From: Reijer Grimbergen <grimbergen <at> FU <dot> IS <dot> SAGA-U <dot> AC <dot> JP>
Date: 3 jun 2003
Subject: More games from Shukan Shogi (no. 990 and 991, April 23rd and 30th 2003)

In this Shukan Shogi report the first two games of the Meijin match
between Moriuchi and Habu and the third game of the Asahi Open match
between Horiguchi and Fukauru. In the Meijin match, Habu won both games
to take a 2-0 lead in this match. In the first game he needed to come
from behind in a R8e-Yokofudori game, while in the second game he just
managed to make his attack work in a Kakugawari game. In the Asahi Open
match, Horiguchi pulled one back to avoid losing his title. Fukaura
still leads 2-1 and needs only one win from two games to become the new
Asahi Open title holder. Here are the games with comments:

[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[White "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[Event "61st Meijin-sen, Game 1"]
[Date "April 17th and 18th 2003"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00

Four pawns give Meijin Moriuchi the black pieces in this first game of
the long awaited match between the two childhood rival Habu and
Moriuchi. Habu had to climb a mountain to become Meijin challenger,
coming from behind in the A class and needing two play-off games against
Fujii and Sato to make his first appearance in the Meijin match in six
years. To get the title, he will need to turn things around against
Moriuchi as he has lost their last six encounters.

2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:02:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:05:00
5.P2f-2e 00:01:00 00:05:00
6.P8d-8e 00:01:00 00:13:00
7.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:13:00
8.G4a-3b 00:01:00 00:17:00
9.P2e-2d 00:02:00 00:17:00
10.P2cx2d 00:02:00 00:18:00
11.R2hx2d 00:02:00 00:18:00
12.P8e-8f 00:02:00 00:22:00
13.P8gx8f 00:02:00 00:22:00
14.R8bx8f 00:02:00 00:22:00
15.R2dx3d 00:02:00 00:22:00
16.B2b-3c 00:02:00 00:25:00
17.R3d-3f 00:02:00 00:25:00
18.K5a-4a 00:02:00 00:33:00
19.P*8g 00:14:00 00:33:00
20.R8f-8e 00:14:00 00:34:00

The R8e-Yokofudori is no surprise. Some thought that Habu also might
give the Shikenbisha a try with white, but he usually only plays the
ranging rook when he is ahead in a match or feels that he has some
psychological advantage over his opponent.

21.R3f-2f 00:14:00 00:34:00
22.S3a-2b 00:14:00 00:36:00
23.K5i-6h 00:15:00 00:36:00
24.P7c-7d 00:15:00 01:28:00
25.P3g-3f 00:21:00 01:28:00
26.S7a-6b 00:21:00 01:40:00
27.S3i-3h 00:55:00 01:40:00
28.N8a-7c 00:55:00 01:50:00
29.N2i-3g 00:55:00 01:50:00
30.G6a-5a 00:55:00 01:59:00
31.P4g-4f 00:56:00 01:59:00
32.R8e-5e 00:56:00 02:46:00
33.P4f-4e 01:04:00 02:46:00
34.R5e-5d 01:04:00 03:01:00
35.B8hx3c+ 01:05:00 03:01:00
36.N2ax3c 01:05:00 03:01:00
37.P6g-6f 01:05:00 03:01:00
38.R5d-5e?! 01:05:00 03:16:00

A surprise. The position after 37.P6f has been played many times at the
professional level. To be exact, there are 27 games with this position,
with black winning 15 of them. The biggest game is probably the final
game of the 59th Meijin match between Tanigawa and Maruyama. Maruyama
played 38.P7e and successfully defended his Meijin title after 39.B*8c
Nx4e! Nx4e B*4f. 38.R5e looks strange, but there is actually one game
with this move. In the early days of this variation (three years ago),
Horiguchi Kazushiza and Kimura played a game in the C1 Junisen with
38.R5e. The game continued with 39.P3e Nx4e Nx4e Rx4e B*3d and black
won. Two months later, the same players played another game with this
variation and this time Kimura improved the white play with P*2d, which
from then on became the main move in this position.

39.P3f-3e 03:12:00 03:16:00
40.P*3f?! 03:12:00 04:15:00

A new move, but definitely not prepared by Habu. Habu actually wanted to
play 40.Nx4e, but had no confidence in the position after 41.Nx4e Rx4e
P*2c S3a N*2d. At this point in the post-mortem analysis, the players
were told about the Horiguchi-Kimura game. Both Moriuchi and Habu were
stunned that they had spent so much time on a position that had been
played before. By the way, an interesting alternative to 40.P*3f is
40.P*2e and after 41.Nx2e Nx4e, white threatens to play P*2d next.
However, Habu probably didn t like 41.R4f (or R3f).

41.P3e-3d 05:33:00 04:15:00

Very sharp. The natural move is 41.Rx3f, but Moriuchi probably didn t
like the mobility of his rook after 42.Nx4e Nx4e Rx4e.

42.B*3e 05:33:00 04:45:00
43.P3dx3c+ 06:09:00 04:45:00

No way back. 43.Rx3f Bx5g+ is good for white.

44.R5ex5g+ 06:09:00 05:12:00
45.K6h-6i 06:09:00 05:12:00
46.B3ex2f 06:09:00 05:12:00
47.+P3cx3b 06:10:00 05:12:00
48.K4ax3b 06:10:00 05:13:00
49.S7i-6h 06:15:00 05:13:00
50.+R5g-5d 06:15:00 05:31:00
51.P*3c 06:21:00 05:31:00
52.K3b-4b 06:21:00 06:50:00
53.N*4f 06:56:00 06:50:00
54.+R5d-6d 06:56:00 06:53:00
55.P3c-3b+ 07:01:00 06:53:00
56.K4bx3b 07:01:00 06:59:00
57.N3g-2e 07:01:00 06:59:00
58.P3f-3g+ 07:01:00 07:02:00
59.P*3d 07:10:00 07:02:00
60.K3b-4b 07:10:00 07:02:00
61.P3d-3c+ 07:19:00 07:02:00
62.S2bx3c 07:19:00 07:10:00
63.N2ex3c+ 07:34:00 07:10:00
64.K4bx3c 07:34:00 07:10:00
65.S*3d?! 07:34:00 07:10:00

Better might have been 65.G*3d. The difference is that after 66.K4b,
black has P4d. It is hard for white to take this pawn with the bishop.

66.K3c-4b 07:34:00 07:12:00
67.B*1f 07:53:00 07:12:00

Moriuchi goes for the white rook. 67.P*4d is now not good because of
68.Px4e Sx4c+ Kx4c B*3d K3c and the black attack seems over.

68.N*3a 07:53:00 07:46:00
69.G*3c 07:56:00 07:46:00
70.K4b-5b 07:56:00 07:46:00
71.S3dx4c= 07:56:00 07:46:00
72.K5b-6a 07:56:00 07:46:00
73.S4c-5d+ 07:56:00 07:46:00
74.K6a-7b 07:56:00 07:46:00
75.+S5dx6d 07:56:00 07:46:00
76.+P3gx3h 07:56:00 08:05:00
77.P*5b? 08:21:00 08:05:00

A very sharp endgame, but black seemed to have the upper hand. However,
this is a serious error of judgment that turns the tables. Moriuchi was
completely taken by surprise by 76.+Px3h. He only expected 76.Px6d. If
he would have seen 76.+Px3h, he would probably have found the correct
77.+Sx7c. Then both 78.Sx7c R*2b S*6b G4b and 78.Kx7c G4b! +Px4i Gx5a
are good for black. Activating the gold on 3c adds a lot of strength to
the black attack.

78.G5a-4a 08:21:00 08:06:00
79.B1fx3h? 08:21:00 08:06:00

Again 79.+Sx7c would have been the right move.

80.P6cx6d 08:21:00 08:07:00
81.P*3b 08:21:00 08:07:00
82.S*4h 08:21:00 08:12:00
83.P3bx3a+ 08:29:00 08:12:00
84.S4hx4i= 08:29:00 08:12:00
85.N*8d 08:29:00 08:12:00
86.K7b-8c 08:29:00 08:18:00
87.B3hx4i 08:31:00 08:18:00
88.G*7a 08:31:00 08:23:00
89.B4i-1f 08:50:00 08:23:00
90.R*3i 08:50:00 08:24:00
91.K6i-5h 08:50:00 08:24:00
92.R3ix8i+ 08:50:00 08:28:00
Resigns 08:50:00 08:28:00

After 92.G7i +Rx8g, white is threatening mate with S*4g K6i N*5g etc. A
big win for Habu, who ends the six game losing streak against Moriuchi
with white, coming from behind. It will be interesting to see how this
will have an impact on the rest of the match.

[Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Challenger"]
[White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Meijin"]
[Event "61st Meijin-sen, Game 2"]
[Date "April 24th and 25th 2003"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:02:00
3.P2g-2f 00:03:00 00:02:00
4.G4a-3b 00:03:00 00:03:00
5.G6i-7h 00:06:00 00:03:00
6.P8d-8e 00:06:00 00:03:00
7.B8h-7g 00:09:00 00:03:00
8.P3c-3d 00:09:00 00:03:00
9.S7i-8h 00:11:00 00:03:00
10.B2bx7g+ 00:11:00 00:04:00
11.S8hx7g 00:11:00 00:04:00

The Kakugawari or Bishop Exchange Opening. Despite the general opinion
that black has a small advantage in this opening, it still is immensely
popular in professional games. One of the reasons is probably that it is
quite easy to study this opening as there is a vast amount of literature
and games on it.

12.S3a-4b 00:11:00 00:04:00
13.S3i-3h 00:18:00 00:04:00
14.S7a-7b 00:18:00 00:04:00
15.P9g-9f 00:20:00 00:04:00
16.P9c-9d 00:20:00 00:05:00
17.P4g-4f 00:29:00 00:05:00
18.P6c-6d 00:29:00 00:05:00
19.S3h-4g 00:32:00 00:05:00
20.S7b-6c 00:32:00 00:05:00
21.K5i-6h 00:35:00 00:05:00
22.K5a-4a 00:35:00 00:17:00
23.P1g-1f 00:44:00 00:17:00
24.P1c-1d 00:44:00 00:19:00
25.K6h-7i 00:59:00 00:19:00
26.K4a-3a 00:59:00 00:20:00
27.S4g-5f 01:04:00 00:20:00
28.P7c-7d 01:04:00 00:31:00
29.G4i-5h 01:56:00 00:31:00
30.N8a-7c 01:56:00 00:45:00
31.P3g-3f 02:02:00 00:45:00
32.P4c-4d 02:02:00 01:44:00
33.P6g-6f 02:56:00 01:44:00
34.S6c-5d 02:56:00 01:45:00
35.P2f-2e 02:56:00 01:45:00
36.S4b-3c 02:56:00 01:45:00
37.N2i-3g 02:57:00 01:45:00
38.G6a-5b 02:57:00 01:51:00
39.P4f-4e 03:10:00 01:51:00
40.P4dx4e 03:10:00 01:52:00
41.P3f-3e 03:10:00 01:52:00
42.S3c-4d 03:10:00 01:54:00
43.P1f-1e 03:51:00 01:54:00
44.P1dx1e 03:51:00 01:55:00
45.P2e-2d 03:51:00 01:55:00
46.P2cx2d 03:51:00 01:55:00
47.P7f-7e 03:52:00 01:55:00
48.P7dx7e 03:52:00 01:55:00
49.R2hx2d 03:53:00 01:55:00
50.P*2c 03:53:00 01:55:00
51.R2d-2i 03:54:00 01:55:00
52.G5b-6c 03:54:00 01:55:00
53.P*1b 04:09:00 01:55:00
54.L1ax1b 04:09:00 01:56:00
55.B*1a 04:17:00 01:56:00
56.S4dx3e 04:17:00 01:58:00

This move was first played more than 10 years ago in a 1992 Oi game
between Maruyama and Yonenaga. Maruyama won this game quite convincingly
and when a year later Habu tried this move again in a game against
Tanigawa in the first game of the Kio match and lost, it was generally
considered to be a suspect move. This is the way you can find this move
in the opening books "Habu no zunou", "Tanigawa no 21seiki joseki" and
"Shinban Kakugawari Koushikakegin Kenkyuu". However, in the 4th game of
the 2002 Kio match, Sato Yasumitsu re-introduced 56.Sx3e and despite
losing the game showed that this move is very interesting for white.
Since then, 56.Sx3e has been played no less than 19 times, with black
winning 11 games. Highlight for white was the 4th game of the 2002 Oi
match between Tanigawa and Habu, which Habu won after 57.Sx4e B*2b P*3c
Gx3c Bx2b+ Kx2b Sx5d Px5d N4e G2d!.

57.S5fx4e 04:33:00 01:58:00
58.B*2b 04:33:00 02:01:00

The usual move. 58.B*3h has been played as well, but after 59.R2h B4i+
P*3c Nx3c Sx3d black seems to have the better position.

59.B1ax2b+ 05:01:00 02:01:00

This was the sealed move. There is a big difference in time between
black and white here, exactly 3 hours. The observation by Inoue (8-dan)
regarding this difference is very interesting: "Moriuchi wants to see
black s attacking plan on the first day and therefore has played
quickly. On the other hand, Habu suspected this and takes the actual
fight into the second day by using a lot of time. He has a new move that
he isn t ready to show yet".

60.K3ax2b 05:01:00 02:02:00
61.B*4a 05:04:00 02:02:00
62.B*7d 05:04:00 02:19:00
63.R2i-2h 05:06:00 02:19:00
64.K2b-3a 05:06:00 02:25:00
65.B4ax3b+ 05:07:00 02:25:00
66.K3ax3b 05:07:00 02:25:00
67.S4ex5d 05:07:00 02:25:00
68.G6cx5d 05:07:00 02:33:00
69.S*4c 05:07:00 02:33:00
70.K3bx4c 05:07:00 02:55:00
71.R2hx2c+ 05:07:00 02:55:00
72.S*3c 05:07:00 02:55:00
73.G*2e!? 05:07:00 02:55:00

This is the move that Habu wanted to try. Black is a full bishop down
and only has a promoted rook and some attack as compensation. 73.G*2e is
a hard move to play, as it hands over the initiative to white. This is
the chance for Moriuchi to counter attack, but which attack is the best?

74.P8e-8f 05:07:00 05:13:00

An alternative is 74.P7f. The critical position is after 75.Sx7f (75.S6h
gives white a huge attacking base on 7g) B*4i Gx3d K5b +Rx1b P*4b Gx3c
Nx3c. Moriuchi said that during the game he didn t like L*7e here, but
admitted after the game that 74.P7f is indeed a viable alternative.
Still, 74.P8f is not the reason why white lost this game.

75.S7gx8f 05:44:00 05:13:00
76.P*8h 05:44:00 05:15:00
77.K7ix8h 06:25:00 05:15:00
78.S*6i 06:25:00 05:17:00

Looks like a strong attack.

79.G2ex3e! 07:18:00 05:17:00

In this game we again see Habu s exceptional endgame strength. 79.Gx3d
was the only move that was analyzed in the press room. Again, Habu hands
over the initiative to white. Now this must surely be good enough for
Moriuchi to win...

80.S6ix5h+ 07:18:00 07:01:00
81.P*4d! 07:44:00 07:01:00

Again, the obvious move is 81.Gx3d, but after 82.K5b +R3b P*4b G4c K6b
+Rx2a P*3a Gx3c Rx8f! Px8g S*6i white wins. The strange thing is that
after the game it became clear that Habu hadn t really considered Gx3d
here and at the previous move. He really looks differently at these
positions than mere mortals...

82.G5dx4d 07:44:00 07:16:00
83.G3ex4d 07:44:00 07:16:00
84.K4cx4d 07:44:00 07:16:00
85.G*4e 07:44:00 07:16:00
86.K4d-4c 07:44:00 07:16:00
87.P*4d 07:44:00 07:16:00
88.K4c-5b 07:44:00 07:22:00
89.+R2c-3b 07:44:00 07:22:00
90.S3c-4b 07:44:00 07:59:00
91.P4d-4c+ 07:45:00 07:59:00
92.K5b-6a 07:45:00 08:10:00
93.S*5b 07:53:00 08:10:00
94.B7dx5b? 07:53:00 08:23:00

Only here Moriuchi makes an important mistake. After 94.K7b 95.+Rx4b
96.K8a the position is extremely complicated. For example, 97.+R5a K9b
P9e fails to Rx8f which is a mating threat defending against a mating
threat (Px8f P*8g leads to mate).

95.+R3bx4b 07:56:00 08:23:00
96.S*6i 07:56:00 08:28:00
97.+P4cx5b 08:16:00 08:28:00
98.R8bx5b 08:16:00 08:28:00
99.+R4bx5b 08:21:00 08:28:00
100.K6ax5b 08:21:00 08:28:00
101.P*7i! 08:21:00 08:28:00

Looks like just defense, but actually wins the game. The first point is
that after 102.Sx7h+ Px7h +S6h, black has a mate with B*7d G*6c S*4a
because white doesn t have the right pieces for intermediate drops. The
second point is that without Sx7h+, white has no good way to continue
his attack.

102.B*7f 08:21:00 08:55:00
103.G7h-7g 08:35:00 08:55:00
104.R*6h 08:35:00 08:56:00
105.K8h-9g 08:36:00 08:56:00

White loses because he has no pieces in hand that can move diagonally.

106.P9d-9e 08:36:00 08:56:00
107.R*8b 08:38:00 08:56:00
108.G*6b 08:38:00 08:56:00
109.B*7d 08:38:00 08:56:00
110.G*6c 08:38:00 08:57:00
111.B7dx6c+ 08:39:00 08:57:00
112.K5bx6c 08:39:00 08:57:00
113.S*7d 08:39:00 08:57:00
Resigns 08:39:00 08:59:00

Mate after 114.K5b Rx6b+ Kx6b G*6c etc., or 114.Kx7d Sx7e followed by
picking up the bishop on 7f. Moriuchi must be disappointed being 2-0
down at this point. He played both games very well and lost only by the
smallest of margins. Can he get back in this match?

[Black "Horiguchi Kazushiza, Asahi"]
[White "Fukaura Koichi, Challenger"]
[Event "21st Asahi Open, Game 3"]
[Date "April 21st 2003"]
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.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.G4i-3h 00:00:00 00:00:00
20.K5a-4a 00:00:00 00:00:00
21.K5i-5h 00:00:00 00:00:00
22.R8f-8d 00:00:00 00:00:00
23.P*8g 00:00:00 00:00:00
24.S7a-6b 00:00:00 00:00:00
25.R3f-2f 00:00:00 00:00:00
26.P5c-5d 00:00:00 00:00:00
27.S3i-4h 00:00:00 00:00:00
28.P5d-5e 00:00:00 00:00:00
29.S7i-6h 00:00:00 00:00:00
30.G6a-5a 00:00:00 00:03:00
31.P3g-3f 00:00:00 00:03:00
32.R8d-3d 00:00:00 00:04:00

No reason for Fukaura to change his strategy after his convincing win in
the first game, so again the  Fukaura special  R3d in the Chuza-style
Yokofudori. Horiguchi is the one who has to come up with something new.

33.G3h-3g 00:00:00 00:04:00

Here it is. In game 1, black s attack started with S3g instead of G3g.
Actually, Fukaura has experience with G3g, as this was played by Nakata
Hiroki against him earlier.

34.P7c-7d 00:00:00 00:10:00
35.R2f-2h 00:00:00 00:10:00

But now the game is in completely new territory. Pulling back the rook
gives white little hope of a good attack on the right side of the board
(moves like B4d and P*2e are no longer possible), so he changes his
plans to attack on the left side instead.

36.N8a-7c 00:00:00 00:16:00
37.G3g-4f 00:02:00 00:16:00
38.P7d-7e 00:02:00 00:16:00
39.P7fx7e 00:03:00 00:16:00
40.R3d-2d 00:03:00 00:17:00
41.P*2e 00:04:00 00:17:00
42.R2d-8d 00:04:00 00:17:00
43.S6h-7g 00:17:00 00:17:00
44.P9c-9d 00:17:00 00:25:00
45.P9g-9f 00:48:00 00:25:00

Come and get me if you can. Horiguchi is fully aware that this gives
white a chance to attack on the edge. However, if black allows the
extension P9e next by white, it will be hard for black to defend against
a later attack. Horiguchi is counting on his evaluation that an edge
attack at this point is premature and that with proper defense he will
be able to counter it.

46.P9d-9e 00:48:00 01:13:00
47.P9fx9e 00:48:00 01:13:00
48.P5e-5f 00:48:00 01:13:00
49.G4fx5f 00:51:00 01:13:00
50.P*9h 00:51:00 01:15:00
51.L9ix9h 00:51:00 01:15:00
52.N7c-8e!? 00:51:00 01:17:00

Fukaura throws a curve ball. The normal attack is 52.P*9g Lx9g N8e which
leads to a difficult position after S8f Bx8h+ Gx8h Nx9g+ Nx9g L*2f Rx2f
B*4d L*3e. Hard to judge, but the main reason Fukaura did not play this
is that he knew that Horiguchi would have spent most of his time on the
natural attack. Time is a big factor in matches like the Asahi Open,
where the players only have 3 hours per game.

53.S7g-8f 01:03:00 01:17:00
54.B3cx8h+ 01:03:00 01:20:00
55.G7hx8h 01:03:00 01:20:00
56.B*9i 01:03:00 01:20:00
57.G8h-7h 01:04:00 01:20:00
58.P*8h 01:04:00 01:22:00
59.N8i-7g 01:26:00 01:22:00
60.N8ex7g+ 01:26:00 01:22:00
61.G7hx7g 01:26:00 01:22:00
62.P8h-8i+ 01:26:00 01:22:00

White has managed to make a tokin, but the problem is how to make his
pieces work together to force a final breakthrough before black can counter.

63.B*5e 01:36:00 01:22:00

Defends against the immediate threat 64.Bx7g+ Sx8g Rx8g+ and the black
position collapses.

64.L9ax9e? 01:36:00 02:05:00

A big mistake that turns the game in black s favor. There are two
alternatives that were better here. Horiguchi expected 64.N*4d G4f +P7i
S3g B8h+ K4i which he considered better for black. However, after
64.N*4d G4f, white can also play Bx7g+ Bx7g G*7f B5e Gx8f. Using the
gold in this way is bad style but in this case it might work as N*7d is
simply met with G7f followed by Rx8g+ and the white attack is faster
than the black attack. Even better was probably the simple 64.N3c,
suggested by Ouchi. Then 65.Bx9a+ still fails to Bx7g+ followed by Rx8g+
and 65.N*7d N*6d seems good for white.

65.L9hx9e 02:15:00 02:05:00
66.N*4d 02:15:00 02:07:00
67.G5f-4f 02:37:00 02:07:00
68.+P8i-8h 02:37:00 02:17:00
69.B5e-9a+ 02:42:00 02:17:00
70.P*7f 02:42:00 02:23:00
71.G7gx7f 02:42:00 02:23:00
72.+P8hx8g 02:42:00 02:24:00
73.S8f-8e 02:42:00 02:24:00
74.R8d-6d 02:42:00 02:33:00
75.N*7d 02:48:00 02:33:00
76.P*7c 02:48:00 02:40:00
77.N7dx6b+ 02:48:00 02:40:00
78.G5ax6b 02:48:00 02:40:00
79.S8e-7d 02:53:00 02:40:00
80.+P8g-7g 02:53:00 02:40:00
81.G7f-6e 02:53:00 02:40:00
82.+P7gx6g 02:53:00 02:46:00
83.K5hx6g 02:53:00 02:46:00
84.N*5d 02:53:00 02:46:00
85.G6ex6d 02:55:00 02:46:00
86.B9i-6f+ 02:55:00 02:46:00
87.K6g-5h 02:55:00 02:46:00
88.P6cx6d 02:55:00 02:47:00
89.R*8a 02:55:00 02:47:00
90.P*5a 02:55:00 02:47:00
91.S7dx7c+ 02:55:00 02:47:00
92.G6b-5b 02:55:00 02:48:00
93.P*6g 02:57:00 02:48:00
94.+B6f-7f 02:57:00 02:51:00

Also, 94.+B6e G3e or 94.Nx4f Px4f +B6e +B9b wins for black.

95.L*5e 02:57:00 02:51:00
96.G*7g 02:57:00 02:52:00
97.K5h-4i 02:57:00 02:52:00
98.G7gx6g 02:57:00 02:52:00
99.K4i-3h 02:58:00 02:52:00
100.G3b-4b 02:58:00 02:52:00
101.S*6c 02:58:00 02:52:00
102.N5dx4f 02:58:00 02:53:00
103.P4gx4f 02:58:00 02:53:00
104.+B7f-6e 02:58:00 02:53:00
105.N*4g 02:58:00 02:53:00
106.G5bx6c 02:58:00 02:59:00
107.+S7cx6c 02:58:00 02:59:00
108.K4a-3b 02:58:00 02:59:00

Only after Horiguchi saw that 108.Nx3f would lead to mate (109.Rx5a+ K3b
+Rx4b Kx4b +Sx5c K3b G*4b K3c P*3d Kx3d P*3e) he felt he had won the game.

109.L5e-5c+ 02:58:00 02:59:00
110.N4dx3f 02:58:00 02:59:00
111.+L5cx4b 02:58:00 02:59:00
112.K3bx4b 02:58:00 02:59:00
113.R8ax5a+ 02:58:00 02:59:00
114.K4b-3b 02:58:00 02:59:00
115.G*4b 02:58:00 02:59:00
Resigns 02:58:00 02:59:00

Mate after 116.K3c G*2d K4d +R5c or 116.K2c P2d K3c P*3d Kx3d P*3e K4d
G*3d. A fine game by Horiguchi and exactly what he needed after more or
less being blown away in the first two games. He will need two more to
defend his Asahi Open title.


--

Reijer Grimbergen
Department of Information Science
Saga University
1 Honjo-machi, 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/
Tel: +81-(0)952-28-8821
Fax: +81-(0)952-28-8650