From: Richard Sams parkcity ne jp> Date: 16 oct 2003 Subject: Interview with Moriuchi 9-dan Thinking it might be of interest to members of the Shogi List, I translated the following interview with Moriuchi 9-dan from this week's Shukan Shogi (October 15). Richard Sams Interview with Moriuchi 9-dan on the Eve of the Ryuo Title Match with Habu Q: The result of the Meijin title match in the spring must have been disappointing for you. M: Yes, I was too conscious of the importance of the Meijin title, both away from the board and during the games. I felt I had to play shogi worthy of the occasion. From the end of last year, I wasn’t winning enough games, so I already knew it was going to be tough. I just hoped I could make it a close match. Q: How has your form been since you lost the title? M: Actually, I felt my form improving gradually from the second half of the Meijin match. I have the feeling that when you play Habu for a long period it brings out strengths you didn’t know you had. Q: Did you consciously change your attitude half way through? M: Not particularly. After I’d lost three games in a row, part of me was prepared for the worst. Q: How did you feel about playing the 3-game match Ryuo challenger decider match against Nakahara Lifetime 10-dan? M: Of course I was aware that many shogi fans wanted to see a title match between Habu and Nakahara, so I definitely felt the pressure of playing against the wind, as it were. But I also felt it would be an interesting learning experience for me. Since Nakahara Sensei is chairman of the Shogi Federation as well as being an active player, I had more time than him to study. In that sense, I thought it would be quite painful to lose this match. Q: How was Nakahara Sensei immediately after he resigned the final game? M: How should I put it? The stern face of a match shogi player. I felt I saw an aspect of him that we don’t often see these days. Q: What are your feelings, looking back on the 3-game match as a whole? M: There were a lot of mistakes, but getting the result gave me confidence. Q: How did you tell your wife the good news? M: I phoned her when the post-match celebrations had settled down. She said “Oh, good.” (Laughs) Q: How would you compare your current form with Habu’s? M: Well, I’m on a bit of a winning streak at the moment, and I don’t want to lose that momentum. But I feel I’m not getting completely on top of difficult middlegame positions and in that sense my play is still a little rough at the edges. Habu may not be in good form just now, but you can’t predict how he’s going to be over a 7-game match. Even if he’s not at his best coming into the match, he can play himself into form. Q: You’ve now lost five games in a row to Habu after six successive wins against him. Are you conscious of this sort of trend? M: Against certain opponents, I tend to have several wins or losses in a row. But I never assume that I’ll carry on winning or that I’ll never beat that player again. I myself don’t pay much attention to these things, but when someone writes “Moriuchi is in a slump,” I suddenly find I can’t win any more! Q: I suppose the result of the Habu-Watanabe Oza title match will have an impact on the Ryuo match .... M: Yes, the winner is obviously going to get confidence from it. Q: What’s your impression of Habu’s shogi at the moment? M: There are mysterious aspects to Habu both as a shogi player and as a person. Technically, his powers of analysis in the middlegame and his strength, speed and accuracy in the endgame are all outstanding. Q: Have you already envisaged certain openings or strategies? M: Of course that depends on what your opponent does to some extent, so I can’t say for certain, but the Side Pawn, Bishop Exchange, Double Wing Attack, and Ranging Rook openings are all possible. Q: What about Double Ranging Rook? M: I like that opening because you’re thrown back on your own resources, but I don’t have much experience with it, so I’m not sure I could really do it justice in a title match. Q: Are you concerned about whether you’re Black or White? M: This isn’t just one game, so it doesn’t worry me particularly. Q: Do you check the five pawns after they’ve been tossed at the beginning of the game to decide who plays Black? M: Yes, I do. You never know – the referee might make a mistake! (Translated by Richard Sams) --^---------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to: shogi-l shogi net EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a2i6Ys.a7fLMV.c2hvZ2kt Or send an email to: shogi-unsubscribe topica com TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html --^----------------------------------------------------------------