17th Ryu-O Match Game 6
[Black "Moriuchi Toshiyuki, Ryu-O"]
[White "Watanabe Akira, Challenger"]
[Event "17th Ryu-O sen, Game 6"]
[Date "December 15th and 16th 2004"]
1.P7g-7f 00:01:00 00:00:00
2.P3c-3d 00:01:00 00:03:00
3.P2g-2f 00:01:00 00:03:00
4.P8c-8d 00:01:00 00:03:00
5.P2f-2e 00:01:00 00:03:00
6.P8d-8e 00:01:00 00:04:00
7.G6i-7h 00:01:00 00:04:00
8.G4a-3b 00:01:00 00:04:00
9.P2e-2d 00:01:00 00:04:00
10.P2cx2d 00:01:00 00:04:00
11.R2hx2d 00:01:00 00:04:00
12.P8e-8f 00:01:00 00:04:00
13.P8gx8f 00:01:00 00:04:00
14.R8bx8f 00:01:00 00:04:00
15.R2dx3d 00:01:00 00:04:00
16.B2b-3c 00:01:00 00:04:00
17.R3d-3f 00:01:00 00:04:00
18.S3a-2b 00:01:00 00:04:00
19.P*8g 00:01:00 00:04:00
20.R8f-8e 00:01:00 00:06:00
Watanabe sticks to his game plan. He convincingly won the 4th game
with his favorite R8e-Yokofudori, so there is no reason for him to
change.
21.R3f-2f 00:01:00 00:06:00
22.K5a-4a 00:01:00 00:06:00
23.S3i-4h 00:04:00 00:06:00
24.S7a-6b 00:04:00 00:15:00
25.P3g-3f 00:04:00 00:15:00
26.G6a-5a 00:04:00 00:18:00
27.N2i-3g 00:06:00 00:18:00
28.P7c-7d 00:06:00 00:36:00
29.K5i-5h 00:31:00 00:36:00
30.N8a-7c 00:31:00 00:56:00
31.G4i-3h 00:31:00 00:56:00
32.P9c-9d 00:31:00 03:03:00
33.B8hx3c+ 00:55:00 03:03:00
34.N2ax3c 00:55:00 03:03:00
35.S7i-6h 00:55:00 03:03:00
36.P*8f 00:55:00 03:16:00
37.P8gx8f 01:00:00 03:16:00
38.R8ex8f 01:00:00 03:16:00
39.P*8g 01:00:00 03:16:00
40.R8fx7f 01:00:00 03:16:00
41.S6h-7g 01:02:00 03:16:00
42.R7f-7e 01:02:00 03:16:00
43.P*7f 01:39:00 03:16:00
44.R7e-8e 01:39:00 03:16:00
45.P4g-4f 01:44:00 03:16:00
46.N3c-2e 01:44:00 04:13:00
47.P8g-8f 02:12:00 04:13:00
48.N2ex3g+ 02:12:00 04:13:00
49.G3hx3g 02:12:00 04:13:00
50.P*2e 02:12:00 04:13:00
51.R2f-2i 02:24:00 04:13:00
52.R8e-8d 02:24:00 04:21:00
Interestingly, we are still in known territory. However, be changing
the move order Moriuchi has been able to avoid the attacking plans by
white and now has reached a position that is considered good for black.
White has no clear attacking plan, but if he does not act quickly, black
will set up a devastating attack.
53.P*2c?! 03:14:00 04:21:00
The sealed move. This is still a known move, but Moriuchi regretted
it afterwards. He felt that this pawn drop had no meaning.
54.S2b-3c 03:14:00 04:26:00
55.R2ix2e 03:14:00 04:26:00
56.P7d-7e 03:14:00 04:37:00
57.P7fx7e 03:18:00 04:37:00
58.P*3e 03:18:00 04:46:00
59.P2c-2b+ 04:17:00 04:46:00
Moriuchi decided that it was better to give up the pawn and admit that
53.P*2c was a mistake, rather than leaving the white position as it is.
60.G3bx2b?! 04:17:00 04:50:00
A small psychological battle here. 60.Sx2b might be better (61.N*7d is
the obvious follow-up, but the position is unclear), but Watanabe wanted
to create a position that was not possible without 53.P*2c, thus reminding
Moriuchi longer of his error in judgment.
61.P7e-7d 04:23:00 04:50:00
62.R8dx7d 04:23:00 04:56:00
63.B*2c 05:15:00 04:56:00
64.K4a-5b 05:15:00 05:44:00
65.B2c-5f+ 05:15:00 05:44:00
The reason why Watanabe's decision might have been questionable. This
promoted bishop is very strong and will play a decisive role in the
outcome of this game.
66.B*6e 05:15:00 05:45:00
There does not seem to be much future for this bishop, but white has
little choice. After 66.R5d Rx3e, the white position has no attacking
potential.
67.+B5f-6f 05:33:00 05:45:00
68.S3c-2d 05:33:00 05:45:00
Looks like a bad move, because white voluntarily allows the black
gold on 2b to be attacked by the promoted bishop on 6f, but again white
has no choice. It looks like Watanabe is attacking strongly, but he has
a very hard time to string the moves together.
69.R2e-2f 06:05:00 05:45:00
70.P*2e 06:05:00 05:47:00
71.R2f-2h 06:06:00 05:47:00
72.P3ex3f 06:06:00 05:47:00
73.G3g-4g 06:08:00 05:47:00
74.B6ex4g+ 06:08:00 06:04:00
Another forced move. If white does not give up this bishop now, it
will be lost after P5f next.
75.K5hx4g 06:08:00 06:04:00
76.G2b-3c 06:08:00 06:04:00
77.B*8c 06:34:00 06:04:00
78.R7d-6d 06:34:00 06:22:00
79.K4g-5h 06:35:00 06:22:00
80.P*7d 06:35:00 06:24:00
81.+B6f-5f 06:44:00 06:24:00
82.G*3g 06:44:00 06:34:00
83.R2h-2i 06:48:00 06:34:00
84.R6d-5d 06:48:00 06:39:00
85.S7g-6f 06:55:00 06:39:00
86.G3gx4h 06:55:00 06:41:00
87.K5hx4h 06:56:00 06:41:00
88.P3f-3g+ 06:56:00 06:41:00
89.K4hx3g 06:57:00 06:41:00
90.S2d-3e 06:57:00 06:44:00
91.P*3d 07:09:00 06:44:00
92.G3c-3b 07:09:00 06:49:00
93.S6f-5e 07:18:00 06:49:00
94.N*4d 07:18:00 06:50:00
95.+B5f-6f 07:19:00 06:50:00
96.P*8b 07:19:00 07:07:00
Watanabe has somehow managed to get a strong-looking attack and
there were voices in the press room talking about a new Ryu-O.
However, Moriuchi has looked deeply and felt here that he would win
the game. If white would not play this pawn drop, he would have the
extra pawn he needs later to mate the black king, therefore 96.Rx5e
97.+Bx5e 98.S*5h (like in the game) can not be answered by 99.P4e.
Also, 99.Bx7d+ S3f K4h S*4g is winning for white. However, black has
a hidden move: 99.N*6d!. If then 100.Px6d Bx7d+ N*6c +B4e S*3f K4h or
100.K4a +B4e S*3f K2h and in both cases there is no win for white.
Watanabe did see this and therefore played P*8b, but now that lack
of a single pawn becomes the theme of the game.
97.B8c-7b+ 07:41:00 07:07:00
98.R5dx5e 07:41:00 07:08:00
99.+B6fx5e 07:50:00 07:08:00
100.S*5h 07:50:00 07:08:00
101.P4f-4e 07:51:00 07:08:00
Now the white promoted bishop is working in defense.
102.S*3f 07:51:00 07:14:00
103.K3g-2h 07:51:00 07:14:00
104.P2e-2f 07:51:00 07:15:00
105.N*3i 07:51:00 07:15:00
106.P2f-2g+ 07:51:00 07:50:00
107.N3ix2g 07:51:00 07:50:00
108.S3e-2f 07:51:00 07:50:00
If white would have one more pawn, then 108.P*2f Nx3e P2g+ K3i P*3h
would be mate. Being a pawn away from the Ryu-O title must be tough...
109.K2h-1h 07:51:00 07:50:00
110.P5c-5d 07:51:00 07:56:00
111.+B5ex5d 07:52:00 07:56:00
112.S2fx2g+ 07:52:00 07:56:00
113.R2ix2g 07:52:00 07:56:00
114.S3fx2g+ 07:52:00 07:56:00
115.K1hx2g 07:52:00 07:56:00
116.R*4g 07:52:00 07:56:00
117.G*3g 07:56:00 07:56:00
118.N*3e 07:56:00 07:59:00
119.K2g-2f 07:57:00 07:59:00
120.R4gx3g+ 07:57:00 07:59:00
121.K2fx3g 07:57:00 07:59:00
122.P*5c 07:57:00 07:59:00
123.R*2a 07:59:00 07:59:00
124.G*3f 07:59:00 07:59:00
125.K3g-4h 07:59:00 07:59:00
126.G3f-4g 07:59:00 07:59:00
127.K4h-3i 07:59:00 07:59:00
128.P5cx5d 07:59:00 07:59:00
129.S*6d 07:59:00 07:59:00
130.B*3a 07:59:00 07:59:00
131.R2ax3a+ 07:59:00 07:59:00
132.G3bx3a 07:59:00 07:59:00
133.R*5c 07:59:00 07:59:00
Resigns 07:59:00 07:59:00
Mate after 134.Sx5c +Bx6c K4b S*3c or 134.K4a Rx4c+ R*4b B*2c because
white has no pieces to drop. A very interesting game where it was unclear
where white made the decisive mistake. It also was the first time in this
match that a game ended with both players in byoyomi. This match will be
decided in the final game. Will the status quo continue or will Watanabe
break through the barriers of the Habu-generation?