From: Reijer Grimbergen FU IS SAGA-U AC JP> Date: 8 apr 2002 Subject: These weeks in Shukan Shogi (no. 935 and 936, Another double Shukan Shogi report. This time this is only in part because I was busy. The professional season has ended and most players have a couple of weeks off before the new Junisen season begins. In the meanwhile, all eyes are on the Meijin match (which start on April 10th) and the Asahi Open Match. Two surprise finalists in this one as future stars Sugimoto and Horiguchi play their first match on the big stage. Sugimoto won a spirited fight to take the lead. Here is the game with comments: Black: Sugimoto Masataka, 6-dan White: Horiguchi Kazushiza, 5-dan 20th Asahi-open, Game 1, March 26th 2002 1.P1g-1f 00:03:00 00:00:00 This year the Zen-Nihon Pro Tournament changed its name to the "Asahi Open Tournament". Probably to profile the sponsor a little more and also to emphasize that a number of amateurs are allowed to enter this tournament. Of course there are no amateurs in the final (will we ever see this happen?), but the finalists are almost as big a surprise. No A class professionals or former title holders, but Sugimoto and Horiguchi fight for the honour to be the first Asahi Open champion. Both player appear for the first time on the big stage (this tournament is often called the "eight title") and both played an official game in formal kimono for the first time. Especially Sugimoto admitted that he was very nervous before the game. The three minutes taken for the first move were mainly used to stop his hand from shaking too much. Dropping a piece on the floor at your first move would indeed be a nightmare. Finally, Sugimoto managed to settle a little and play 1.P1f. This might have surprised many players only a couple of years ago, but today it is almost a normal opening move for Furibisha players. The idea is to push on the edge early to get a quick attack against the anaguma if the Ibisha side aims for this castle. 2.P3c-3d 00:03:00 00:02:00 3.P7g-7f 00:03:00 00:02:00 4.P8c-8d 00:03:00 00:02:00 5.P6g-6f 00:03:00 00:02:00 6.S7a-6b 00:03:00 00:02:00 7.S7i-7h 00:03:00 00:02:00 8.K5a-4b 00:03:00 00:02:00 9.R2h-6h 00:03:00 00:02:00 10.K4b-3b 00:03:00 00:03:00 11.S3i-3h 00:03:00 00:03:00 12.P5c-5d 00:03:00 00:03:00 13.P1f-1e 00:04:00 00:03:00 14.G6a-5b 00:04:00 00:04:00 15.S7h-6g 00:05:00 00:04:00 16.B2b-3c 00:05:00 00:09:00 17.P3g-3f 00:14:00 00:09:00 18.P8d-8e 00:14:00 00:10:00 19.B8h-7g 00:15:00 00:10:00 20.B3c-2d 00:15:00 00:24:00 21.G6i-5h 00:25:00 00:24:00 22.P4c-4d 00:25:00 00:25:00 23.P6f-6e 00:26:00 00:25:00 24.G5b-4c 00:26:00 00:25:00 25.K5i-4h 00:34:00 00:25:00 26.K3b-2b 00:34:00 00:25:00 27.K4h-3i 00:35:00 00:25:00 28.G4a-3b 00:35:00 00:25:00 29.K3i-2h 00:48:00 00:25:00 30.P9c-9d 00:48:00 00:28:00 31.S3h-3g 00:50:00 00:28:00 So far, play went more or less as expected. Sugimoto is famous for his Furibisha play and Horiguchi is mainly an Ibisha player. Black's opening strategy seemed to be moving towards a quick attack, but Sugimoto already gave up this idea when he played 25.K4h. The move 31.S3g looks a little odd, but black is moving into an anaguma castle himself here. With both players opting for a slow game, the loss of moves is not particularly important. 32.L1a-1b 00:50:00 00:31:00 33.L1i-1h 00:52:00 00:31:00 34.K2b-1a 00:52:00 00:31:00 35.K2h-1i 00:52:00 00:31:00 36.S3a-2b 00:52:00 00:32:00 37.G5h-4h 00:52:00 00:32:00 38.S6b-5c 00:52:00 00:34:00 39.P4g-4f 00:58:00 00:34:00 40.P7c-7d 00:58:00 00:42:00 41.G4i-3i 01:00:00 00:42:00 42.R8b-7b 01:00:00 00:46:00 43.S6g-6f 01:03:00 00:46:00 44.S5c-4b 01:03:00 00:46:00 45.G4h-3h 01:05:00 00:46:00 46.S4b-3a 01:05:00 00:47:00 47.R6h-7h 01:08:00 00:47:00 48.N8a-7c 01:08:00 01:06:00 49.P7f-7e 01:28:00 01:06:00 50.P7dx7e 01:28:00 01:06:00 51.B7g-5i 01:28:00 01:06:00 52.B2d-4b 01:28:00 01:08:00 53.S3g-2h 01:28:00 01:08:00 54.P5d-5e 01:28:00 01:18:00 55.B5i-2f 01:38:00 01:18:00 56.R7b-5b 01:38:00 01:33:00 57.P6e-6d 01:42:00 01:33:00 58.B4bx6d? 01:42:00 01:57:00 This speeds up the game considerably, as both players can now develop their major pieces ("sabaki"). However, this usually turns out well for the Furibisha side and this is also the case in this game. Horiguchi should have been patient and play 58.Px6d instead. After 59.Rx7b P*7b! white has the strong threat P6e with attack on rook and silver and seems to have the upper hand. Horiguchi didn't like the idea of having to drop a pawn back on 7b. 59.S6fx7e 01:47:00 01:57:00 60.B6d-4b 01:47:00 01:59:00 61.S7e-7d 02:02:00 01:59:00 62.P5e-5f 02:02:00 01:59:00 63.S7dx6c= 02:20:00 01:59:00 64.R5b-5e 02:20:00 01:59:00 65.R7hx7c+ 02:20:00 01:59:00 66.P5fx5g+ 02:20:00 02:00:00 67.P*5c 02:21:00 02:00:00 68.P*5a 02:21:00 02:02:00 69.N8i-7g 02:26:00 02:02:00 70.B4b-2d 02:26:00 02:09:00 71.P5c-5b+ 02:26:00 02:09:00 72.P5ax5b 02:26:00 02:09:00 73.P*5d 02:34:00 02:09:00 74.G4c-4b 02:34:00 02:20:00 75.+R7c-7a 02:34:00 02:20:00 76.B2dx4f 02:34:00 02:21:00 77.N*6d? 02:37:00 02:21:00 Underestimates white's reply. 78.R5e-2e! 02:37:00 02:25:00 The perfect answer. 79.Nx5b+ now fails to 80.Gx5b Sx5b= Rx2f Px2f +P4g! and white wins because taking this pawn is a typical anaguma mate in one (N*2g). 79.B2f-3g 02:37:00 02:25:00 No choice. 80.B4fx3g+ 02:37:00 02:25:00 81.N2ix3g 02:42:00 02:25:00 Moving this knight up seriously weakens the anaguma castle. Also, if black gives up a knight, the attack N*4f is very strong. 82.R2e-5e 02:42:00 02:25:00 83.+R7ax9a 02:45:00 02:25:00 Black has to give up the initiative and wait for things to come. White now has the advantage. 84.B*5f? 02:45:00 02:37:00 White's advantage only lasts for a single move. This is serious mistake that turns the tables again. The right move was 84.B*4g and when black plays 85.B*6f like in the game, 86.B5f+ is good for white. 85.B*6f 02:45:00 02:37:00 86.B5fx3h+ 02:45:00 02:37:00 87.G3ix3h 02:45:00 02:37:00 88.R5e-5f 02:45:00 02:55:00 Or 88.+P4g Gx4g R5h+ G4h and white has no good continuation. 89.B6f-9c+ 02:45:00 02:55:00 This promoted bishop works very well. 90.P*6f 02:45:00 02:56:00 91.B*8c 02:52:00 02:56:00 92.R5f-4f 02:52:00 02:57:00 93.L*4g 02:54:00 02:57:00 94.R4fx3f 02:54:00 02:58:00 95.N6dx5b+ 02:54:00 02:58:00 96.G4bx5b 02:54:00 02:59:00 97.S6cx5b= 02:54:00 02:59:00 98.G*4h 02:54:00 02:59:00 99.P*3i 02:54:00 02:59:00 100.G4hx3h 02:54:00 02:59:00 101.P3ix3h 02:54:00 02:59:00 102.G*4h 02:54:00 02:59:00 103.L4gx4d 02:55:00 02:59:00 104.N*4f 02:55:00 02:59:00 105.G*2i 02:57:00 02:59:00 106.P*4g 02:57:00 02:59:00 107.G*3i 02:57:00 02:59:00 108.G4hx3i 02:57:00 02:59:00 109.S2hx3i 02:57:00 02:59:00 110.P4g-4h+ 02:57:00 02:59:00 This looks very strong, but the black king is still quite far from the action. Black has a much better position than it looks. 111.+B9cx6f? 02:58:00 02:59:00 A mistake that almost turns the tables again. Difficult to see with only 3 minutes on the clock, but 111.L4c+ leads to a quick win because white has no defence against +Lx3b Sx3b +Bx6f next. White's attack is one move late. 112.+P4hx3i 02:58:00 02:59:00 113.G2ix3i 02:58:00 02:59:00 114.N4f-5h+! 02:58:00 02:59:00 Here Sugimoto realised that he made a mistake. He only looked at the natural 114.Nx3h+ Bx3h+ Rx6f L4c+ and the black bishop works well in defence so there is no way to win for white. Not allowing the bishop to get back in defence is a much better way of taking the other bishop on 6f. Things now become very close. 115.L4d-4c+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 116.R3fx6f 02:58:00 02:59:00 117.+L4cx3b 02:58:00 02:59:00 118.S3ax3b 02:58:00 02:59:00 119.G*3a! 02:58:00 02:59:00 This just seems enough to win. 120.G*4b 02:58:00 02:59:00 121.P5d-5c+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 122.L*1f 02:58:00 02:59:00 123.G*2h 02:58:00 02:59:00 124.L1fx1h+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 125.G2hx1h 02:58:00 02:59:00 126.S*1g! 02:58:00 02:59:00 White tries everything. 126.R6i+ P*4i is hopeless and after 126.L*1f +Px4b Sx3a +Rx3a the black king can't be mated. Unfortunately for Horiguchi his efforts are in vain, but it is amazing that this game still lasts for 43 moves from here. 127.G1hx1g 02:58:00 02:59:00 128.L*1f 02:58:00 02:59:00 129.L*1h 02:58:00 02:59:00 130.L1fx1g+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 131.L1hx1g 02:58:00 02:59:00 132.B*4d 02:58:00 02:59:00 133.S*2h 02:58:00 02:59:00 134.B4dx5c 02:58:00 02:59:00 135.G3ax3b 02:58:00 02:59:00 136.G4bx3b 02:58:00 02:59:00 137.B8c-6e+ 02:58:00 02:59:00 138.R6fx6e 02:58:00 02:59:00 139.N7gx6e 02:58:00 02:59:00 140.B5c-3e 02:58:00 02:59:00 141.S*4c 02:59:00 02:59:00 142.G*3a 02:59:00 02:59:00 143.S4cx3b+ 02:59:00 02:59:00 144.G3ax3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 145.G*4c 02:59:00 02:59:00 146.G*3a 02:59:00 02:59:00 147.G4cx3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 148.G3ax3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 149.G*4c 02:59:00 02:59:00 150.G*3a 02:59:00 02:59:00 151.G4cx3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 152.G3ax3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 153.S5b-4c+ 02:59:00 02:59:00 154.G3bx4c 02:59:00 02:59:00 155.G*3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 156.P*7a 02:59:00 02:59:00 157.P*4d 02:59:00 02:59:00 158.B3ex4d 02:59:00 02:59:00 159.L*4e 02:59:00 02:59:00 160.+P5g-4h 02:59:00 02:59:00 161.L4ex4d 02:59:00 02:59:00 162.+P4hx3i 02:59:00 02:59:00 163.G3bx2a 02:59:00 02:59:00 164.K1ax2a 02:59:00 02:59:00 165.B*3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 166.K2ax3b 02:59:00 02:59:00 167.L4dx4c+ 02:59:00 02:59:00 168.K3bx4c 02:59:00 02:59:00 169.R*5c 02:59:00 02:59:00 Resigns 02:59:00 02:59:00 Mate after 170.K3b N*4d K2a G*3b K1a Gx2b Kx2b S*3c K1a +Rx7a. Maybe this game was not the top level shogi we saw in the Habu-Sato matches, but both players played it with a lot of heart, making this a very interesting fighting game after a slow start. Sugimoto is the one with the first win under his (kimono) belt, but judging from this game the two players are of similar strength, so I expect Horiguchi to strike back with the black pieces in game 2. In other shogi news: ==================== * The final eight of this year's Kisei challenger tournament have been decided. There were still two places that would be taken by the winners of the games Sugimoto-Sato and Yashiki-Maruyama. Sugimoto missed a good opportunity to win the game against the new Osho, but in the end Sato survived to keep his hope of getting a second crown. In the other game Yashiki (a three times Kisei title holder) looked on his way to upsetting the Meijin, but he too made a big mistake in the endgame and lost. These results give the following quarter final games: Tanigawa-Sato, Namekata-Kimura, N.Hatakeyama-Maruyama and Kubo-Habu. An interesting blend of the old and the new: will Habu get a rematch with Goda or will a new challenger emerge? * In the Red League of the Oi, Tanigawa joined Kimura in the lead with a second round victory over Matsuo. Yashiki recovered from a first round loss against Kimura with a win against Meijin Maruyama (a revenge for his Kisei loss only four days earlier?). Murayama now also has one win and one loss. In the White Group, Sato joined Moriuchi at the top with a win against Fukaura. Fukaura is still winless after two games. Kanezawa got his first win against veteran Awaji. Both Kanezawa and Awaji now have one win and one loss. * Moriuchi showed his good form in the build-up to the Meijin match by winning the 51st NHK Cup. In the final of this television quick play tournament he beat Osho Sato in an violent up and down game. Both players had chances to win the close endgame, but in the end Moriuchi was the one who survived to win his second NHK title (he also won the tournament in 1997). * The other major television tournament, the Hayasashi Shogi Senshuken was a victory for Meijin Maruyama. Maruyama is not really famous for his quick play skills, but he won this tournament for the second time in a row. Maruyama beat Yashiki in the final. More later, 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