From: Reijer Grimbergen fu is saga-u ac jp> Date: 16 feb 2004 Subject: This week in Shukan Shogi (no. 1028-1031, January 14th, 21st, 28th, Busy at work and even more busy in my personal life (I became the father of a wonderful little girl), that has been the story of the past month. Not time at all for Shukan Shogi reports, but starting this week things have quieted down a little bit. Time to catch up! We have another Habu-Moriuchi match going under way (for the Osho title) and the Kio match between Maruyama and Tanigawa has also started last week. In this report the first two games of the Osho title match between Habu and Moriuchi. Habu had a bad start, losing the first game due to a serious middle game misjudgment in only 65 moves, but he came back to take game 2 in two stages (the first try ended in sennichite), so at 1-1 this match promises to much closer than their last two encounters. Here are the first two games with comments: [Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"] [White "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"] [Event "53rd Osho-sen, Game 1"] [Date "January 14th and 15th 2004"] 1.P7g-7f 00:00:00 00:00:00 2.P8c-8d 00:00:00 00:02:00 3.P5g-5f 00:03:00 00:02:00 Since last Autumn's Ryu-O title match, observers have noted a change in Moriuchi’s playing style. He seems to play much more positively, taking the game to his opponent. This first game of the Osho title match is another example. The move 3.P5f is a move often played by Furibisha players (which Moriuchi is not) and 4.P3d is then answered by P5e and R5h, while 4.P8e B7g P5d R8h is another development often seen. Moriuchi has something else in mind. 4.P8d-8e 00:03:00 00:21:00 5.B8h-7g 00:03:00 00:21:00 6.P5c-5d 00:03:00 00:21:00 7.S7i-8h 00:14:00 00:21:00 A new way of playing this position. Moriuchi does not go for the Furibisha, but wants to play Ibisha instead. It seems Moriuchi had experience with this move in training games and that it is actually difficult for white to find a good response. 8.S7a-6b 00:14:00 01:31:00 Played after 70 minutes thought. The problem for white is that the natural 8.P3d is good for black after 9.Bx2b+ Sx2b B*5c. For example, B*5g R5h B8d+ P5e Px5e Rx5e and white is stuck for a good defense. After Habu's 8.S6b black can exchange the pawn in front of the rook, while white cannot. In return, the black wall silver on 8h takes needs time to be resolved. If black can not improve the shape of this silver or if white can use that time to set up a good attack, white will have the advantage. If not, black will have the advantage. This is now going to be the theme of the middle game. 9.P2g-2f 00:16:00 01:31:00 10.P3c-3d 00:16:00 01:32:00 11.P2f-2e 00:17:00 01:32:00 12.S6b-5c 00:17:00 01:32:00 13.P2e-2d 00:25:00 01:32:00 14.P2cx2d 00:25:00 01:45:00 15.R2hx2d 00:25:00 01:45:00 16.G4a-3b 00:25:00 01:45:00 17.R2d-2h 00:32:00 01:45:00 18.P*2c 00:32:00 01:45:00 19.S3i-4h 01:09:00 01:45:00 20.K5a-4a 01:09:00 01:54:00 21.G6i-7h 01:28:00 01:54:00 22.S5c-4d 01:28:00 02:24:00 23.S4h-5g 01:34:00 02:24:00 24.P5d-5e? 01:34:00 02:34:00 Too early. Habu should have played 24.R5b here. He was worried about 25.S4f, but then the simple 26.P5e Px5e Sx5e Sx5e Bx5e Bx5e Rx5e P*5h P*5g is OK for white after the long but forced B*6f Px5h+ Gx5h R5a Bx1a+ P*5g L*5e Rx5e +Bx5e B*3i P*5c L*5a R1h Px5h+ Kx5h S*2g. Habu thought that 24.P5e would lead to a similar development, but he overlooked that Moriuchi has a different defense. 25.P5fx5e 01:38:00 02:34:00 26.S4dx5e 01:38:00 02:34:00 27.P*5f 01:38:00 02:34:00 28.S5e-4d 01:38:00 02:34:00 29.G4i-5h 02:06:00 02:34:00 30.R8b-5b 02:06:00 02:36:00 31.P6g-6f 02:22:00 02:36:00 32.P*5e 02:22:00 02:44:00 33.G7h-6g 02:31:00 02:44:00 Black is now in time to defend the center and white gets stuck for moves. 34.P5ex5f 02:31:00 03:05:00 35.S5gx5f 02:32:00 03:05:00 36.P*5e 02:32:00 03:22:00 37.S5f-6e 02:32:00 03:22:00 38.S3a-4b 02:32:00 03:22:00 39.K5i-6i 02:50:00 03:22:00 40.S4b-3c 02:50:00 03:34:00 41.P4g-4f 03:30:00 03:34:00 42.B2b-3a 03:30:00 03:43:00 43.P7f-7e 03:30:00 03:43:00 44.B3ax7e 03:30:00 04:07:00 The sealed move and of course no surprise. Here Habu still thought he was doing alright, but after the game he admitted that his position might be suspect here. 45.R2h-4h! 04:12:00 04:07:00 Aiming for the silver on 4d and taking Habu by complete surprise. Moriuchi's judgment has been perfect. 46.B7e-4b 04:12:00 04:23:00 47.P*5d! 04:19:00 04:23:00 Suddenly white is in trouble. The silver on 4d is getting trouble breathing. 48.G6a-6b? 04:19:00 04:52:00 Now the game is suddenly over. The only fighting chance was 48.K3a. Then after 49.P4e S3e G4g, white can try P6d P5c+ Bx5c S5d B4b S6c+ R5d and even though black has the better position, white's position still has potential for a good attack. 49.P4f-4e 04:38:00 04:52:00 50.S4d-3e 04:38:00 04:52:00 51.G5h-4g 04:39:00 04:52:00 52.P6c-6d 04:39:00 05:48:00 53.S6e-7f 04:39:00 05:48:00 54.G6b-6c 04:39:00 05:48:00 Or 54.P1d P*2e followed by P3f. 55.R4h-2h 04:48:00 05:48:00 56.G6cx5d 04:48:00 06:26:00 57.P3g-3f 04:49:00 06:26:00 58.S3e-2d 04:49:00 06:26:00 59.P*2e 04:49:00 06:26:00 60.S2d-1e 04:49:00 06:26:00 61.B7g-5i 05:22:00 06:26:00 62.G5dx4e 05:22:00 06:50:00 63.B5ix1e 05:22:00 06:50:00 64.K4a-3a 05:22:00 06:50:00 65.S8h-7g 05:31:00 06:50:00 Resigns 05:31:00 07:00:00 Black is a full silver up and white has no compensation. With the wall silver on 8h coming into play, Habu lost the will to fight an inescapable faith and resigned. It is hard to conclude anything from this game. Throughout his career Habu regularly has had games where he completely misjudged something and lost quickly. It does not seem to have anything to do with form. Still, Moriuchi will be happy to take the point and put some real pressure on Habu in the second game. Here is the first try of the second game, which ended in sennichite: [Black "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"] [White "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"] [Event "53rd Osho-sen, Game 2"] [Date "January 29th and 30th 2004"] 1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:02:00 3.P2g-2f 00:02:00 00:02:00 4.P4c-4d 00:02:00 00:02:00 With the popularity of the Gokigen Nakabisha, it almost looks old-fashioned to see someone close the bishop diagonal like this. It seems like Moriuchi was impressed by the way Kubo played him in the play-off game to challenge for the Osho title and wanted to give it a try himself. 5.P2f-2e 00:05:00 00:02:00 6.B2b-3c 00:05:00 00:02:00 7.S3i-4h 00:05:00 00:02:00 8.S3a-4b 00:05:00 00:02:00 9.P5g-5f 00:19:00 00:02:00 10.P5c-5d 00:19:00 00:05:00 11.K5i-6h 00:21:00 00:05:00 12.R8b-5b 00:21:00 00:05:00 Moriuchi has never played this classic Nakabisha in an official game before, but one can be certain that he has studied it thoroughly. 13.K6h-7h 00:23:00 00:05:00 14.K5a-6b 00:23:00 00:05:00 15.B8h-7g 00:50:00 00:05:00 16.K6b-7b 00:50:00 00:25:00 17.K7h-8h 00:54:00 00:25:00 18.S4b-5c 00:54:00 00:31:00 19.S4h-5g 00:56:00 00:31:00 20.S5c-6d 00:56:00 00:44:00 21.S5g-6f 00:59:00 00:44:00 22.K7b-8b 00:59:00 00:45:00 23.G4i-5i 01:45:00 00:45:00 24.P4d-4e 01:45:00 00:59:00 25.K8h-9h 02:26:00 00:59:00 This game looked to become a double anaguma, but Habu instead plays the Kushikatsugakoi, a type of anaguma where the king is placed outside the opponent's bishop diagonal. The weak point of this castle is 9g, so Moriuchi also abandons the anaguma to play a normal Mino castle, which gives him an easier way to play an edge attack. 26.P9c-9d 02:26:00 01:18:00 27.S7i-8h 02:28:00 01:18:00 28.S7a-7b 02:28:00 01:18:00 29.P3g-3f 03:45:00 01:18:00 30.P5d-5e 03:45:00 02:20:00 31.P2e-2d 03:46:00 02:20:00 32.P2cx2d 03:46:00 02:26:00 33.P5fx5e 03:46:00 02:26:00 34.S6dx5e 03:46:00 02:48:00 35.S6fx5e 03:48:00 02:48:00 36.R5bx5e 03:48:00 02:49:00 37.G5i-6h 04:29:00 02:49:00 38.P*5f 04:29:00 03:28:00 39.P*5h 04:32:00 03:28:00 40.S*2c 04:32:00 03:31:00 41.N2i-3g 04:44:00 03:31:00 42.G4a-3b 04:44:00 03:44:00 43.B7gx5e 05:06:00 03:44:00 44.B3cx5e 05:06:00 03:45:00 45.R2h-3h 05:06:00 03:45:00 46.G3b-4b 05:06:00 04:12:00 47.G6i-7h 05:13:00 04:12:00 48.P9d-9e 05:13:00 04:22:00 49.P5h-5g 05:42:00 04:22:00 50.P5fx5g+ 05:42:00 05:10:00 51.G6hx5g 05:42:00 05:10:00 52.B*4i 05:42:00 05:10:00 53.R3h-3i 05:47:00 05:10:00 54.B4i-2g+ 05:47:00 05:10:00 55.N3gx4e 05:47:00 05:10:00 56.B5e-2h+ 05:47:00 05:10:00 57.R3i-7i 06:04:00 05:10:00 58.+B2h-5e 06:04:00 05:20:00 59.G5g-4f 06:04:00 05:20:00 60.+B5e-2b 06:04:00 05:25:00 61.P*5d 06:05:00 05:25:00 62.P*5b 06:05:00 05:25:00 63.S*5c 06:05:00 05:25:00 64.P5bx5c 06:05:00 06:15:00 65.P5dx5c+ 06:05:00 06:15:00 66.G4b-4a 06:05:00 06:15:00 67.+P5c-4c 06:11:00 06:15:00 68.S*4b 06:11:00 06:23:00 69.+P4cx4b!? 06:26:00 06:23:00 Now the game suddenly ends in sennichite. A big surprise for the professionals following the game in the press room. Habu seemed to have the advantage and a replay would give Moriuchi the black pieces. Particularly, the variation 69.N5c= Sx5c +Px5c P*5b +Px6c looks very promising for black. However, when asked after the game, Habu pointed out that things are not so clear after 69.N5c= Sx5c +Px5c +B2f P3e +B4d S*5d S*3b. Indeed, after for example G4e +Bx4e Sx4e +Bx3e S5d P9f the attack on the head of the black king looks quite strong. Going for sennichite might have been the best decision here. 70.G4ax4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 71.P*5d 06:26:00 06:23:00 72.P*5b 06:26:00 06:23:00 73.S*5c 06:26:00 06:23:00 74.P5bx5c 06:26:00 06:23:00 75.P5dx5c+ 06:26:00 06:23:00 76.G4b-4a 06:26:00 06:23:00 77.+P5c-4c 06:26:00 06:23:00 78.S*4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 79.+P4cx4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 80.G4ax4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 81.P*5d 06:26:00 06:23:00 82.P*5b 06:26:00 06:23:00 83.S*5c 06:26:00 06:23:00 84.P5bx5c 06:26:00 06:23:00 85.P5dx5c+ 06:26:00 06:23:00 86.G4b-4a 06:26:00 06:23:00 87.+P5c-4c 06:26:00 06:23:00 88.S*4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 89.+P4cx4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 90.G4ax4b 06:26:00 06:23:00 Sennichite 06:26:00 06:23:00 And here is the replay of the second game, won by Habu: [Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Challenger"] [White "Habu Yoshiharu, Osho"] [Event "53rd Osho-sen, Replay Game 2"] [Date "January 30th 2004"] 1.P7g-7f 05:57:00 00:00:00 2.P3c-3d 05:57:00 06:00:00 3.P2g-2f 05:57:00 06:00:00 4.P8c-8d 05:57:00 06:00:00 5.P2f-2e 05:57:00 06:00:00 6.P8d-8e 05:57:00 06:00:00 7.G6i-7h 05:57:00 06:00:00 8.G4a-3b 05:57:00 06:00:00 9.P2e-2d 05:57:00 06:00:00 10.P2cx2d 05:57:00 06:00:00 11.R2hx2d 05:57:00 06:00:00 12.P8e-8f 05:57:00 06:00:00 13.P8gx8f 05:57:00 06:00:00 14.R8bx8f 05:57:00 06:00:00 15.R2dx3d 05:57:00 06:00:00 16.B2b-3c 05:57:00 06:00:00 17.R3d-3f 05:57:00 06:00:00 18.S3a-2b 05:57:00 06:00:00 19.P*8g 05:58:00 06:00:00 20.R8f-8e 05:58:00 06:00:00 The opening for the replay is no surprise. Habu plays the R8e Yokofudori, the opening with the highest winning percentage for white. 21.R3f-2f 05:58:00 06:00:00 22.K5a-4a 05:58:00 06:00:00 23.K5i-5h 05:58:00 06:00:00 24.S7a-6b 05:58:00 06:01:00 25.P3g-3f 05:58:00 06:01:00 26.G6a-5a 05:58:00 06:01:00 27.S3i-3h 05:58:00 06:01:00 28.P7c-7d 05:58:00 06:02:00 29.P3f-3e 05:58:00 06:02:00 30.R8ex3e 05:58:00 06:03:00 31.B8hx3c+ 05:58:00 06:03:00 32.N2ax3c 05:58:00 06:03:00 33.B*4f 05:58:00 06:03:00 34.P*2e 05:58:00 06:03:00 35.R2f-1f 05:58:00 06:03:00 36.R3e-3d 05:58:00 06:03:00 37.P*3e 05:58:00 06:03:00 38.R3d-4d 05:58:00 06:03:00 39.B4fx9a+ 05:58:00 06:03:00 40.N8a-7c 05:58:00 06:03:00 41.P7f-7e 05:58:00 06:03:00 42.B*2h 05:58:00 06:03:00 43.P7ex7d 06:03:00 06:03:00 44.R4dx7d 06:03:00 06:03:00 45.+B9a-9b 06:03:00 06:03:00 46.R7d-5d 06:03:00 06:03:00 47.N2i-3g 06:03:00 06:03:00 48.B2hx1i+ 06:03:00 06:03:00 49.P3e-3d 06:05:00 06:03:00 50.R5dx3d 06:05:00 06:11:00 51.+B9b-5f 06:05:00 06:11:00 52.R3dx3g+ 06:05:00 06:11:00 53.S3hx3g 06:05:00 06:11:00 54.+B1ix3g 06:05:00 06:11:00 55.P*2c 06:13:00 06:11:00 56.S2bx2c 06:13:00 06:18:00 57.L*3i 07:04:00 06:18:00 58.+B3g-2g 07:04:00 06:30:00 59.P*3d 07:07:00 06:30:00 60.S*6i 07:07:00 06:48:00 61.K5h-5i? 07:26:00 06:48:00 An important mistake that turns the game in Habu's favor. 61.Kx6i was the only move. Then 62.+Bx4i S*5i Sx3d Lx3d L*7e +B6f Lx7h+ Sx7h is good for black because the promoted bishop on 6f works both in attack and defense (covering the important square 8h). Lx3c+ next is a big threat. It seems like Moriuchi did not like 62.+Bx4i S*5i L*5h!. There was no clear conclusion on this move, but if this is bad for black, he can also try 62.+Bx4i G7g to open an escape for the king. Then Sx3d +Bx3d +Bx1f Px1f R*4i S*5i Rx3i+ S*2c P*3a leads to an unclear position. 62.+B2gx4i 07:26:00 07:00:00 63.K5ix4i 07:26:00 07:00:00 64.G*5h 07:26:00 07:00:00 65.K4i-3h 07:26:00 07:00:00 The important difference: the black king is now blocking the lance on 3i. 66.S6ix7h+ 07:26:00 07:00:00 67.R*2a 07:35:00 07:00:00 68.P*3a 07:35:00 07:27:00 69.P3dx3c+ 07:40:00 07:27:00 70.G3bx3c 07:40:00 07:27:00 71.K3h-2h? 07:50:00 07:27:00 The losing move. Moriuchi's final chance was 71.B*2b and after 72.G3b he can either try 73.R3f or 73.Sx7h. For example 1) 73.R3f K5b +Bx2c Gx2c R3fx3a+ L*3d P*3e B*4h S*3g B5i+ N*7d N*4a +Rx4a Gx4a Nx6b+ Kx6b Rx4a+ Bx3g+ Kx3g Lx3e and it is still a question who is mating who. Or 2) 73.Sx7h L*3d K2h Lx3i+ which is also not completely clear. If this variation is playable for black, then 71.Sx7h instead of B*2b might also be an option. 72.L*2f 07:50:00 07:36:00 73.N*2g 07:50:00 07:36:00 Painful. Black has no pawns in hand to defend against the check. 74.N*2d 07:50:00 07:38:00 75.R1f-1e 07:52:00 07:38:00 76.L2fx2g+ 07:52:00 07:49:00 77.K2hx2g 07:52:00 07:49:00 78.+S7hx7i 07:52:00 07:49:00 79.R1ex2e 07:57:00 07:49:00 80.P*2f 07:57:00 07:50:00 81.R2ex2f 07:57:00 07:50:00 82.N*1e 07:57:00 07:50:00 83.K2g-3g 07:57:00 07:50:00 84.G*3e 07:57:00 07:51:00 85.+B5fx2c 07:59:00 07:51:00 86.G3cx2c 07:59:00 07:51:00 87.R2ax2c+ 07:59:00 07:51:00 88.B*1i 07:59:00 07:53:00 89.P*2h 07:59:00 07:53:00 90.S*3f 07:59:00 07:53:00 91.K3g-3h 07:59:00 07:53:00 92.N1e-2g+ 07:59:00 07:53:00 Resigns 07:59:00 07:53:00 Mate after 93.Px2g S3g+ K2i B2h+ or 93.Rx2g Sx2g+ Kx2g R*2f K1h Rx2h+. A big win for Habu, who stops the rot after losing 5 title match games in a row against Moriuchi. Hopefully this is the prelude to a tight match full of exciting shogi. In other shogi news: ================ * With two games left to play, Moriuchi already clinched the right to a rematch with Habu for the Meijin title. His final rival Tanigawa lost against Maruyama, so after round 7 in the A class Junisen there are no more players with two losses or less. Moriuchi's hunger was not satisfied with this result, as he also won his 8th round game against Fujii and can now achieve the rare feat of becoming Meijin challenger by winning all his games in the A class. He will not have an opponent that will lay down and die easily, because Shima is fighting for his last chance to stay in the A class. Either he (2-6) or Kubo (3-5) will be relegated to B1. Only if Shima wins and Kubo loses, Shima will stay in the top class. Because Kubo has to play Tanigawa, a Shima win gives him a good chance to safe himself. The eight round saw the end of Aono as an A class player. He lost against Suzuki and with only one win from eight games is now certain to play in B1 next year. * The first promotion of this Junisen year is in B1, where Fukaura beat Kamiya in the 11th round to promote to the A class with an unbeatable 9-1 score. No real surprise, as Fukaura has been considered a top player for a long time and his addition to the A class will make things even more exciting next year. Kitahama had a setback in his bid to join Fukaura. He lost against Tanaka and is now overtaken by Takahashi, who beat Nakamura. Both players have 7-3 scores, but Takahashi is placed slightly higher in the class than B1 rookie Kitahama. Morishita and Goda still have small chances to overtake these two, but it is more likely that either Takahashi or Kitahama will play in the A class next year. A development very few would have predicted at the start of the season. * In B2 Namekata looks to be certain of promotion after winning his 8th round game against Kiriyama. He is now 7-1 and also needs to win one game from the final two to clinch a place in B1. Horiguchi Kazushiza made a mistake that might prove costly by losing against veteran Tamaru. Horiguchi falls back to 6-2 and now no longer has his chances in his own hands. Izumi is now suddenly in the best position to promote to B1, followed by Horiguchi and Waki. The veterans are giving the young guns a hard time, because Kimura Kazuki (30) saw his promotion chances evaporate after an upset loss against Mori Keiji (57). * In C1 the 8th round was played and it finally looks like Yashiki will say goodbye to this class. He won his 8th game in a row and now only needs one more win from two games to promote to B2. It is still a close race for the second promotion spot as none of the players with one loss made a mistake. Toyokawa has his promotion chances in his own hands, but Nozuki and Watanabe are waiting for a mistake to take his place. * In C2 it seemed like the pressure was getting to the leaders in round 8. Chiba, Yamasaki and Iijima all had their chances in their own hands going into the round, but all lost (against Anyouji, Kanezawa and Tachi respectively). Chiba was undefeated and only drops to second place so he still has everything to play for. However, Yamasaki dropped to 5th and Iijima to 6th place and their chances of promotion are suddenly quite slim. New leader is Miyata, but he has to share the 7-1 score with Chiba, Anyoji and rookie Yokoyama. Still anything can happen in the final two rounds. * The Kisei leagues have finished, which means that four of the eight quarterfinalists are known. Habu (winner group A), Inoue (winner group B), Tanigawa (winner group C) and Kimura (winner group D) are the four players certain of qualification. They will be joined by four players out of the eight players with one loss and one win: Miura, Nozuki, Goda, Kubo, Nakamura, Watanabe, Moriuchi and Nakata Isao. * The Oi leagues, which decide the challenger of Tanigawa, have started with the games Moriuchi-Senzaki in the White group and Nakagawa – Nakata Isao in the Red group. Moriuchi and Nakagawa won to get off to a good start, but there is still a long way to go in these strong groups. The White group also has Yashiki, Maruyama Hatakeyama Mamoru and Yamasaki, while the Red group has Habu, Fukaura, Nakahara and Okazaki. 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 --^---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 --^----------------------------------------------------------------