From: Reijer Grimbergen ETL GO JP> Date: 14 feb 2001 Subject: Kio match game 1 Another very interesting game to start the Kio match between Habu and Kubo. Kubo is a Furibisha specialist like Fujii, so it was interesting to see how Habu would play against him. Well, he does not seem to be afraid of Kubo playing the Fujii system, as this time he met it head on (avoiding it against Fujii in earlier matches). It became a very wild middle game and when Habu promoted his pawn on the head of the king on the 47th move, I thought it would be over soon. Either Habu's attack would win or die out quickly with Kubo having the material advantage. However, neither happened. Habu's attack seemed just not strong enough, but Kubo also could not completely kill it either. I am sure there were quite some reversals of fortune under time pressure, but in the end Habu's endgame skills (again) prevailed as Kubo had to resign after 128 moves. A great effort by the young challenger that would have been enough against most, but not against Habu. The game can be viewed on: http://kiou.minaminippon.co.jp/shougi/index2.htm More on it next week with analysis from Shukan Shogi, Reijer -- Reijer Grimbergen Complex Games Lab Electrotechnical Laboratory 1-1-4 Umezono, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, 305-8568 JAPAN E-mail: grimberg etl go jp URL: http://www.etl.go.jp/etl/suiron/~grimberg/ Tel: +81-(0)298-61-3316 Fax: +81-(0)298-61-5918