From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 28 jun 2001 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 897, June 27th 2001) This week's Shukan Shogi actually had so much news that they had to change the format a little to fit everything in. The weekly game corner with three Junisen games was skipped to have reports on both the title match games and all the Junisen action (games in the A class, B2 and C2). The most important game was of course the final game of the Meijin match between Maruyama and Tanigawa. Maruyama won to defend his title successfully with some surprising moves that put Tanigawa off balance. Here is the game with comments: Black: Tanigawa Koji, Challenger White: Maruyama Tadahisa, Meijin 59th Meijin-sen, Game 7, June 21st and 22nd 2001 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 So far all games in this Meijin match have been won by black, so the furigoma of this final game was awaited with anticipation. The pawns fell lucky for Tanigawa. The question here is: kakugawari or yokofudori? 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:04:00 3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:04:00 4.P8c-8d 00:02:00 00:04:00 5.P2f-2e 00:04:00 00:04:00 6.P8d-8e 00:04:00 00:04:00 7.G6i-7h 00:04:00 00:04:00 8.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:04:00 9.P2e-2d 00:05:00 00:04:00 10.P2cx2d 00:05:00 00:04:00 11.R2hx2d 00:05:00 00:04:00 12.P8e-8f 00:05:00 00:04:00 13.P8gx8f 00:05:00 00:04:00 14.R8bx8f 00:05:00 00:04:00 15.R2dx3d 00:05:00 00:04:00 Yokofudori it is. Maruyama has gotten quite a beating with white in this match. After his bad loss in the second game, he hasn't played his favorite yokofudori anymore. However, in the replay of the third game and in the fifth game he didn't fare much better in the kakugawari opening, so it seems natural that he returns to his favorite opening in this all-deciding game. 16.B2b-3c 00:05:00 00:04:00 17.R3d-3f 00:20:00 00:04:00 18.S3a-2b 00:20:00 00:05:00 19.P*8g 00:56:00 00:05:00 20.R8f-8e 00:56:00 00:05:00 21.R3f-2f 00:56:00 00:05:00 22.K5a-4a 00:56:00 00:05:00 23.K5i-6h 01:01:00 00:05:00 24.S7a-6b 01:01:00 00:06:00 25.S3i-3h 01:14:00 00:06:00 26.G6a-5a 01:14:00 00:08:00 27.P3g-3f 01:15:00 00:08:00 28.P7c-7d 01:15:00 00:08:00 29.N2i-3g 01:23:00 00:08:00 30.N8a-7c 01:23:00 00:38:00 31.P4g-4f 01:34:00 00:38:00 32.R8e-5e 01:34:00 01:04:00 This position is amazingly popular in professional play. There are more than 30 examples of professional games with exactly this development. 33.P4f-4e 01:45:00 01:04:00 34.R5e-5d 01:45:00 01:10:00 35.B8hx3c+ 01:46:00 01:10:00 36.N2ax3c 01:46:00 01:10:00 37.P6g-6f 01:46:00 01:10:00 38.P7d-7e 01:46:00 01:26:00 Both players follow the first game of the Kisei match between Habu and Goda, which was played on the 16th. So far, the game is a copy of that one. 39.B*8c 03:03:00 01:26:00 The first new move. Habu played 39.Px7e here, but Tanigawa said he didn't like this move and wanted to play more positive. 40.N3cx4e!? 03:03:00 01:59:00 A surprise for everyone including Tanigawa. Of course this is not a real sacrifice as after Nx4e B*4f white has the double threat of Bx5g+ and Bx1a+. However, giving up material and having the black knight on the good square 4e for free makes this a difficult move to play. It's hard to say if Maruyama's judgment is correct. 41.N3gx4e 03:37:00 01:59:00 42.B*4f 03:37:00 02:00:00 43.G4i-5h 05:06:00 02:00:00 Tanigawa took no less than 89 minutes for this move, showing that he was completely surprised by Maruyama's knight move. There are a number of alternatives here which also look good like B4g+ or P*4b. Tanigawa chooses the most aggressive way to attack. 44.B4fx1i+ 05:06:00 02:00:00 45.P*2c 05:06:00 02:00:00 46.S2b-3a 05:06:00 02:10:00 47.N*3c 05:14:00 02:10:00 48.K4a-5b 05:14:00 04:45:00 Time for Maruyama to have a long thought. No less than 155 minutes for this move. Of course he wasn't thinking so long about this move, but more about the development after his next move. 49.N3c-2a+ 05:14:00 04:45:00 50.P*2e 05:14:00 04:46:00 51.R2f-2g 05:41:00 04:46:00 No choice. 51.Rx2e L*2d R3e P*3d +Nx3a Gx3a N3c+ Px3e P2b+ Gx2b +Nx2b N*4f S4g P*8b is good for white. 52.+B1i-5e 05:41:00 07:05:00 53.R2gx2e 06:16:00 07:05:00 Now this is the right move. With the bishop on 5e, the variation above no longer works. After 54.L*2d R3e P*3d +Nx3a Gx3a black can now play Nx5c+! and gets a big advantage after Rx5c Rx5e B*3c N*4d P2b+. 54.+B5ex6f 06:16:00 07:07:00 Maruyama has seen this all in advance, because he used only two minutes for this move. 55.P2c-2b+ 06:37:00 07:07:00 56.S3ax2b 06:37:00 07:08:00 57.+N2ax2b 06:50:00 07:08:00 58.G3bx2b 06:50:00 07:42:00 59.G7h-7g 06:54:00 07:42:00 60.+B6f-4d 06:54:00 07:42:00 61.S*3e 06:59:00 07:42:00 And black has the upper-hand after 62.P*2d Rx2d +Bx7g Nx7g Rx2d Sx2d. At least, that was the opinion of the professionals in the press room (including Sato Yasumitsu and Kubo). 62.L*2c! 06:59:00 08:04:00 Brilliant move that shows why Maruyama is the Meijin. For the second time Tanigawa completely overlooks a move by his opponent. He also thought that white had to play P*2d here. After L*2c, suddenly things get very complicated. Black's attack is slowed down, giving white the chance for a strong counter. Moreover, this lance invites the following mistake. 63.P*2d? 07:39:00 08:04:00 The natural way to try and refute the previous lance drop, but 63.Sx4d was better. Then 64.Rx4d R3e P*3d Nx5c+ Sx5c R7e S*6d P*4e R5d R7d and the position is unclear. 64.+B4dx4e 07:39:00 08:04:00 65.P2dx2c+ 07:40:00 08:04:00 66.N*6e 07:40:00 08:04:00 67.P*4d 07:51:00 08:04:00 68.P4cx4d 07:51:00 08:11:00 69.+P2cx2b 08:06:00 08:11:00 70.+B4ex3f 08:06:00 08:18:00 This is a mating threat: +Bx5h K7h G*6g etc. Now white is dictating the pace of the game. 71.G*4c 08:06:00 08:18:00 72.K5bx4c 08:06:00 08:20:00 73.R2e-2c+ 08:06:00 08:20:00 74.K4c-5b 08:06:00 08:33:00 75.S3h-4g 08:06:00 08:33:00 76.N6ex5g+ 08:06:00 08:34:00 77.G5hx5g 08:07:00 08:34:00 After 77.K7h black the black promoted rook gets exchanged against the bishop after +B4e. 78.R5dx5g+ 08:07:00 08:42:00 79.K6hx5g 08:07:00 08:42:00 80.N*6e 08:07:00 08:43:00 81.K5g-6f 08:35:00 08:43:00 82.+B3fx4g 08:35:00 08:43:00 83.R*3b 08:35:00 08:43:00 84.G*4b 08:35:00 08:44:00 Resigns 08:36:00 08:44:00 It's hard to call this a blunder, but Tanigawa resigns a little too early. He didn't see that things are not that easy after 85.G6g. For example, white loses after the natural 86.S*5g Kx7e G*8e K7d N7g+ L*5f! (threatening mate). The right way to win for white is 86.+B4h N*5g Nx5g+ S3d G*6e K7g +N6g K8h +B6f L*7g S*5d and there is no good way to attack the white king. Maruyama had seen this variation, but when he showed it to Tanigawa after the game, Tanigawa clearly showed disappointment about not having tried a little longer. Anyway, despite an up and down performance in this title match, Maruyama finally manages to defend his title. Tanigawa must have a final game complex, as he has now lost seven matches in row where the final game had to decide the winner, including three Meijin matches. The second title match game in this week's Shukan Shogi was the first game of the Kisei title match between Habu and Goda. Only one page with comments (probably because of lack of space), so not much deep analysis on this one. Perhaps there was no need, as the long theoretical opening battle was won by Goda, but with some magic the endgame ended in Habu's favor. A common pattern in Habu's games. Here is the game: Black: Habu Yoshiharu, Kisei White: Goda Masataka, Challenger 72nd Kisei-sen, Game 1, June 16th 2001 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:00:00 00:04:00 3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:04:00 4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:05:00 5.P2f-2e 00:03:00 00:05:00 6.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:05:00 7.G6i-7h 00:04:00 00:05:00 8.G4a-3b 00:04:00 00:05:00 9.P2e-2d 00:06:00 00:05:00 10.P2cx2d 00:06:00 00:05:00 11.R2hx2d 00:06:00 00:05:00 12.P8e-8f 00:06:00 00:05:00 13.P8gx8f 00:07:00 00:05:00 14.R8bx8f 00:07:00 00:05:00 15.R2dx3d 00:09:00 00:05:00 16.B2b-3c 00:09:00 00:07:00 17.R3d-3f 00:18:00 00:07:00 18.S3a-2b 00:18:00 00:10:00 19.P*8g 00:38:00 00:10:00 20.R8f-8e 00:38:00 00:10:00 One of Goda's comments before the match: "Up until now I aimed at playing my own type of game, but now I've turned 30, I want to try harder to win". Playing the Chuza Yokofudori with white is probably the best proof that he's serious. Goda almost never plays this opening with white as he doesn't trust it: "At some point, a flaw in the Chuza Yokofudori will be found and then it will disappear completely". However, despite his doubts about the soundness of this strategy, the winning percentage of white in this opening is extremely high. More than sticking to his believe, Goda wants to win. 21.R3f-2f 00:38:00 00:10:00 22.K5a-4a 00:38:00 00:11:00 23.K5i-6h 00:38:00 00:11:00 24.S7a-6b 00:38:00 00:23:00 25.S3i-3h 00:41:00 00:23:00 26.G6a-5a 00:41:00 00:23:00 27.P3g-3f 00:43:00 00:23:00 28.P7c-7d 00:43:00 00:24:00 29.N2i-3g 00:44:00 00:24:00 30.N8a-7c 00:44:00 00:25:00 31.P4g-4f 00:44:00 00:25:00 32.R8e-5e 00:44:00 00:57:00 33.P4f-4e 00:54:00 00:57:00 34.R5e-5d 00:54:00 01:03:00 35.B8hx3c+ 01:07:00 01:03:00 36.N2ax3c 01:07:00 01:03:00 37.P6g-6f 01:07:00 01:03:00 38.P*2d 01:07:00 01:10:00 39.G4i-4h 01:30:00 01:10:00 40.N3c-2e 01:30:00 01:48:00 41.P3f-3e 01:38:00 01:48:00 42.P7d-7e 01:38:00 01:56:00 43.P7fx7e 02:02:00 01:56:00 44.P*8h 02:02:00 02:09:00 45.S7ix8h 02:04:00 02:09:00 46.N2ex3g+ 02:04:00 02:09:00 47.S3hx3g 02:05:00 02:09:00 48.N*7f 02:05:00 02:10:00 49.K6h-7g 02:06:00 02:10:00 50.N7fx8h+ 02:06:00 02:11:00 51.K7gx8h 02:06:00 02:11:00 52.B*6i 02:06:00 02:17:00 53.B*6g?! 02:21:00 02:17:00 Even though the move order is different, up until now the position was the same as in the game between Minami and Sato, which was played in the Oza tournament on April 23rd. 53.B*6g is a new move by Habu, but it is doubtful if it is a real improvement. Minami played 53.N*7d here and lost. 54.S*5i! 02:21:00 02:47:00 Good move. This silver is going for the bishop on 6g. Also, sacrifices like Bx7h+ suddenly are very dangerous for black. White seems to have the advantage here. 55.N*4f 02:44:00 02:47:00 56.R5d-5e 02:44:00 03:17:00 57.P4e-4d 02:45:00 03:17:00 58.P4cx4d 02:45:00 03:21:00 59.P*4b 03:11:00 03:21:00 60.G5ax4b 03:11:00 03:26:00 Habu is trying everything to make it difficult. Here 60.K5b fails to 61.N*3f! which both threatens the fork Nx4d and leaves the bishop on 6i without moves. 61.N*3d 03:11:00 03:26:00 62.P*7g 03:11:00 03:27:00 63.G7hx7g 03:21:00 03:27:00 64.S5i-6h+ 03:21:00 03:28:00 65.N3dx4b+ 03:26:00 03:28:00 66.G3bx4b 03:26:00 03:42:00 67.G*7i! 03:36:00 03:42:00 Habu magic. The normal 67.G*7h is answered by 68.+Sx7h Bx7h Bx7h+ and after both Kx7h N*8e and Gx7h N*7f white wins. However, 67.G*7i doesn't seem to help much. 68.+S6hx6g 03:36:00 03:44:00 69.G7ix6i 03:36:00 03:44:00 70.+S6gx7g? 03:36:00 03:45:00 An error in judgment that turns the game around. It looks like Habu's king will be out in the open after this move, but strangely enough it is very hard to mate. Goda should have played 70.B*9d here, which strongly threatens N*7f next. 71.K8hx7g 03:36:00 03:45:00 72.B*9d 03:36:00 03:46:00 73.N4f-3d 03:41:00 03:46:00 74.G*6g 03:41:00 03:48:00 75.K7g-8h 03:43:00 03:48:00 76.R5ex3e 03:43:00 03:48:00 77.R2fx2d 03:46:00 03:48:00 78.P*2c 03:46:00 03:51:00 79.N3dx4b+ 03:46:00 03:51:00 80.K4ax4b 03:46:00 03:51:00 81.R2dx4d 03:46:00 03:51:00 82.P*4c 03:46:00 03:52:00 83.R4d-8d 03:46:00 03:52:00 84.G6gx6f 03:46:00 03:55:00 85.P*4d 03:51:00 03:55:00 86.P4cx4d 03:51:00 03:55:00 87.R8d-8b+ 03:51:00 03:55:00 88.P*7b 03:51:00 03:55:00 89.P*4c 03:51:00 03:55:00 90.K4bx4c 03:51:00 03:58:00 91.+R8bx9a 03:51:00 03:58:00 92.R3e-3a! 03:51:00 03:59:00 Black is winning, but this is a good last try. If black now plays 92.+Rx3a? Sx3a then white has the mating threat N*7f K7i N*6g K7h R*8h. Black has a lot of pieces, so it looks like there might be a mate, but there isn't, so white wins. 93.S*3d! 03:55:00 03:59:00 Habu makes no mistake. If now 94.Kx3d then 95.L*3e decides the game. 96.Kx3e +Rx3a Sx3a R*3c leads to mate and 96.K4c Lx3a+ leaves white without any hope. 94.R3ax3d 03:55:00 03:59:00 No choice, but now black can easily win in the attack. 95.+R9a-4a 03:55:00 03:59:00 96.N*4b 03:55:00 03:59:00 97.B*6a 03:55:00 03:59:00 98.K4c-5d 03:55:00 03:59:00 99.+R4ax4b 03:55:00 03:59:00 100.R3d-3c 03:55:00 03:59:00 101.L*5f 03:56:00 03:59:00 102.K5d-6e 03:56:00 03:59:00 103.+R4bx6b 03:56:00 03:59:00 104.B9d-6g+ 03:56:00 03:59:00 105.+R6bx6c 03:56:00 03:59:00 Resigns 03:56:00 03:59:00 Mate after 106.Kx7e S*8f K8d G*7d K9d Bx7b+. Goda had some chances in this game and that might encourage him. He will need that, as losing the second game will mean 2-0 down with three games to play. Not a situation you want to be in against Habu. In other shogi news: ==================== * I was a little surprised when I realised it, but the A class no longer seems to be the class of the young guns. Sato, Habu, Moriuchi and Morishita have been playing in this class for so long that it seemed the domain of the young stars. Well, they are not so young anymore, as Miura is currently the only player in his twenties in the top class. At 27 he is three years younger than Fujii, Habu and Moriuchi. His first game in the top class was against "veteran" Moriuchi, who knows that it is not so easy to become Meijin challenger. He has been close for the past couple of years, but his last (and only) challenge was in 1996. He must have been determined to show Miura how difficult the A class is. They played a tough game, but Moriuchi always had the upper hand and despite a good effort Miura was not able to turn things around. * In B2 the first round was played there were no surprises. The four players younger than 30 (Suzuki, Fukaura, Kitahama and Namekata) all won and it seemed that only Namekata had a tough time in his game against Tsukada. Tsukada had the better position for a long time, but these days he seems to deal less well with pressure than about ten years ago when he won the Oza title and was in the A class for a couple of years. Namekata escaped in the endgame, getting a good start for a possible successive promotion. In the next game he will play Suzuki Daisuke, which already may be a vital game in the promotion race. Sato Shuji, also in his first year in B2, didn't fare as well in his first round game, as he was beaten convincingly by Hatakeyama. Promotion for two years in a row seems already out of reach for Sato. * In C2 also the first round was played and of course there is nothing that can be said after one round in a class with 42 players. Shukan Shogi focusses on the four rookies, who had mixed success in their first round games. Inoue won with some trouble against Sakurai, as he got out of the opening with his pieces in the wrong places. However, Sakurai started the attack at the wrong time, giving Inoue a chance for a strong counter attack which was decisive. Hashimoto is the youngest of the four at 18. He had started his professional career with six wins, but Kondo showed that a Junisen game is a different story. Hashimoto got nowhere against Kondo's specialty, the "Gokigen Nakabisha", and lost without much of a chance. Chiba lost his first Junisen game against Yamamoto, but that was an up and down game where Yamamoto had to change his plans in the middle game because of an oversight. The game stayed very close and the endgame, where both players had chances, was finally won by Yamamoto. The final rookie game was between Sasaki and Fujiwara. This was a battle from the study room, as they followed a game between Sugimoto and Hirafuji, which was commented by Sugimoto in the June edition of Shogi Sekai. Sasaki seemed to have done his homework better, as he played a new move, which was almost immediately followed by a Fujiwara mistake that gave Sasaki a big advantage which was good enough to win. * In the Ryu-O the final decisions for the challenger tournament were made. The battle of the former Ryu-O title holders between Habu and Sato was decided in Habu's favor, getting back at Sato for losing the first round game in the A class Junisen. Goda also qualified for the finals with a win over Morishita. Finally, classification group 4 was won by Kimura, who beat Sugimoto in the group final to make his first appearance in the challenger finals. More next week, Reijer -- Reijer Grimbergen Department of Information Science Saga University 1 Honjo-machi, Saga-shi, 840-8502 Japan E-mail: grimbergen fu is saga-u ac jp URL: http://www.fu.is.saga-u.ac.jp/~grimberg/ Tel: +81-(0)952-28-8821 Fax: +81-(0)952-28-8650