From: Reijer Grimbergen <grimbergen <at> FU <dot> IS <dot> SAGA-U <dot> AC <dot> JP>
Date: 20 apr 2001
Subject: This week in Shukan Sogi (no. 877, April 18th 2001)

Well, I am more or less settled in my new job. Lots of meetings, but no
classes to teach yet, so it seems I will have time for Shukan Shogi
reports at least until September. This first report is a long one, as
there were three commented games in the month that I was not able to
report anything to Shogi-L. This is going to be a report full of bad
news for Tanigawa fans (like me), as he lost all three games. Moriuchi
took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five match for the Zen Nihon Pro
tournament and Maruyama won the first game of the Meijin match. I
reported earlier that it looked like Tanigawa had chances in this first
Meijin game, but actually it was Maruyama all the way. In the end it
looked pretty close, but Maruyama was never in real danger of losing.
Here is the game with comments.

Black: Maruyama Tadahisa, Meijin
White: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger
59th Meijin-sen
Game 1
April 12th and 13th 2001
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:03:00
3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:03:00
4.P4c-4d 00:00:00 00:04:00
5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:04:00
6.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:04:00
7.S3i-4h 00:00:00 00:04:00
8.R8b-4b 00:00:00 00:07:00

The furigoma resulted in four pawns, giving Meijin Maruyama black. The
Shikenbisha was not a big surprise. This opening and the R8e Yokofudori
are the expected openings in this match.

9.K5i-6h 00:00:00 00:07:00
10.S7a-7b 00:00:00 00:15:00
11.K6h-7h 00:00:00 00:15:00
12.P9c-9d 00:00:00 00:29:00
13.P5g-5f 00:04:00 00:29:00
14.S3a-3b 00:04:00 00:39:00
15.G4i-5h 00:18:00 00:39:00
16.S3b-4c 00:18:00 00:52:00
17.B8h-7g 00:23:00 00:52:00
18.P7c-7d 00:23:00 01:09:00
19.B7g-6h! 00:33:00 01:09:00

Maruyama seems to be better prepared than Tanigawa. This is a good move.
Because black threatens to break through on the second file, white is
forced into a defensive position.

20.R4b-2b 00:33:00 01:14:00
21.P6g-6f 00:34:00 01:14:00
22.G4a-5b 00:34:00 01:22:00
23.G5h-6g 00:40:00 01:22:00
24.P6c-6d 00:40:00 01:25:00
25.P3g-3f 01:18:00 01:25:00
26.N8a-7c 01:18:00 01:42:00
27.N8i-7g 01:23:00 01:42:00
28.K5a-6b 01:23:00 01:50:00
29.K7h-8i 01:25:00 01:50:00
30.K6b-7a 01:25:00 01:53:00
31.G6i-7h 01:26:00 01:53:00
32.G5b-6c 01:26:00 02:01:00
33.P1g-1f 01:42:00 02:01:00
34.P1c-1d 01:42:00 02:32:00
35.S4h-5i 02:04:00 02:32:00
36.P8c-8d 02:04:00 02:51:00
37.N2i-3g 02:39:00 02:51:00
38.K7a-8a 02:39:00 03:30:00
39.P9g-9f! 03:25:00 03:30:00

The exclamation mark for this move is not for the technical merit, but for
the psychological timing. This move was played just 8 minutes before the
time limit of the sealed move. Maruyama could well have waited a little
longer and make this the sealed move, but playing it now has an important
psychological effect. After this move, white has no options to play an
active game anymore. It would probably have been better to play P9e earlier.
By making this edge extension impossible, Maruyama gives Tanigawa until the
next morning to regret his opening strategy. This might have contributed
to what follows.

40.S7b-8c 03:25:00 03:38:00
41.B6h-4f 03:54:00 03:38:00
42.G6a-7b 03:54:00 03:39:00
43.S5i-6h 03:55:00 03:39:00
44.P5c-5d 03:55:00 03:50:00
45.P8g-8f 04:08:00 03:50:00
46.S4c-5b 04:08:00 04:04:00
47.S7i-8h 04:29:00 04:04:00
48.S5b-5c 04:29:00 04:09:00
49.S6h-7i 04:34:00 04:09:00
50.S5c-6b 04:34:00 04:12:00
51.B4f-6h 04:51:00 04:12:00
52.S6b-7a 04:51:00 04:29:00
53.P4g-4f 04:55:00 04:29:00
54.R2b-4b 04:55:00 05:02:00
55.R2h-2i 05:17:00 05:02:00
56.K8a-8b 05:17:00 05:18:00
57.R2i-4i 05:32:00 05:18:00
58.P1d-1e!? 05:32:00 05:43:00

Black is in complete control of the position. This is probably as bad as
things can get for Tanigawa. He is forced to wait for the ax to fall and
he doesn't have the temper to be patient forever. This edge attack is
forcing the position and most likely not very good. However, if white
wants to play something active, he has to do it now. Black's threat is
59.P4e Px4e Rx4e and black gets a big advantage.

59.P1fx1e 05:58:00 05:43:00
60.L1ax1e 05:58:00 05:43:00
61.P3f-3e 06:01:00 05:43:00
62.R4b-1b 06:01:00 06:25:00
63.P3ex3d 06:01:00 06:25:00
64.B3c-2b 06:01:00 06:27:00
65.P4f-4e 06:02:00 06:27:00
66.B2b-1c! 06:02:00 06:41:00

The only move. After 66.Lx1i+ P*1c Rx1c (Bx1c Rx1i) Bx1c+ Bx1c Rx1i black
is better.

67.P2e-2d! 06:30:00 06:41:00

Good counter. 67.Lx1e Bx6h+ Lx1b+ +Bx6g Gx6g B*5h is good for white. Black
allows the white rook to promote, but Maruyama has judged very well that
his
tokin attack is stronger.

68.B1cx2d 06:30:00 06:42:00
69.P4ex4d 06:47:00 06:42:00
70.L1ex1i+ 06:47:00 06:54:00
71.P4d-4c+ 06:49:00 06:54:00
72.B2dx6h+ 06:49:00 07:02:00
73.G6gx6h 06:49:00 07:02:00
74.P*4h 06:49:00 07:02:00

Here the natural 74.R1h+ would be successful after 75.+P5c Gx5c R4a+, but
sacrificing the promoted pawn like that is a big waste. If black plays
75.+P5b P*4h R5i instead, the threats +P6a or N4e next are very strong
and the pawn on 4h is actually bad for white, as it is blocking the promoted
rook on 1h.

75.R4ix4h 06:49:00 07:02:00
76.B*5i 06:49:00 07:12:00
77.R4h-4g 06:49:00 07:12:00
78.P*4f 06:49:00 07:30:00
79.R4g-6g 06:49:00 07:30:00

Four generals and a rook in defence. Black's castle is rock solid. N4e next
is a perfect attack. Black is winning.

80.R1b-1h+ 06:49:00 07:33:00
81.N3g-4e 07:18:00 07:33:00
82.B5i-2f+ 07:18:00 07:36:00
83.B*4d 07:20:00 07:36:00
84.+B2fx4d 07:20:00 07:54:00
85.+P4cx4d 07:20:00 07:54:00
86.S7a-6b 07:20:00 07:54:00

Or 86.B*2f +P5c Gx5c Nx5c+ Bx5c B*3b with the double threat Bx2a+ and B5d+
and white has no hope of winning.

87.P5f-5e 07:26:00 07:54:00
88.B*5f 07:26:00 07:55:00
89.P5ex5d 07:29:00 07:55:00
90.P4f-4g+ 07:29:00 08:16:00
91.P5d-5c+ 07:35:00 08:16:00
92.+P4g-5h 07:35:00 08:18:00
93.+P5cx6c 07:37:00 08:18:00
94.S6bx6c 07:37:00 08:18:00
95.N4e-5c+ 07:50:00 08:18:00
96.+P5hx6h 07:50:00 08:18:00
97.R6gx6h 07:51:00 08:18:00
98.G*5h 07:51:00 08:18:00
99.R6hx5h 07:54:00 08:18:00
100.+R1hx5h 07:54:00 08:18:00
101.G*6h 07:58:00 08:18:00
102.R*5i 07:58:00 08:19:00
103.G6hx5h! 08:30:00 08:19:00

It is hard to say if black played a bad move somewhere, but what seemed to
be a two move endgame lead now only looks like a half move lead. Maruyama
took 32 minutes to make sure that he is still winning. The next moves look
quite dangerous for black, but Maruyama has seen it all from here.

104.B5fx7h+ 08:30:00 08:19:00
105.K8ix7h 08:30:00 08:19:00
106.R5ix5h+ 08:30:00 08:19:00
107.K7h-8i 08:30:00 08:19:00
108.G*6i 08:30:00 08:23:00
109.G*7h 08:31:00 08:23:00
110.G*6g 08:31:00 08:26:00
111.+N5cx6c! 08:32:00 08:26:00

White was not threatening mate and that makes it all clear.

112.L*8g 08:32:00 08:46:00

"Katachizukuri". Tanigawa knows he has lost and just tries to make the final
position look close. 112.Gx7i Gx7i S*7h K9h Sx7i= looks dangerous, but after
+Nx7b Sx7b S*7a Kx7a R*4a G*6a G*6b white is mated after both Kx6b B*5c and
K8b B*7a.

113.+N6cx7b 08:36:00 08:46:00
114.S8cx7b 08:36:00 08:46:00
115.S8hx8g 08:38:00 08:46:00
116.G6gx7g 08:38:00 08:46:00

This is mating threat, but black has a way to get out of this.

117.S*7a 08:38:00 08:46:00
118.K8bx7a 08:38:00 08:48:00
119.G*6b 08:38:00 08:48:00
120.K7ax6b 08:38:00 08:49:00
121.B*5c 08:38:00 08:49:00
Resigns 08:38:00 08:49:00

The only way to avoid mate is 121.Rx5c+ +Px5c Kx5c, but then R*5g loses the
gold on 7g after which white has no more attack and no defence. A perfect
performance by Maruyama. His form has been questionable in the past year,
but this game indicates that he might have found his Meijin level of play
just in time.

And here are the first two games of the Zen Nihon Pro tournament match:

Black: Moriuchi Toshiyuki, 8-dan
White: Tanigawa Koji, 9-dan
19th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament
Game 1
March 23rd 2001
1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
4.P4c-4d 00:00:00 00:01:00
5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:01:00
6.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:01:00
7.S3i-4h 00:00:00 00:01:00
8.R8b-4b 00:00:00 00:02:00
9.K5i-6h 00:00:00 00:02:00
10.S3a-3b 00:00:00 00:02:00
11.K6h-7h 00:00:00 00:02:00
12.S7a-7b 00:00:00 00:02:00
13.P5g-5f 00:00:00 00:02:00
14.S3b-4c 00:00:00 00:04:00
15.G4i-5h 00:00:00 00:04:00
16.P9c-9d 00:00:00 00:04:00
17.P9g-9f 00:00:00 00:04:00
18.K5a-6b 00:00:00 00:04:00
19.S4h-5g 00:00:00 00:04:00
20.P6c-6d 00:00:00 00:06:00
21.P3g-3f 00:00:00 00:06:00
22.K6b-7a 00:00:00 00:06:00
23.B8h-5e 00:00:00 00:06:00

This is one of the recent counter strategies against the Fujii system.
Black just threatens to take the pawn and if white defends with S6c,
it becomes quite hard to make a strong castle.

24.P6d-6e 00:00:00 00:19:00

Positive play, but the second idea of B5e is to pull back the bishop to
3g and put pressure on the white mino castle from there. This game is a
good example of this strategy.

25.S7i-8h 00:00:00 00:19:00
26.G4a-5b 00:00:00 00:20:00
27.S8h-7g 00:02:00 00:20:00
28.K7a-8b 00:02:00 00:36:00
29.B5e-3g 00:21:00 00:36:00
30.P4d-4e 00:21:00 00:44:00
31.K7h-8h 00:26:00 00:44:00
32.S4c-4d 00:26:00 00:57:00
33.G6i-7h 00:31:00 00:57:00
34.P3d-3e 00:31:00 01:08:00
35.P6g-6f 00:37:00 01:08:00
36.P3ex3f 00:37:00 01:28:00
37.B3g-2f 00:37:00 01:28:00
38.P6ex6f 00:37:00 01:29:00
39.S5gx6f 00:38:00 01:29:00
40.R4b-3b 00:38:00 01:29:00
41.P2e-2d 00:48:00 01:29:00
42.P2cx2d 00:48:00 01:30:00
43.G5h-6g 00:48:00 01:30:00
44.G5b-4c 00:48:00 01:39:00
45.P7f-7e 00:50:00 01:39:00
46.B3c-5a 00:50:00 01:40:00
47.P*6d 01:01:00 01:40:00
48.P4e-4f! 01:01:00 01:44:00

Tanigawa is in trouble, but this is a good move. If white plays the
simple 48.S3e instead, he gets into serious trouble after 49.B5i R3d
S6e P*6c Px6c+ Sx6c P*2b N3c P2a+ P*6d S6e-7f and black has a big
advantage.

49.P4gx4f 01:18:00 01:44:00
50.S4d-3e 01:18:00 01:45:00
51.B2f-5i 01:18:00 01:45:00
52.S3ex4f 01:18:00 01:45:00
53.R2h-2g 01:26:00 01:45:00
54.G4c-5d 01:26:00 01:52:00
55.P6d-6c+ 01:51:00 01:52:00
56.S7bx6c 01:51:00 01:52:00
57.P5f-5e 01:51:00 01:52:00
58.G5d-4e 01:51:00 01:58:00
59.B5i-6h 02:02:00 01:58:00
60.R3b-2b 02:02:00 02:13:00
61.P7e-7d 02:19:00 02:13:00
62.P7cx7d 02:19:00 02:16:00
63.S7g-7f 02:21:00 02:16:00
64.P*6d 02:21:00 02:16:00
65.B6h-8f 02:25:00 02:16:00
66.B5a-3c 02:25:00 02:17:00
67.P*6e 02:28:00 02:17:00
68.P6dx6e 02:28:00 02:23:00
69.S7fx6e 02:28:00 02:23:00
70.S4fx5e 02:28:00 02:24:00
71.P*6d! 02:33:00 02:24:00

Perfect timing. 72.S7b S7g doesn't give white any hope, so...

72.S5ex6f 02:33:00 02:29:00
73.G6gx6f 02:34:00 02:29:00
74.S6c-7b 02:34:00 02:31:00

No choice. 74.Bx6f S*7g followed by Px6c+ wins for black.

75.S*7g?! 02:36:00 02:31:00

A little too heavy. Better would have been 75.B7g S*7c S*3d Bx6f Bx6f
G*5e B7g and black has the advantage.

76.G6a-5b 02:36:00 02:35:00
77.S6ex7d 02:36:00 02:35:00
78.P*6b 02:36:00 02:35:00
79.P*5d 02:37:00 02:35:00
80.S*4b 02:37:00 02:42:00
81.R2g-5g 02:43:00 02:42:00
82.P5cx5d 02:43:00 02:44:00
83.R5gx5d 02:43:00 02:44:00
84.P*5c 02:43:00 02:44:00
85.R5d-3d 02:45:00 02:44:00
86.P*7c 02:45:00 02:48:00
87.S7d-6e 02:45:00 02:48:00
88.P8c-8d? 02:45:00 02:48:00

Tanigawa misses his chance to make a close fight of it. Here 88.Bx6f! Sx6f
S3c would have made the position very unclear after Rx3c+ Nx3c P*3d N2e
P3c+ R1b B*3d R*4h and black's king position is quite weak.

89.P6d-6c+ 02:49:00 02:48:00
90.P6bx6c 02:49:00 02:48:00
91.R3dx8d 02:49:00 02:48:00
92.P*8c 02:49:00 02:50:00
93.R8d-3d 02:49:00 02:50:00
94.G4e-4d 02:49:00 02:51:00
95.R3dx3f 02:49:00 02:51:00
96.P*3e 02:49:00 02:51:00
97.R3f-4f 02:49:00 02:51:00
98.P*4e 02:49:00 02:52:00
99.R4f-5f 02:49:00 02:52:00
100.P2d-2e 02:49:00 02:52:00
101.P*3b 02:50:00 02:52:00
102.R2bx3b 02:50:00 02:52:00
103.P*6d 02:51:00 02:52:00
104.P6cx6d 02:51:00 02:54:00
105.B8fx6d 02:51:00 02:54:00
106.P5c-5d 02:51:00 02:55:00
107.P*7d 02:54:00 02:55:00
108.S4b-5c 02:54:00 02:55:00
109.P7dx7c+ 02:54:00 02:55:00
110.S7bx7c 02:54:00 02:55:00
111.B6d-3g 02:54:00 02:55:00
112.P*7f 02:54:00 02:55:00
113.P*7d 02:54:00 02:55:00

The pressure on the long diagonal is clear. Black sacrifices material on 7g,
but is certain to win it back immediately, while destroying white's king
position at the same time.

114.P7fx7g+ 02:54:00 02:55:00
115.N8ix7g 02:54:00 02:55:00
116.P5d-5e 02:54:00 02:55:00
117.P7dx7c+ 02:54:00 02:55:00
118.N8ax7c 02:54:00 02:55:00
119.P*7d 02:54:00 02:55:00
120.N7cx6e 02:54:00 02:55:00
121.N7gx6e 02:54:00 02:55:00
122.P*7b 02:54:00 02:55:00
123.S*7c?! 02:55:00 02:55:00

Better was 123.S*4a and black wins quickly. The final result of the game
doesn't change with this move, but now Moriuchi has to find one more good
move to win.

124.K8b-7a 02:55:00 02:55:00
125.N6ex5c+ 02:55:00 02:55:00
126.G5bx5c 02:55:00 02:55:00
127.N*6e 02:56:00 02:55:00
128.G5c-6c 02:56:00 02:55:00
129.P*6d 02:57:00 02:55:00
130.G6cx7d 02:57:00 02:55:00
131.P6d-6c+ 02:57:00 02:55:00
132.P7bx7c 02:57:00 02:55:00
133.N6ex7c+ 02:57:00 02:55:00
134.G7dx7c 02:57:00 02:55:00
135.+P6cx7c 02:57:00 02:55:00
136.P*7g 02:57:00 02:55:00
137.G7hx7g 02:57:00 02:55:00
138.P*7b 02:57:00 02:55:00
139.S*6b 02:57:00 02:55:00
140.R3bx6b 02:57:00 02:55:00
141.+P7cx6b 02:57:00 02:55:00
142.K7ax6b 02:57:00 02:55:00
143.R*3b 02:57:00 02:55:00
144.S*4b 02:57:00 02:55:00
145.G6fx5e 02:57:00 02:55:00
146.N*8e 02:57:00 02:55:00
147.P*6c 02:59:00 02:55:00
148.K6b-7a 02:59:00 02:55:00
149.P6c-6b+ 02:59:00 02:55:00
150.K7ax6b 02:59:00 02:55:00
151.G5e-6d! 02:59:00 02:55:00

Moriuchi has sacrificed a pawn to get some extra time to calculate the
strength of this move. Tanigawa still had some hopes to turn the tables
here, but after this move these hopes disappear. Rx4b+ next is a mating
threat and Moriuchi has calculated correctly that the next variation is
not as dangerous as it looks.

152.N8ex7g+ 02:59:00 02:58:00
153.K8hx7g 02:59:00 02:58:00
154.G4d-5d 02:59:00 02:58:00
155.R3bx3c+ 02:59:00 02:58:00
156.N*8e 02:59:00 02:58:00
157.K7g-7f 02:59:00 02:58:00
158.S4bx3c 02:59:00 02:59:00
159.P*6c 02:59:00 02:59:00
160.K6b-5a 02:59:00 02:59:00
161.R5fx5d 02:59:00 02:59:00
162.K5a-4a 02:59:00 02:59:00
163.G*3b 02:59:00 02:59:00
Resigns 02:59:00 02:59:00

And mate after 164.Kx3b R5b+ K2c B*3b K2d G*1e K3d +R4c. A good win for
Moriuchi who needed this to build his confidence. He was 5-15 against
Tanigawa in their last twenty games, so this win makes this match a lot
more interesting.

Black: Tanigawa Koji, 9-dan
White: Moriuchi Toshiyuki, 8-dan
19th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament
Game 2
April 3rd 2001
1.P2g-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
3.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00
4.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00
5.P2f-2e 00:00:00 00:00:00
6.P8d-8e 00:00:00 00:00:00
7.G6i-7h 00:00:00 00:00:00
8.G4a-3b 00:00:00 00:00:00
9.P2e-2d 00:00:00 00:00:00
10.P2cx2d 00:00:00 00:00:00
11.R2hx2d 00:00:00 00:00:00
12.P8e-8f 00:00:00 00:00:00
13.P8gx8f 00:00:00 00:00:00
14.R8bx8f 00:00:00 00:00:00
15.R2dx3d 00:00:00 00:00:00
16.B2b-3c 00:00:00 00:00:00
17.R3d-3f 00:00:00 00:00:00
18.S3a-2b 00:00:00 00:00:00
19.P*8g 00:08:00 00:00:00
20.R8f-8e 00:08:00 00:00:00
21.R3f-2f 00:08:00 00:00:00
22.K5a-4a 00:08:00 00:00:00
23.K5i-6h 00:09:00 00:00:00
24.S7a-6b 00:09:00 00:00:00
25.S3i-3h 00:14:00 00:00:00
26.P7c-7d 00:14:00 00:00:00
27.P3g-3f 00:14:00 00:00:00
28.N8a-7c 00:14:00 00:00:00
29.N2i-3g 00:19:00 00:00:00
30.G6a-5a 00:19:00 00:00:00
31.P4g-4f 00:20:00 00:00:00
32.P7d-7e 00:20:00 00:00:00
33.B8hx3c+ 00:46:00 00:00:00
34.N2ax3c 00:46:00 00:00:00
35.P3f-3e 00:46:00 00:00:00
36.P*2e 00:46:00 00:00:00
37.R2f-1f 00:47:00 00:00:00
38.R8e-8d?! 00:47:00 00:03:00

With the Meijin match starting very soon, it is clear that Tanigawa has
studied the R8e Yokofudori extensively. Moriuchi of course knows this and
has prepared even harder as can be seen from the time he used so far. This
is the first move for which he took some time. It is hard to judge this
move.
It seems to lose material without compensation if Tanigawa would have played
it correctly. On the other hand, both players were not very talkative about
this stage of the game in the post mortem analysis. It is not unlikely that
there are some hidden variations in this position that both players want
to keep secret. Still, Fukuzaki (8-dan) wondered if 38.P*3f Rx3f B*5d wasn't
better here.

39.P3e-3d 01:06:00 00:03:00
40.R8dx3d 01:06:00 00:03:00
41.B*5f 01:06:00 00:03:00
42.R3d-5d 01:06:00 00:03:00
43.P*3d 01:07:00 00:03:00

Now white loses the knight on 3c, which seems to be good for black.

44.B*2h 01:07:00 00:03:00
45.L1i-1h?! 01:16:00 00:03:00

Here Tanigawa didn't like 45.P*2c Gx2c Px3c+ Gx3c Nx2e G2d P*2c Gx2e Px2b+
K5b, but it might have been better than the game move.

46.B2h-1i+ 01:16:00 00:06:00
47.P3dx3c+?! 01:17:00 00:06:00

Well, if Tanigawa didn't like it on the previous move, he is not very likely
to play it now. Still, 47.P*2c Gx2c Px3c+ Gx3c B4e R8d Nx2e G2d P*2c Gx2e
Px2b+ K5b looks like a good alternative.

48.S2bx3c 01:17:00 00:07:00
49.B5f-4e 01:17:00 00:07:00
50.R5d-8d 01:17:00 00:23:00
51.G4i-3i? 01:45:00 00:23:00

This looks like a clear mistake. 51.R3f (suggested by Naito) seems to be
the right move. After 52.P*3d 53.Nx2e black seems to have a good position.
For example, 54.S4d P*3c G2b is followed by Bx3d or Rx3d. It is interesting
that in the post-mortem analysis the analysis of this variation stopped
after 53.Nx2e. This variation is so short that both players will have seen
it. Still, neither Tanigawa nor Moriuchi was prepared to say anything about
this variation. Fukuzaki suggests that they might be keeping something back
that they can use in future games.

52.S3c-3d 01:45:00 00:54:00
53.P*3c 01:48:00 00:54:00
54.G3b-4b 01:48:00 01:05:00
55.G3i-2i 02:07:00 01:05:00
56.+B1ix2i 02:07:00 01:06:00
57.S3hx2i 02:07:00 01:06:00
58.S3dx4e 02:07:00 01:07:00
59.N3gx4e 02:10:00 01:07:00

Here black seems to be doing allright. The promoted bishop is gone, the
attacking base on 3c looks pretty dangerous and the knight seems to be
in a perfect position.

60.K4a-5b! 02:10:00 01:24:00

This early escape is well judged. White now soon gets the upper hand.

61.R1f-3f 02:14:00 01:24:00
62.B*4g 02:14:00 02:00:00
63.R3f-3g 02:29:00 02:00:00
64.G*6i 02:29:00 02:14:00
65.K6h-7g 02:29:00 02:14:00
66.G6ix7i 02:29:00 02:14:00
67.G7hx7i 02:31:00 02:14:00
68.B4g-5h+ 02:31:00 02:15:00
69.P3c-3b+ 02:41:00 02:15:00
70.+B5h-5i 02:41:00 02:19:00
71.K7g-7h 02:50:00 02:19:00
72.+B5ix3g 02:50:00 02:27:00
73.+P3bx4b 02:51:00 02:27:00
74.G5ax4b 02:51:00 02:27:00
75.S*3a 02:53:00 02:27:00
76.G4b-3b 02:53:00 02:47:00

White really wants to play 76.+B5i followed by Rx8g+, but after 77.B*6h
white's attack is stopped.

77.B*9e 02:57:00 02:47:00
78.R*4h 02:57:00 02:52:00
79.G7i-6h 02:58:00 02:52:00
80.R8d-9d 02:58:00 02:57:00
81.G*3h 02:58:00 02:57:00
82.+B3gx3h 02:58:00 02:57:00
83.S2ix3h 02:59:00 02:57:00
84.R9dx9e 02:58:00 02:57:00
85.G*4b 02:58:00 02:57:00
86.K5b-6a 02:58:00 02:57:00
87.B*8c 02:58:00 02:57:00
88.S*7b 02:58:00 02:58:00
89.B8c-4g+ 02:58:00 02:58:00
90.R4hx4g+? 02:58:00 02:58:00

So far Moriuchi has been attacking very well. Here he could have immediately
decided the game with 90.G*8h K6i B*3f!. Worse than not seeing it, Moriuchi
saw B*3f just after he played 90.Rx4g+. For the rest of the game he was
convinced that he had given it all away.

91.S3hx4g 02:58:00 02:58:00
92.G3bx3a 02:58:00 02:58:00
93.N4ex5c+ 02:58:00 02:58:00
94.G3ax4b 02:58:00 02:58:00
95.+N5cx4b 02:58:00 02:58:00
96.P*5a 02:58:00 02:58:00
97.R*4a 02:58:00 02:58:00

In the press room the professionals started looking for winning variations
for black. Here 97.N*7d was considered stronger, but both players had seen
that this is not good after 98.G*8h Kx8h B*3c which loses the promoted
knight
(Tanigawa) or 98.B*4d G*5b Px5b R*4a S*5a Nx6b+ Kx6b R5a+ K5c (Moriuchi).
Especially the last variation is impressive. Moriuchi must have been in a
state of panic here, but he still had enough state of mind to coolly
calculate
this dangerous variation. Despite his earlier mistake, Moriuchi's lead is
just enough to win.

98.P*8f 02:58:00 02:59:00
99.G*5b 02:59:00 02:59:00
100.K6a-7a 02:59:00 02:59:00
101.G5bx6b 02:59:00 02:59:00
102.K7a-8b 02:59:00 02:59:00
103.S*8d 02:59:00 02:59:00
104.P8fx8g+ 02:59:00 02:59:00
105.K7h-6i 02:59:00 02:59:00
106.B*2f 02:59:00 02:59:00
107.G6bx7b 02:59:00 02:59:00
108.K8bx7b 02:59:00 02:59:00
109.S*8c 02:59:00 02:59:00
110.K7b-7a 02:59:00 02:59:00
111.R4ax5a+ 02:59:00 02:59:00
112.S*6a 02:59:00 02:59:00
Resigns 02:59:00 02:59:00

No mate and no defence. After the game both players looked like they had
lost. Especially Moriuchi looked close to tears. He really thought he had
thrown the game away, but in the end there was no real chance for Tanigawa
to win. Surprisingly, Moriuchi takes a 2-0 lead against "Mister Zen Nihon
Pro". He needs only one more win from three games to win this tournament.

In other shogi news:
====================

* In the Oza tournament Moriuchi and Sato Yasumitsu reached the
quarterfinals of the challenger tournament with wins over Tanaka
Torahiko and Minami. Moriuchi had to sweat most for his win as Tanaka
managed to get a winning position. However, he overestimated the
strength of his impressive looking castle and overplayed his attack.
Sato and Minami played a difficult game where Sato managed to convert a
small lead into a win with some fine play. Minami got only one chance to
make the game interesting but missed his opportunity.

* The Oi tournament seems to be heading for a challenger game between
Moriuchi and Yashiki. Both have three wins with only two games to play.
Especially Moriuchi seems to cruise to a victory in the Red group, as
his main rival Tanigawa already dropped two games against Yamasaki and
Naganuma. The loss against Yamasaki was an unfortunate fluke, but
relatively unknown Naganuma played a very good game against Tanigawa. It
was close until the very end as Naganuma's king could only just escape
from mate.

In the white group Yashiki only has to fear Sato Yasumitsu, but with
games against Hatakeyama and Kanezawa left to play, Sato doesn't have
his chances in his own hands. Moriuchi seems to be in great form at the
start of the season. Will this be his first challenge for the Oi title?

* Some amazing things are happening in the Kisei challenger tournament.
Here are the results of the quarterfinals:

Suzuki-Nakagawa 1-0 (not a real surprise)
Fujii-Goda 0-1 (well, that can happen)
Sato Yasumitsu-Namekata 0-1 (big upset number 1)
Tanigawa-Fukaura 0-1 (big upset number 2)

So we now have the semifinals Goda-Namekata and Suzuki-Fukaura.
Definitely not the players expected to advance. Goda of course has a lot
of experience in title matches and is a former Kisei, but the other
three have never challenged for the Kisei (Suzuki and Fukaura have title
match experience though). Can Goda forget his disaster in the Junisen
and have a go at the Kisei title instead or will we have a new face
sitting opposite Habu?

More next week,
Reijer



--

Reijer Grimbergen
Department of Information Science
Saga University
1 Honjo, Saga-shi, 840-8502 Japan
E-mail: grimbergen <at> fu <dot> is <dot> saga-u <dot> ac <dot> jp
URL: http://www.fu.is.saga-u.ac.jp/~grimberg/index.html
Tel: +81-(0)952-28-8821
Fax: +81-(0)952-28-8650