17th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament Game 1
Black: Maruyama, 8-dan
White: Moriuchi, 8-dan
17th Zen Nihon Pro Tournament, Game 1, April 1st 1999
1.P7g-7f 0/0 0/0
2.P3c-3d 0/0 0/0
3.P2g-2f 0/0 0/0
4.P4c-4d 0/0 0/0
5.P2f-2e 0/0 0/0
6.B2b-3c 0/0 0/0
7.S3i-4h 0/0 0/0
8.P9c-9d 0/0 0/0
9.K5i-6h 2/2 0/0
10.R8b-4b 0/2 0/0
The Zen Nihon Pro Tournament promises to be a good match between young stars
Moriuchi and Maruyama. Until this game, they met 11 times with Moriuchi the
winner in 6 games. Very close indeed. Both players usually play Ibisha, but
in their last meeting (last year August in the A class Junisen), Moriuchi
played Furibisha with white and won. Therefore, Moriuchi choosing the same
strategy here was not a big surprise.
11.K6h-7h 0/2 0/0
12.S7a-7b 0/2 0/0
13.P5g-5f 0/2 0/0
14.S3a-3b 0/2 0/0
15.G4i-5h 0/2 0/0
16.P9d-9e 0/2 0/0
17.S4h-5g 0/2 0/0
18.S3b-4c 0/2 1/1
19.P3g-3f 1/3 0/1
20.K5a-6b 0/3 0/1
21.B8h-7g 0/3 0/1
22.K6b-7a 0/3 0/1
23.K7h-8h 0/3 0/1
24.K7a-8b 0/3 0/1
25.P1g-1f 2/5 0/1
26.P1c-1d 0/5 4/5
27.L9i-9h 0/5 0/5
28.R4b-2b 0/5 11/16
This loss of tempo is a little unusual. Moriuchi did not play the Fujii System
against Maruyama's Anaguma, but instead switches from Shikenbisha (Fourth File
Rook) to Mukaibisha (Opposing Rook) with the intention to open the game early
before Maruyama can complete his Anaguma.
29.K8h-9i 19/24 0/16
30.G4a-3b 0/24 8/24
31.S7i-8h 19/43 0/24
32.P2c-2d 0/43 1/25
33.P2ex2d 1/44 0/25
34.B3cx2d 0/44 0/25
35.P4g-4f 1/45 0/25
36.B2d-4b 0/45 9/34
This move shows that Moriuchi's choice of opening strategy might be suspect.
After 36.B4b Maruyama gets the better position. However, 36.B3c P*2e B5a
N3g N3c and "It is hard to use the bishop so this is not interesting"
[Moriuchi].
37.P*2c 12/57 0/34
38.R2bx2c 0/57 5/39
39.R2hx2c+ 0/57 0/39
40.G3bx2c 0/57 0/39
Now the left gold and silver are out of position. This is not an easy position
for white to play.
41.P4f-4e 0/57 0/39
42.R*4i 0/57 14/53
43.G6i-7i 34/91 0/53
44.S4c-3b 0/91 47/100
45.N2i-3g 31/122 0/100
46.R4ix1i+ 0/122 18/118
47.P4ex4d 0/122 0/118
48.+R1i-2h 0/122 0/118
49.G5h-6h 18/140 0/118
50.G2c-2b 0/140 0/118
51.R*2e 17/157 0/118
52.+R2hx2e 0/157 1/119
53.N3gx2e 0/157 0/119
54.R*2c 0/157 2/121
So far everything went as expected in the press room. White has taken a lance,
but having to drop back his rook in defence to keep his position together
shows that black has more than enough compensation.
55.R*4i!? 1/158 0/121
In the press room only P*2f P*2d was analysed. The move picked by Maruyama
seems stronger.
56.P*4f? 0/158 10/131
The right move here was 56.G5b. This is a hard move to play, since the gold
moves to a very awkward position. However, after 57.P4c+ Sx4c Rx4c+ Gx4c P*4d
Gx4d Bx4d R*4i black surprisingly has no good continuation.
57.R4ix4f 6/164 0/131
58.B4b-2d 0/164 1/132
59.R4f-4i 2/166 0/132
60.L*4a 0/166 3/135
61.S5g-4f 5/171 0/135
62.P*4c? 0/171 15/150
The losing move. The only way to stay in the game was 62.P*4e Sx4e Bx6h+
Gx6h Rx2e, which weakens the black castle, exchanges two pieces for one
and frees the white rook. It is unclear white Moriuchi did not choose this
relative simple variation.
63.P4dx4c+ 4/175 0/150
64.S3bx4c 0/175 0/150
65.P*4d 0/175 0/150
66.S4c-5d 0/175 1/151
White would like to take with 66.Sx4d, but after 67.P*4c! white's position
collapses (e.g. 68.Bx4f Bx4d).
67.P3f-3e 0/175 0/151
68.B2d-5a 0/175 11/162
No choice. 68.Px3e R3i is too easy for black.
69.P*2f 0/175 0/162
70.P*2d 0/175 2/164
71.P6g-6f! 0/175 0/164
Subtle. 71.S4e is also good for black, but 71.P6f is taking no chances. The
threat to win the silver with P5e is very hard to deal with. 72.P6d P5e S5d-6c
S4e wins smoothly. Moriuchi instead tries a desperate sacrifice.
72.L4ax4d 0/175 6/170
73.P*4e 0/175 0/170
74.L4dx4e 0/175 5/175
75.S4fx4e 0/175 0/175
76.S5dx4e 0/175 0/175
77.R4ix4e 0/175 0/175
78.P*4c 0/175 0/175
79.P3ex3d 0/175 0/175
80.P2dx2e 0/175 0/175
81.P2fx2e 0/175 0/175
82.G2b-3b 0/175 1/176
83.G6h-7h 0/175 0/176
It almost seems like Maruyama is making a point here. In an overwhelming
position he takes the time to finish his Anaguma. The huge difference in king
position kills Moriuchi's will to fight.
84.S*4d 0/175 1/177
85.R4e-6e 2/177 0/177
86.N*4e 0/177 2/179
87.B7g-8f 0/177 0/179
88.R2cx2e 0/177 0/179
89.P*4f 0/177 0/179
Resigns 0/177 0/179
Time: 02:57:00 02:59:00
After R2i+ Px4e S3e Bx5c+ everything falls apart. Moriuchi resigns before
the endgame has even started. A painful loss for him, but still it only
counts as one game. However, since the Zen Nihon Pro Tournament is a short
match of only five games, he needs to take the next game with black.