From: Doug Dysart <ohioshogi <at> YAHOO <dot> COM>
Date: 21 aug 1999
Subject: Shogi World v. Chess

There's a stark contrast between the way the "World Championship"
titles are determined in the chess and shogi worlds.  Shogi is more
like boxing, and chess is similar to the olympics.  Does anyone think
there should be a unification match in shogi?

On a related note, this posting appeared on Chess-L:
"Adams endorsed the knockout tournament concept as it stands, and hopes
it
continues, calling it "the best available." When pushed on the subject
he said
"the old system of zonals and interzonals was completely random and had
its own
problems," and "the old system is basically just a way to keep the
champion on top."

"(BTW, this isn't the first time this idea has been mentioned. Back in
the 60's
and 70's many players pointed to the long arduous course the challenger
had to
run just to get to play the champion, exhausting themselves and their
ideas
while the Champion just sat on his hands and observed.

"He also isn't interested in any sort of "unification" match. He
doesn't think
it's important. He hopes Kasparov keeps on organizing championship
events as
well; the more activity the better for chess."

I like shogi's continual offering of exciting title matches.  It's much
more exciting viewing.  Like in boxing, I get to see a fair number of
titles up for grabs.  Champions must stay on their toes or step aside.
In chess, the champ can sit and wait.  One thing, though: who is the
REAL chess champ?

Also, would someone please teach Hikaru Nakamura to play shogi?!  I
hear he doesn't play at all!

"Hikaru Nakamura, age 11, defeats Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman in US
Open
by Sam Sloan

Hikaru Nakamura, who made chess history last year by becoming the first
US
player to
achieve the master rank at the age of 10, has checkmated Grandmaster
Alejandro
Hoffman of Argentina tonight in the US Open Chess Championship. Hikaru
Nakamura
has finished the tournament with 6.5-2.5, which is only one point
behind
the first place
finishers.

Hikaru says that his winning move was 25. .... Nf3. Here is the game:

[Event "U.S. Open 99"]
[Site "Reno USA"]
[Date "1999.08.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Hoffman,Alejandro"]
[Black "Nakamura,Hikaru"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E61"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bf4 d6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 a6 8.
a4 Nh5
9. Bd2 f5 10. e3 e5 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. O-O f4 14. Nd5 Bh6
15. Ra3
Bxd5 16. cxd5 Ne7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qb1 g5 19. a5 Ng6 20. b4 cxb4 21. Bxb4
Qe7
22.
Bd3 g4 23. Nd4 Nh4 24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. Ne6 Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. fxg4
Qxg4+ 28.
Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Kf7 32. Bc3 b5 33. Bg7 Qg4+
34. Kh2
f3 35. Rg1 Qh4# 0-1"

BTW, could someone lead me toward a database of Fujii's games?  Also,
is there a database of Habu's and Tanigawa's games?  The title games
are everywhere, but they play other games, right?

Doug Dysart
Ohio Shogi Club
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