give white the opportunity to
play a normal opening: the King's Head Vanguard Pawn. After S3c-S3d-G4c the
position has become a normal Ibisha against Furibisha game. Since it is
always good to keep a stronger opponent away from well-known book opening,
I played 19.P3f.

20.G5b-4c
21.K5i-4h
22.K4a-3a
23.K4h-3h
24.B2b-3c
25.G6i-5h
26.K3a-2b
27.K3h-2h
28.L1a-1b

I expected white to play anaguma. There is not much else to improve the
position.

29.N2i-3g
30.K2b-1a
31.P6f-6e
32.P8d-8e
33.B8h-7g
34.S6b-5c
35.S6g-6f
36.S4b-3a
37.S4g-3h

Played after long thought. Tempting was 37.P5e 38.Px5e 39.P4e to attack before
the white anaguma is completed, using the pressure of the black bishop on 7g.
I was not convinced by the power of the black attack after 40.B2d R7h (giving
up the rook with the hanging gold on 4i seems too dangerous) Px4e Nx4e S4d
Sx5e Sx5e Bx5e P*4d. White threatens to catch the knight on 4e after G5d,
while 6i, 5g and 4f are also weaknesses. I decided to strengthen my position
first.

38.S3a-2b
39.G5h-4g
40.P7c-7d
41.P5f-5e
42.P5dx5e
43.R6h-5h
44.B3c-2d
45.P2g-2f

The bishop on 2d indirectly defends against the black attack (P4e B7i+). Before
attacking, the bishop has to be chased away.

46.N8a-7c
47.P2f-2e
48.B2d-3c
49.P4f-4e

I felt very good about my position here. Al my pieces are looking good and the
attack looks solid. The only problem is the weakness on the head of the black
king. Unfortunately there is no time for S2g-G3h: 49.S2g P8f Px8f S5d and
after Sx5e Sx6e or R6h P7e (Px7e P*7f; Sx7e Nx6e), black is in trouble.

50.P8e-8f
51.P8gx8f
52.S5c-5d
53.P7f-7e

I was wondering how Fujimoto would defend against this. I expected 54.R8d after
which I was not completely sure how to continue. After the natural 55.Sx5e,
white has the nasty counter 56.P*5g (Rx5g or R6h are answered by Nx6e). The
black attack is not easy and the waiting move 55.R6h might be best.

54.P7dx7e?

A big surprise and I think this is a mistake. White wants to play actively,
but has not calculated this well.

55.P*7d
56.N7cx6e
57.S6fx6e

After the game Fujimoto said he had hardly looked at this move, which I find
incredible. Black now gets the chance to develop all his pieces.

58.S5dx6e
59.P7d-7c+
60.P7e-7f
61.+P7cx8b

I think this is better than 61.B5i R8d and black has trouble activating his
pieces.

62.P7fx7g+
63.R5hx5e

Now black is clearly better.

64.S6e-5d

After 64.S*5d Rx6e Sx6e R*7b black has a strong attack, since white can not
defend with S*3a like in the game. After G4c-4b, P3e looks very strong. Also
G3a +Px9a, threatening Px4d or P2d looks strong.

65.R5ex5d?

Too eager. The following sequence looks very good, but giving up the rook
gives white too many counter chances. Much better is 65.R7e and promotion of
the rook can not be avoided. There does not seem to be any white counterattack
anywhere.

66.G4cx5d
67.N*4f
68.G5d-5c
69.R*7b
70.S*3a
71.N4fx3d

This was the position I was aiming for when I played 65.Rx5d. The gold on
5c is hanging, the bishop on 3c is as good as dead and white only has bishop
and rook to attack with. Now I only need time to play S*4a...

72.B*9d!

Useless move, I thought. Fujimoto shows his strength by building a strong
attack out of nothing. After the game he told me that he was confident that
he would win from here.

73.R7b-6b+
74.B9dx4i+!

Completely unexpected. The white attack suddenly goes from 0 to 100 miles an
hour...

75.S3hx4i
76.R*7i
77.S*3h

Played with great sadness. This was the silver I wanted to drop on 4a. Maybe
77.B*3h is better, but I could not bring myself to voluntarily lock up the
bishop. Of course 77.S3h or G4h are too dangerous after Rx8i+.

78.R7ix8i+
79.B*9h?

Too aggressive. The lance I force white to take comes back to haunt me on the
weakness that has been a concern all game: the head of the king. It was time
to switch back to defense by 79.+Rx5c +Rx9i Nx2b+ Sx2b P*5i. The position
then becomes very complicated. For example, after +P6h S*4h L*2f G*2g Lx2g+
Sx2g N*1e S3h the white attack also seems far from easy, with black ready to
counter with moves like L*3d. I had almost used my 40 minutes here.

80.+R8ix9i
81.B9hx3b+
82.S3ax3b
83.+R6bx3b
84.B*7f!

Another great bishop drop I missed in byoyomi. I thought I could still make
something out of it after 84.G*3a Nx2b+ Gx2b +Rx3c, but this bishop that
both attacks and defends ends my hopes of winning this game.

85.N3dx2b+
86.B3cx2b
87.S*4a

Last desperate attempt. Now there is still hope after 88.Bx3b? Sx3b+ or
88.Bx4i?? +Rx2a. Of course this is not how it went...

88.L*2f
89.S*2g
90.+R9ix4i
91.S3hx4i
92.L2fx2g+
93.K2hx2g
94.B7fx4i+
95.L*3h
96.S*3a

First my castle is blown away and then a cool defense. Game over.

97.+R3bx2c
98.S*1d

Safety first. This move again defends and attacks. The rest is no problem.

99.P2e-2d
100.G*3c
101.+R2cx3c
102.B2bx3c
103.G*2c
104.R*2i
105.G*2h
106.N*1e
Resigns

The second round
----------------
I was not too unhappy about the first round. Of course, I had missed the chance
of a major upset, but overall I played pretty well. In the second round came
my big chance. As expected, I had to play the representative of Okinawa.
Okinawa is a small group of islands south-west of the Japanese main coast. It
is more famous for its pop groups than for its shogi players and I doubt that
there are more active Shogi players than in Europe. I am not sure if
a player from Okinawa has ever won a game in the amateur Ryu-O tournament, but
before the game the chances seemed pretty even. I was not the outright
favorite, since 25-year old Yamanoha had just returned to his native Okinawa
after spending his student years at the university of Osaka. Clearly, he had
been playing a lot of shogi there.

Black: Grimbergen
White: Yamanoha (Okinawa)
11th Ama Ryu-O Tournament, Round 2, June 27th 1998
1.P7g-7f
2.P3c-3d
3.P6g-6f
4.S7a-6b
5.S7i-6h
6.P6c-6d
7.G6i-7h
8.S6b-6c
9.G4i-5h
10.G4a-3b
11.S3i-4h
12.K5a-4a
13.K5i-6i
14.G6a-5b
15.P5g-5f
16.P7c-7d
17.G5h-6g
18.B2b-3c
19.P2g-2f
20.S3a-2b
21.S6h-7g
22.B3c-5a
23.B8h-7i
24.S2b-3c
25.P3g-3f
26.B5a-8d

An unusual variation. White is aiming everything he has on 6f, but with the
added option of building a normal Yagura castle. This would not be possible
after the normal quick attack with the bishop on 2b. The disadvantage is
of course that getting the bishop here has taken a lot of time. During the
game I feared 26.B7c more, with serious pressure on the diagonal.

27.P3f-3e

This pawn exchange brings the black bishop on 7i into play. Also, the square
3d is the weak point of white's position as long as the gold is still on 5b.

28.P3dx3e
29.B7ix3e
30.N8a-7c
31.B3e-4f
32.R8b-6b
33.K6i-7i
34.K4a-3a
35.K7i-8h
36.P4c-4d

White likes to play 36.S5d, but after 37.P5e S4e B5g the silver on 4e is not
looking good for attacking. Black threatens P4f S4e-3d S4g with a prefect
piece shape. It is unclear what white can do to prevent that.

37.R2h-3h
38.P9c-9d

Again white has the same problem after S5d P5e S4e B5g. He has the option of
playing S4c instead of S4e, but that again does not give him much hope of
attack. The waiting move 38.P9d indicates that black has won the opening
battle.

39.S4h-3g?!

A difficult decision. The obvious thing would have been to let white make
a decision after 29.P9f. However, I wanted to keep the later attack P9e Px9e
P*9g Lx9g N8e out of the position. Also, I want to have the silver on 3f for
my own attack before white can complete his Yagura castle. If I could get
the position S3f-N3g I was sure I could attack strongly. I had seen white's
answer, but did not think it was a very strong move.

40.P4d-4e!?

With hindsight I think white had no choice. It is the only chance to make his
attacking formation work. It does give some extra weaknesses near the white
king, but that could not be avoided. I was not impressed and expected things
to get easier after this. That was a misjudgment.

41.B4f-5g
42.S6c-5d
43.S3g-3f
44.P6d-6e
45.N2i-3g
46.P*3e!

I had completely overlooked this move. Yamanoha also thought about 46.P4f
(Px4f P*3e Sx3e Px6f Bx6f Bx6f Sx6f B*4g is good for white), but after
47.Bx4f Px6f G6h-6h, we could not find any good continuation for white. The
bishop on 4f is enough to stop the white attack. Black always has the
combination P*6c-P*6d to close out the white rook.

47.S3fx4e

No choice. Of course 47.S2g is no option and after 37.Sx3e Px6f Bx6f Bx6f
Sx6f P*3d black loses the silver. Fortunately, Sx4e is not bad.

48.P6ex6f
49.B5gx6f
50.B8dx6f
51.S7gx6f
52.B*2g
53.R3h-2h
54.B2g-4i+
55.P*3d
56.S3c-4b
57.S4ex5d
58.P5cx5d
59.P*6c?

So far everything is forced. White has promoted his bishop, but black has
good counter chances with the pawn on 3d. 49.P*6c is based on a stupid
miscalculation. I though I could both promote my bishop and displace the
white rook. The simple 59.B*4d is better.

60.R6bx6c
61.B*8a
62.R6c-4c!

Of course. Strangely enough, I thought that white had to defend the pawn on
5d. After 62.R5c N4e R4c Bx5d+ black would have a very good position. However,
after 62.R4c the black pawn on 4g hangs. Worse, after promotion the gold on
6g is also attacked twice. I have to defend against Rx4g+.

63.S*4e

Sad to use the silver here, but I have no choice.

64.P*6c?

In this game 6c is a mine. Every pawn dropped on this square explodes in
your face. The two biggest mistakes in the game are pawn drops on 6c. Much
better is 64.S*5c B7b+ G6b and after +Bx8c white wins the silver with P*4d.

65.B8a-7b+
66.P3e-3f
67.S4ex3f
68.P6c-6d
69.P*6c?!

Because of the earlier experiences in this game with P*6c, I am inclined to
call this a mistake as well. It draws away the gold on 5b from the king, but
after the simple 69.+Bx5d the white horse would have been well-placed for
both attack and defense. After 69.P*6c white gets another attacking chance,
but black just seems to be able to survive this. I think 69.P*6c is good
enough, but 69.+Bx5d would have been more safe.

70.G5bx6c
71.+B7b-6a
72.P6d-6e
73.S6f-7g
74.S*6f
75.P*6h
76.N7c-8e
77.S7g-8f
78.S6fx6g+
79.P6hx6g
80.P6e-6f
81.+B6ax4c

Just before entering byoyomi I have time to calculate that I might just be
in time to defend.

82.S4bx4c
83.R*6a
84.P*4a

I think 84.B*4a Px6f +Bx7f Sx8e +Bx8e N*3c is also winning for black. Still,
this might be better than the game.

85.R6ax6c+
86.P6fx6g+
87.G7hx6g
88.P*6f
89.+R6cx6f
90.B*3i
91.S*3c!

If two pieces are simultaneously attacked, do not defend. It is time to go
all out attacking.

92.N2ax3c
93.P3dx3c+
94.B3ix6f+
95.G6gx6f

White has forced this gold away from the attack of the horse on 4i. Also, the
rook on 2h is working well in defense. White has a lot of material, but the
attack is very difficult, especially in byoyomi. I think black is winning here.

96.G3bx3c
97.N3g-4e
98.P*3b
99.N4ex3c+
100.P3bx3c
101.P*3d!

Looks slow, but I think this is the right move. White can not make consecutive
mating threats and if he allows Px3c+, black is certain of victory.

102.P*6g
103.B*6d!

Closes an escape route of the king. If white drops a gold or silver on 4b,
white has no chance of mating and Px3c+ is decisive.

104.P4a-4b
105.P*6i!

I am very happy with my endgame play in byoyomi. White threatened mate after
S*7i: a) Kx7i G*6h Rx6h Px6h+ Kx6h R*5h or b) K9h G*8h Rx8h Sx8h+ Kx8h R*7h
Kx7h R*4h. After 105.P*6i white has no mating threats anymore.

106.R*5h

Suicide. This rook is exactly the piece I need. However, white has no defense.
After 106.G*3b Px3c+ Gx3c N*4e, black wins.

107.R2hx5h
108.+B4ix5h
109.G*2b

The pleasure of a full 40 seconds of byoyomi. After 103.B*6d P4b I already
knew I needed a rook for a direct mate. With 40 seconds byoyomi I could
verify all variations three times.

110.K3ax2b
111.P3dx3c+
112.K2bx3c
113.N*4e
114.K3c-3b
115.G*3c
Resigns

Not a brilliant game, but after the Chinese Cho in 1994 this was only the
second victory of a non-Japanese player in the amateur Ryu-O tournament.
In my optimism after this win, I dreamed of becoming the first non-Japanese
player to reach the knock-out tournament. This idea lasted about 5 minutes.
Then I was told by Oda that my next opponent would be Watanabe Kenya, the
tournament winner of 1997.


The third round
---------------
I can not really complain about an unlucky draw after getting the opportunity
to play one of the weaker players in the tournament. However, having to play
one of the strongest players in Japan in the tie-breaker is not really my idea
of breezing through the tournament. This was going to be tough. A good omen
though, the pawn toss gave me black for the third consecutive game.

Black: Grimbergen
White: Watanabe (Zen Ama Ryu-O)
11th Ama Ryu-O Tournament, Round 3, June 27th 1998
1.P7g-7f
2.P3c-3d
3.P6g-6f
4.P4c-4d

Strange opening, but when you are strong, there is a lot that can be played.

5.S7i-7h
6.S3a-4b
7.S7h-6g
8.S4b-4c
9.B8h-7g
10.P3d-3e
11.R2h-8h

This will be an Ai-Furibisha game, I thought.

12.P5c-5d
13.P5g-5f
14.S7a-6b
15.G6i-5h
16.P4d-4e
17.P6f-6e?!

This badly timed pawn push already indicates that my concentration is lacking
in this game. It would have been much better to play this one move earlier.
I thought that white could not easily exchange bishops here because of the many
holes in the position where black might drop a bishop. Don't think, calculate!

18.B2bx7g+
19.N8ix7g
20.S6b-5c
21.K5i-4h

This point in the game illustrates the difference in assessment between me and
my opponent. I spent more than five minutes on this move because I was afraid
of 21.P3f Px3f B*7i R8i B2d+. Finally, I concluded that the extra pawn and
the extra moves were worth the promotion of the bishop. Watanabe was surprised
that I had taken so long to come to the same conclusion he had reached
instantly.

22.K5a-4b
23.K4h-3h

23.B*2b B*4d Bx4d+ S5cx4d B*2b B*3c Bx3c+ Kx3c only helps white.

24.K4b-3b
25.K3h-2h
26.G4a-4b
27.S3i-3h

Watanabe suggested to play Anaguma here, so that black has a stronger defense
against the wall of pawns white has built. I do not like the Anaguma very
much (actually I think it is an opening for cowards), but in this case he
might have a point.

28.P1c-1d
29.P1g-1f
30.B*2b
31.B*6h?!

Better is 31.G6h. I was afraid for the pressure of the bishop on 2b and for the
potential threat of S*7i, but after R8i both problems would be solved and black
keeps the bishop in hand.

32.G6a-5b
33.R8h-8i
34.S4c-3d
35.L9i-9h
36.G5b-4c
37.P8g-8f
38.P2c-2d
39.P7f-7e
40.P2d-2e
41.P8f-8e
42.P5d-5e
43.R8i-8f
44.P5ex5f
45.S6gx5f
46.S5c-4d
47.P7e-7d?

Despite the small inaccuracies, black does not have a bad position at all.
However, 47.P7d is too impatient. White can play this attacking plan whenever
he wants, so it is better to play 47.S6g first as will become clear later.

48.P7cx7d
49.P6e-6d?

Too subtle. By creating a hole on 6c, I thought I would get good dropping
threats when the rook would move to 5b. This never is an issue and P6d ends
up helping only white.

50.P6cx6d
51.P*7b

And after Rx7b P8d or P7a+ after any other move I have a good position, I
thought.

52.P7d-7e!

This counter I did not see. With the silver on 6g, this attack on the head of
the knight would not have been a problem.

53.P7b-7a+
54.N8a-7c
55.P8e-8d
56.P8cx8d
57.+P7a-7b
58.R8bx7b
59.R8fx8d
60.P7e-7f

Black promotes the rook, but at the cost of a knight and a pile of pawns.

61.R8d-8c+
62.R7b-5b

And now also the silver on 5f is attacked. If this had only been on 6g...

63.P*5g
64.P7fx7g+
65.B6hx7g
66.R5b-5c
67.B7g-9e

Black's position does not look that bad, but the loss of the knight is a big
problem. Together with the number of pawns in hand and the massive pawns
at 6e-7e-8e white has a lot of attacking possibilities. Probably white already
has the upper hand here.

68.P3e-3f
69.P3gx3f
70.N*2d
71.K2h-3i!

The only defense. For example 71.Bx7c+? Nx3f K1h (K3g/3i Rx7c +Rx7c B*2h and
mate) P1e and black is helpless against the white attack.

72.N2dx3f
73.P*3g
74.P9c-9d
75.B9e-5i
76.R5cx5f
77.P3gx3f
78.R5f-5c

Black has dodged the first bullet. However, now the material deficit is a
silver instead of a knight.

79.+R8c-8a
80.N7c-6e
81.B5i-4h?

The last chance to make a game out of it is missed here. After 81.N*2d K2c
+Rx2a white has to be careful, even though his attack is much easier than
black's.

82.B2b-1c

Attacks the weak point 5g and defends against N*2d. From now on I can only
watch in admiration.

83.+R8ax9a
84.P2e-2f
85.P2gx2f
86.P*2g
87.S3hx2g
88.P4e-4f
89.P4gx4f
90.B1cx4f
91.N*3g
92.P*4a

Decisive. This makes white's position completely safe.

93.L*5i
94.P*2e
95.G5h-4g
96.B4f-5e
97.P5g-5f
98.B5e-9i+
99.P2fx2e
100.P*2f
101.S2gx2f
102.P*2g
103.G4i-3h
104.+B9ix9h
105.G3hx2g
106.L*5h
107.L5ix5h
108.+B9h-7f
109.P*4e
110.S4d-3c
111.P3f-3e
112.S3d-2c
113.P2e-2d
114.S3cx2d
115.S2f-2e
116.+B7fx5h
117.S2ex2d
118.S2cx2d
119.S*3h
120.L*4f
121.G4gx4f
122.+B5hx4h
Resigns

Also in this game I had some chances in the middle game, but shogi again
proved too difficult for me.


The Final
---------
Neither of my first round opponents made a big impact in this tournament. Both
went out in the first round of the knock-out stage. This year the final
was between two times amateur Meijin Hayasaki (24) from Oita and 21-year old
Hayashi from Shizuoka. Hayasaki won this battle of the young amateur stars
and added the Ryu-O crown to his already very impressive number of amateur
titles. To compare the top level with the level of the games above, here is
the final:

Black: Hayasaki (Oita)
White: Hayashi (Shizuoka)
11th Amateur Ryu-O Tournament, Final, June 28th 1998
1.P7g-7f
2.P3c-3d
3.P2g-2f
4.P8c-8d
5.P2f-2e
6.P8d-8e
7.G6i-7h
8.G4a-3b
9.P2e-2d
10.P2cx2d
11.R2hx2d
12.P8e-8f
13.P8gx8f
14.R8bx8f
15.R2dx3d
16.B2b-3c
17.K5i-5h
18.K5a-5b
19.G4i-3h
20.G6a-7b
21.S3i-4h
22.R8fx7f
23.R3d-8d
24.P*8c
25.B8hx3c+
26.N2ax3c
27.R8d-2d
28.S3a-2b

Looks dangerous. After more than 10 minutes thought, Hayasaki decides to go
for it.

29.B*2a
30.S2b-2c
31.B2ax3b+
32.S2cx2d
33.G*4b
34.K5b-6b
35.+B3b-4a?

Better is 35.+Bx4c (threatening mate and the rook) Rx7h+ Sx7h P7d +B8g with
better play for black.

36.G7b-8b
37.G4b-5b
38.K6b-7b
39.+B4a-5a
40.P6c-6d
41.+B5a-6a
42.K7b-6c
43.G5b-4b
44.R7fx7h+
45.S7ix7h
46.R*7i
47.+B6a-5b
48.K6c-7b
49.+B5b-9f
50.B*7d
51.+B9f-8g
52.R7ix2i+
53.G3h-3i
54.+R2ix1i
55.R*2b
56.P*3h?

Big mistake. If white plays 56.P8d to make an escape route for the king,
things become very complicated.

57.G4b-5a
58.S7a-6b
59.+B8gx4c
60.G*7a
61.R2bx2d+
62.S6bx5a
63.G3i-2i
64.L*4a
65.+B4cx3c
66.S5a-4b
67.+B3c-4d
68.+R1ix2i
69.+R2dx2i
70.P3h-3i+
71.+R2ix3i
72.G7a-6b
73.P*7e
74.S4b-5a
75.P7ex7d
76.L4ax4d
77.N*5f
78.L4dx4g+
79.S4hx4g
80.N*5e
81.N5fx6d
82.K7b-7a
83.S4g-5f
84.G*6e
85.S5fx5e
86.P*6c
87.B*3c
88.G*4a
89.L*4g
90.P*4b
91.P7dx7c+
92.G8bx7c
93.P*7b
94.G7cx7b
95.N6dx7b+
96.G6bx7b
97.P*7c
98.G7bx7c
99.N*8e
100.G7c-7d
101.P*8d
102.K7a-7b
103.P*7c
104.N8ax7c
105.S*8a
106.K7bx8a
107.P8dx8c+
Resigns