From: Richard Sams parkcity ne jp> Date: 22 oct 2003 Subject: Ryuo Title Match - Moriuchi Wins First Game! The first game in the Ryuo title match between the titleholder Yoshiharu Habu and challenger Toshiyuki Moriuchi ended in a win for Moriuchi when Habu resigned after 130th move at 7.30pm this evening. As White, Moriuchi played 4th file rook and, after Habu opted for the quick attack line on the 19th move, play went straight down the kind of critical main line that is often seen in Shogi opening books and amateur games, but very rarely in title matches. When the game was adjourned at the end of the first day after the 55th move, Habu had a promoted rook on the back rank and most of the commentators thought Moriuchi was on the ropes. But after the resumption, Moriuchi played a series of powerful counterattacking moves and the position became quite unclear. Habu defended solidly, made a tokin, and again seemed to get the upper hand, but although his king was relatively safe and his attack looked dangerous, he never quite had enough pieces in hand. Moriuchi's king escaped to the other side of the board, leaving Habu no choice but to resign. Great counterattacking play and cool defence by Moriuchi and a good day for ranging rook. (Times in brackets) Black White Habu Moriuchi 1. P-7f 2. P-3d (1) 3. P-2f (1) 4. P-4d 5. P-2e (3) 6. B-3c 7. S-4h (1) 8. P-9d 9. K-6h (2) 10. R-4b 11. K-7h (3) 12. S-7b (3) 13. P-5f (14) 14. G4a-5b 15. P-9f (16) 16. S-3b (2) 17. G4i-5h 18. K-6b 19. P-3f (24) Announcing Black's intention to play the quick attack (kyusen). White hurries to complete his Mino castle. 20. K-7a (2) 21. S-6h 22. K-8b (2) 23. S6h-5g 24. S-4c (1) 25. G6i-6h (36) 26. P-5d (15) 27. P-4f (25) 28. P-6d (7) 29. P-4e (1) 30. G-6c (36) 31. N-3g (8) 32. P-7d 33. P-2d (15) 34. Px2d (2) 35. Px4d 36. Sx4d 37. P*4e 38. Sx4e 39. Bx3c+ 40. Nx3c 41. B*8h (1) 42. R-4c (12) 43. Rx2d (1) 44. P*4g (2) A common tesuji in this type of position. If 45. Sx4g P*4f. 45. S-5i (4) 46. P-5e (47) 47. Bx5e (15) 48. S-5d (6) 49. P*4d (1) 50. R-5c (6) 51. R-2b+ (3) 52. Sx5e (40) 53. Px5e (2) 54. P-3e (1) 55. +Rx1a (8) Here the game was adjourned. The commentating professionals Shima and Kimura both thought White was struggling here because Black has the powerful lance drop L*54. Even ranging rook specialist Fujii didn't particularly like White's position. 56. P*5f (82) Moriuchi's sealed move, not anticipated by any of the commentators. 57. S-6f (52) Unexpected. Shima thought both S-4f and Sx5f were better, retaining the threat of L*54. 58. P-6e (12) 59. Sx6e (32) 60. Rx5e (4) 61. L*6f (37) 62. B*4f (58) 63. Sx5f (20) 63. Sx7d was also possible, but after 63 ... Gx7d 64. Lx6a+ P-5g+ with unclear complications. Habu chooses to remove the powerful pawn on 5f. 64. Rx5f (1) 65. Lx6c (1) 66. P-4h+ (28) 67. P*5g (6) 68. +Px5h 69. Sx5h (6) 70. S*5i 71. G*6i (5) 72. Sx6h+ (8) 73. Gx6h 74. B*5i 75. S*7i (25) 76. R-5d (7) Moriuchi can't afford to give up his rook, but the respite allows Habu to create a powerful tokin. 77. P-4c+ (42) 78. P*5f (1) 79. Px5f 80. B4fx3g+(6) 81. +P-5b (8) 82. Rx5b (23) Commentator Sato Yasumitsu thought that 82.... Rx5f was strong here, when after 83. *Px6a Bx5h+ 84. Sx6h Rx5h+ 85. B*7a K-9b and White's horse on 3g defends against mate on 8b. 83. +Lx5b 84. Gx5b 85. S*7a (8) 86. K-9c (1) 87. P-9e (3) 88. Px9e (12) 89. +R-4a (12) 90. G*4b (4) 91. P*9d (3) 92. Kx9d (21) 93. +Rx4b (8) 94. Gx4b 95. G*8f (1) 96. K-8d (4) 97. R*6b (2) 98. R*5b (1) 99. P*9b (2) 100. K-7c (1) 101. Rx5b+ 102. Gx5b 103. Px9a+ 104. P*5g 105. Sx5g (4) 106. N-4e 107. S-6f 108. R*3h 109. R*5h 110. Bx6h+ (1) 111. Rx6h 112. G*5h 113. Rx5h 114. Rx5h+ 115. G*6h 116. +R-5i 117. L*6e 118. P*6d 119. S-5e 120. K-6c 121. Lx6d 122. K-5c 123. L-6b+ 124. Gxb6 (1) 125. B*4d 126. K-4c 127. Bx6b+ 128. R*2i 129. S-4d (1) 130. K-3d Black resigned Game 2 will be played on November 4-5. --^---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --^----------------------------------------------------------------